AGD Audion GaN Class D In The House

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/Capital_Audiofest_2021/

pricing confirmed

https://positive-feedback.com/industry-news/agd-introduces-the-new-agd-tempo-gan-mosfet-reference-st...

says $5500 for standard version and $6300 for polished SE version

Will be interesting when the new $5300 100 watt mono blocks from Atma-Sphere get A/Bed with this amp.

@klh007 For some reason $4900 sticks in my head but there's a price difference for the chrome one vs brushed so the $4900 might be for brushed.  I was in that room quite a few times yesterday and today.

Alberto showed a new, stereo, rectangular box, amp at the Capital Audiofest that is essentially a pair of Audions in a single non-fancy chassis, and I think I heard $5500 although the room was loud so I can't be sure of the price. 

Hello AGD owners

Has anyone tried Benchmark HPA4 or LA4 with AGD Audions?
I’m thinking of selling my hpa4 as it is too revealing/transparent with my existing DIY SS Poweramp. I fear the same or worse with audions.
I also have Otomon 45 DHT preamp which I think should pair well as @rh67 is using one(diff brand) with good results.

Thanks

@mikepowellaudio   Thanks, Mike. Your earlier post disappeared before I was able to read it. I'll do some investigating and reach out to you directly.

Hi David, My response was removed not sure why. Ill try and remember what I said . First off I said that the spec you are asking for means nothing without the rest of the equation. I would have to guess why you ask this in particular and I can just tell you there is no speaker that changes the AGD’s frequency response or anything else for that matter. The amp has a low enough output impedance that it renders any anomalies associated with Class A and AB into a reactive load. AGD is linear and strong when driving a reactive load. The damping is solid , it grips the woofer like a High Current Class A amp would.  If you are curious about how it handles certain things or how it sounds there is only one way to find out. I can tell you with confidence you have not yet experienced the sonic AGD brings, its different and it will be very clear to you that its a new way to listen to music. Instantly you realize "OK this is something new Ive never experienced before" If you have any more questions just call me ...

all the best !

Mikey the OCD HiFi Guy

@mikepowellaudio   Can you comment on level of negative feedback, how it's implemented, and on the damping factor of the AGD amps?  Thanks. - David.

I’m enjoying my system more now than ever before since adding the Audion’s. They bring more enjoyment than any of my SET amps ever did and more.

I’m sitting here listening to the Audions and just so pleasantly satiated. For me, to sum them up in a single word it would have to be SATISFYING.
I have sought realism, bloom, impact, imaging, clarity, emotional fulfillment over the past 31 years of pursuing the absolute sound (in my subjective bubble). I have had tubes, solid state, 31+ Flavors etc. and it’s brings me so much peace knowing I can just rest in this beauty. (no I am NOT high on anything other than Al Stewart)
I’m not knocking anyone else’s blissful audio destination. All the more respect. It’s just noteworthy to share with all of you a bit of where I’m at with audio journey thus far.
Enjoy.

They also take about 200 hours to sound their best.

I have the Audion's they cost $7500 and replaced two amps one costing 7k and the other 40k. I do not replace amps often but once i heard them which was on a whim i had to have them.

Now listed on USAM with pics

Hello folks. I’m looking to move up to the AGD Grand Vivace, so I will be listing for sale my Vivace’s in the coming days. If anyone is interested PM me with any questions. I have both the Original and MKII Tubes that will come with the amps. These are the SE (special edition) that are polished with bigger stance feet.

Mixed up the threads

My power should be good. I use Shunyata Triton/Typhon.
I am realizing that the distortion problem must be in my TT rig. Woodsong Garrard 301, Triplanar, Miyajima Shalabi and Atma-Sphere MP-1.
Could it be mistracking of the cart?
Am waiting on a Lyra Atlas SL. Am sure it will be a better match for the TP,
I don’t only have the distortion on old records.

Def matte finish-- Also the smart money is on which pair of amps would be required. I went the step up for the larger power supply and also to put the larger tubes ---maybe. I was going with the Audions, but I have 8 pair of speakers I rotate in and out. Alberto and I decided to go Vivaci. I'm sure the Audions would have been fine but.......

I went with the matte finish.

There is a 6Moons review on both of them and it explains the difference (Not the GRAND).  It says the smart money will buy the Audions.

