My new review for The Absolute Sound comparing AGD GAN amps with BHK300’s

Nice review!  I've heard them twice at THE show in So Cal, and they sound pretty good!  BTW, the chips were developed by International Rectifier.

So much WRONG here!

Comparing a Class D to an analog discrete amp, for one! Class D has far fewer parts and switching style supply.

And that load of crap about “unobtainium” audio GaN MOSFETS!!!  Gees Louis!!! Switching MOSFETS have been used in high dollar audio amps for DECADES!! GaN MOSFETS are still MOSFETS!! Most are very linear but the GaN have efficient on/off states. GaN have efficiencies for switching use at ULTRA-AUDIO FREQUENCIES, hence THE CLASS D amplifier!!! DUH!!!  
 

So this is supposedly an “AUDIO GaN MOSFET”…….. used as a switching device in a CLASS D audio amp!!! You HAVE GOT to be kidding me!!!! The GaN devices aren’t even used in AUDIO FREQUENCIES!! In a Class D amp, they are used as very high frequency switching devices, and NEVER SEE any frequencies between 20-20kHz!!!  
 

And then, the CUTE little mounting of the switching circuit inside a glass envelope!!! Oh for Pete’s sake!!! REALLY????!!

Sorry!!! But this review is loaded with disinformation and downright misleading claims by the manufacturer, glossed over and passed on to gullible consumers!!

REALLY????!!

@wolfie62 Its perfectly valid to compare amps of different classes of operation.

Regarding the 'unobtanium' GaNFET, I understand your skepticism- I reacted the same way. The designer claims he uses a device 'designed for audio'. As you know, GaNFET's main advantage, their raison d'etre, is for switching so of course any GaNFET could be used but if you wanted to optimize one for a class D audio amplifier it would have a low output capacitance. That was something we considered when we chose the parts we use as well. So we can assume that is what is being used. That is the extent of being 'designed for audio'.

@wolfie62 Wrote:

And then, the CUTE little mounting of the switching circuit inside a glass envelope!!! Oh for Pete’s sake!!! REALLY????!!

I agree! LOL 😎

Mike

I’ve heard the AGD and they sounded good.

Are they worth the premium price compared to the competition? Have not directly compared so don’t know but having heard many Class Ds including several I own currently, I’d say anything is possible.

Making the circuit look like a vacuum tube is a nice touch both from an aesthetics perspective and surely helps up the appeal to those attached to vacuum tubes that might otherwise be less likely to move on, so an adept marketing move there for sure. Vacuum tubes fascinated me as a child and still do. They are all glowy and I still think they are way cool looking in a 1950’s sci-fi kind of way  

Mapman those AGD for those who can afford yes worth it. I can’t answer the competition, I have not heard them.