Atma-Sphere Class D… Amazing

Waiting for a pair of A-S Class D’s to arrive and very excited. Any suggestions on preamps? Ideally an analog preamp with dac or an integrated solution combining analog, Roon Ready streamer and dac. Please don’t recommend the Eversolo A-8 :)

I currently have an Auralic Aries G1.1 streamer (no dac), Bel Canto DAC2.8 dac/pre and Ref501S. I look forward to evaluating whether the A-S are a significant step up and how much. Running Totem Forest Signature speakers.

The fact still remains that Albertos amps use a switching device nobody else can source. Again, one that was designed for Audio, not for a battery charger or DC power supply. 

The only parameter that can make a GaNFET more suitable for audio is a low output capacitance. Other than that there's no way to optimize a GANFET for audio.

GaNFETs are designed for high power switching applications. While that might include a SMPS or battery charger, in such applications the cost of the output switching devices can play a pretty big role in the device used. So a battery charger is far more likely to use a MOSFET instead owing to an order of magnitude lower cost. GaNFETs are more likely to be motion control or other high power application (such as class D operation) where precision high efficiency/low noise switching is important. 

Anecdote department only: we have more than just 3 customers that have compared the AGD to our amps and the result was the other way 'round (one of them commented above). In the end anyone will still have to try it out and see.

@srama I recommend a balanced preamp if you can. That's what we use here in the shop and what I use at home.

Ive got no skin in the game and I hope to compare both BUT there is definitely more Atmasphere's used ones showing up in the marketplace if you pay attention than AGD ones.  Whether or not thats because more ATMA's have been sold than AGD I dont know. 

@atmasphere, thank you. My current Bel Canto is a balanced preamp/dac. I’m just hoping to lose one more box by way of the Auralic streamer, since I’m replacing a single stereo amp with two of your monos. Real estate being a premium and all that. I am considering a Bryston BR-20 but balking at the cost a little bit.

I also want to add that one of the main reasons I decided to try out your offering is because of your openness, clarity and obvious expertise on this and various other forums. I have never seen a manufacturer engage in quite so refreshing a manner with seemingly limitless patience and without a trace of defensiveness. I decided to buy a new pair from an authorized dealer as a mark of appreciation, even though there is a used pair for sale currently on another website.

I have been a member at AudioGon since 1999 or thereabouts and it has been years since I have engaged in these forums - you inspired me to break a long silence. I hope to share my impressions once I familiarize myself with the monos.

One more question for @Atmasphere. I have Kimber 12tc speaker cables which have an unusually high capacitance - (Cp) : 494 pF / meter. I have read of people having issues using this cable with certain amps (Ayre, for instance). Any concerns with the Class D monos?