One thing I noticed on the Dealer of these YOUTUBE channel. His Audion Amps are scratched to hell.  I mean it looks like somebody took the Amp....put it into a burlap sack and added 2 Cats and then tied the bag up.  Kinda sucks that you can make them look so bad. Maybe they should powdercoat them BLACK instead of using chrome.

Has anyone ears the difference between the Audions and the Vivace, Grand Vivace?

I was playing Stairway To Heaven last night and it was amazing. For decades i thought i had it right the AGD's proved i was wrong, the AGD's have opened up another door, they are unlike ANYTHING i have heard before.

Just one 6  hour session last eve with the Vivaci- only Aurneder serving up Qobuz and the Jazz Groove station. WOW-- Called Alberto and he asked--what do I think? I said I have no idea what to think?!? He said that is correct. New ball game. As said before-all in balance. Lows mids highs--I guess perfect or at least I would think. So quiet of a background that all comes into better focus?? Piano hammers-sustain- drum sticks-bows on strings- even switched to some heavy music thinking this will be very bad--was I wrong--Ozzy sounded better than ever-- more to come.....

dmcclintock 
 The midrange is now in balance with bass and treble. I'm hearing more detail than ever - never noticed some of the mastering splices I can now hear. And like someone above said, voices are so distinct, I can follow words I could never make out before. They're the most even-handed amps I've had. It's like getting to hear all my music fresh again.

I could not agree with this statement more. In many ways i feel like i'm hearing music for the first time the way it was meant to be heard. Listening to familiar recordings always brings a pleasant surprise, there is more more music, it's hard to describe it has to be experienced.

Old class D provided a clarity but it was empty, the AGD's have the clarity but within that clarity comes the life of a recording of a studio or live performance it's pretty amazing to experience.

ricevs648 posts05-12-2021 6:48pm
Really would be great if you guys did a blow by blow....

I don't have the experience you and rh67 have, but here's where I'm coming from.  Past amps - Threshold 400A, Acoustat tnt-120, tnt-200 (with Acoustat 2+2s), Classe Audio CA-200.  I currently have a Music Reference RM-200, Jeff Rowland Concentra II, Jeff Rowland M201s, Valvet A4s, and the Audions. 

What I initially heard with the class D M201s - clarity, detail, tighter bass and a really quiet background - was so different it took awhile to get used to.  I liked that black background though, and finally decided I was hearing a more accurate version of what was recorded, with maybe a drier, slightly lean lower midrange.  I improved that somewhat with a tube preamp (Blue Circle BCS 3000) but didn't cure it.

All the good points of the M201s are just more so with the Audions, and no more sucked-out mids.  The midrange is now in balance with bass and treble.  I'm hearing more detail than ever - never noticed some of the mastering splices I can now hear.  And like someone above said, voices are so distinct, I can follow words I could never make out before.  They're the most even-handed amps I've had.  It's like getting to hear all my music fresh again.

You bet-- I'll have some notes on them this weekend. Never had a chance to listen to any of the amps--just decided to big or go home and try the Vivace first. It will be going up against the Luxman m600a , Levinson 532 a Carver 275 a Audio Research d240mk2 and some others.

Please post what you think about the AGD Vivace.

The more i listen the more i'm impressed, it just gets better and better.

AGD Vivace Monoblocks mk2 on route from Alberto !!!!!

The AGD Audions not just sound good but provide an experience at home much as attending a great live performance where the heart rate and emotions rise. Knowing what live sounds like and attending live events for decades the AGD amps do a great job of bringing a great portion of that home.

@ricevs

I just came across your reply to me. "The odds that he will deliver on his newest date are very, very low. But, it will happen......some day.....maybe this year. I don’t know why you keep posting about it.. "

Well, I always say that it will have a big task in that I absolutely LOVE your EVS1200. Anyway, since breaking in the EVS1200, I no longer "need" another amp, and having had the PSAudio M700s in my big room, I seriously doubt 200/400 will light my fire

tmcclintock
Happy to hear you have experienced what i have and it gets better. It takes a lot to impress me and these have.

@ricevs

I could write a small book on my audio adventures but here is a small introduction.

Built amplifiers during the late 60`s and beyond, early 70's worked with Grateful Dead building speakers for what is now called The Wall Of Sound, mid 70's hooked up with Marco Karpodines designing building and selling the Delphi Imager speaker later to be called simply The Imager speaker, during this time Bendini gave us amps that we modified to our own specs that had our own face plates, we brought in some of the first Goldmund TT's some with Imager logo, helped with the listening of the first Infinity speaker along with the development of the Infinity amp, friends from the Skunk Works developed the Lazarus amps had a small part in that, ect. ect.

My real job was working for the Federal Govt. and in the early 90's i had to bail from Marco Karpodines and the audio industry because my job required more of my time, i could no longer do both so i stuck with what offered me a retirement and medical benefits.

After my retirement 17 yrs. ago i started going to Audio shows again, i started to meet people that remembered me and before i knew it i was evaluating equipment for manufactures and several importers, not for money i did this because i enjoyed it, i did this for some European company's that did not even have a market base here in the US along with many well know manufactures. I did this up until about 7 years ago as it got to the point where it started to feel like a job and most of what was sent to me during the latter period were DAC's and streamers.

During the end of my evaluation period i was introduced to class D most being from European manufactures, i heard potential but too many boxes were left unchecked, to be honest i cannot count how many variants of class D i evaluated. I continued on my own to investigate the latest of class D, buying with my own money or having in home trials offered by some manufactures, the in home trial was how i was introduced to the AGD Audions and i bought them because they fulfilled the promise. They are some of the best sounding amps i have heard period.

Direct comparisons Pass Labs XA25, First Watt SIT 3, Wavac 300B, Boulder, Diablo 300, LM 805ia.

There is 40 years in 6 paragraphs.

Really would be great if you guys did a blow by blow.  What amps did you have before and how are these better/different?  I will take information overload any day over not much said............"one of the best amps"......."the best I've had"........means very little without more info.  Thanks.

I've just done a 14 day trial period of AGD Audions, with every intention of returning them if they weren't a significant improvement and good value over my existing amps.  I even appreciated the Pelican case as making for an easy and safe return.  Well, that's not happening as I'm definitely keeping these.  They're easily the best I've had in my system.  Just makes me wonder how the Vivaces sound.

Just a quick update. 

These amps continue to impress, huge holographic soundstage with proper scale, performers are proper size and not 4 ft. high but full scale. Lot's of air in the highs with proper separation, excellent tone from top to bottom. 

Without spending mega bucks this is one of the best amps i have heard so far. I will keep updating as time goes by.

Tweak 1,
How can you say that it is coming to a close when he has promised a shipping date about 7 times and never met it. I do expect the "Waiting for Godot" amp to be released some day.....but already we have had an 18 month wait since you first said you were getting one soon. The odds that he will deliver on his newest date are very, very low. But, it will happen......some day.....maybe this year. I don’t know why you keep posting about it.......it has never been real. When someone has one in their hands then it is real.

Here is a new GaN amp that is real.....just released. 200 watts a channel....and $699. Buy one now! Enjoy now!
https://premium-audio.com/mini-gan-5-balanced-power-amplifier.html
I am sure its not in the same sonic class as the AGD......but it is one tenth the cost and could be the best amp for the buck.

Just like Class A, A/B some amps cost more than others. All i can say is that regardless of class the AGD Audions sound superb some of the best sound i have ever heard regardless of amp type and this includes tube amps. I feel that the AGD's are a bargain at their price but i understand that everyone has a budget.

Also to note that the GaN devices used by AGD were designed for audio and not battery chargers.

It appears that the long night of waiting patiently for the LSA Voyager GaN amp is coming to a close. I don't know whether it will still be $3K, but I doubt it will be anywhere near $7500
https://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/lsa-electronics

$7500 and worth every penny. 

What do the Audion amps run price wise? I can’t seem to find any pricing
disregard. $7500 a pair LOL.

95% of the class D amps over a decade of trying class D amps.

There really was no need for me to find a great sounding class D amp as i have great sounding class A and SET amps it just sort of became a quest as every year new and improved or best you ever heard claims for class D were in the forums or print so curiosity would always get the best of me. 

So after a decade and many thousands of dollars spent the ONLY class D amp that delivers the goods are the AGD amps, class D that compares to my SET and class A amps. I not only found a great class D amp i found a great amp period.

I own the AGD Vivace and they are the best sounding amps I have ever owned and I have had a lot of amps, not 95, but a lot.

I have had the Audions for over two months and they are the best amps I've used (Berning, Parasound, SMC Audio, Benchmark, Air Tight, Conrad Johnson, etc).  Combine speed, clarity, low noise floor and just a tiny bit of warmth and you have the Audions.  And very practical, being small and light and very efficient.