@mapman , I’m not sure if @david_ten is as flexible as we are since he is from out of town but we will see what happens.
AGD Audion GaN Class D In The House
During the last decade i have managed to try in my home 95% of the Class D amps offered to the public these include the so called break thru offerings of the last year or two. While there has been progress the class D signature remained and this included what was lacking in class D amplification.
When i heard about AGD i thought here we go again because i had been there and done that so many times with class D but the GaN tech had me intrigued so i bought a pair of the Audion amps, i thought i would give class D one more go.
I received the amps two days ago and have about twelve hours of listening. From the first minute onwards these amps had my full attention. There is no connection between this class D amp and class D i have heard in the pass no connection what so ever. Forget classes A, A/B, D or whatever this is just an excellent sounding amp, it delivers music that belongs at the upper levels of Hi End audio reproduction.
It`s only been a couple of days of listening but i`m so taken back at the quality of sound i just had to share. I will add more the more i listen, good or bad.
When i heard about AGD i thought here we go again because i had been there and done that so many times with class D but the GaN tech had me intrigued so i bought a pair of the Audion amps, i thought i would give class D one more go.
I received the amps two days ago and have about twelve hours of listening. From the first minute onwards these amps had my full attention. There is no connection between this class D amp and class D i have heard in the pass no connection what so ever. Forget classes A, A/B, D or whatever this is just an excellent sounding amp, it delivers music that belongs at the upper levels of Hi End audio reproduction.
It`s only been a couple of days of listening but i`m so taken back at the quality of sound i just had to share. I will add more the more i listen, good or bad.
186 responses Add your response
@lancelock Just responded to your PM. |
@lancelock I should bring over the PS Audio M1200's to compare with AGD? |
The only other amp I would compare to the AGD is the Bakoon. I have a Bakoon headphone amp. It also gives a clear, open window into the sound. But the AGDs are in a category of their own. Without knowledge, I imagine some very pricey amps are also superb but I believe AGD can stand proudly against any. |
nice that @delveaudiollc is now posting here i can vouch for this outfit... absolutely first rate |
I was going to say the same about AGD. I am also an AGD dealer. They have to be heard. They rival most MOSFET amps I have heard, including Class A amps. It is not the case that one GAN amp is the same as all the rest. Each company seems to have its own sound signature. Some do use the same boards from the same factory. I know that AGD has a proprietary design and they are the only one at this time that is designed from scratch exclusively for audio applications. I know that doesn't necessarily make the AGDs better but it does absolutely show up in the sound signature. They are not cheap but I have put them up against SS Class A and AB amps that are up to 2x the price and they hold their own.
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have said this in numerous posts (see my informal review/evaluation from a year plus ago here when i bought them) alberto’s agd amps are the real deal... absolutely tippity top tier sound, and superior to all other class d and gan based amps i have tried or heard to date, coupled with small light form factor and negligible heat output, a perfect ’summer amp’ for those living in 4 seasons climates ...(though i would qualify all this by saying that i essentially stopped auditioning these types of amps after getting the audions -- haven't heard ralph/atmasphere's amps, nor molas) |
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I had an extended and very interesting conversation with Alberto at AGD a few weeks ago. The guy is extremely knowledgable, yet so humble it's unbelievable. His approach of doing in-house R&D and module design and production is commendable. Also, as some of you mentioned, the upgradeability of his designs makes a huge difference given the rapid pace of innovation in this particular area. I decided to go a different route for now, but AGD Audion remains very high on my bucket list. Maybe next year. |
AGD was tops on my list for an amp upgrade, but, alas, the budget just wasn’t there. Instead I went for full upgrades on my McCormack DNA-0.5 Rev A when it died because I knew I liked the sound qualities in the context of my particular system and tastes and knew I’d just be getting a lot more of the same for the relatively modest outlay of $2700. But if I come into some $$$ AGD will be tops on my list as a potential end-game amp, assuming I’d ever let go of my fully-upgraded DNA-0.5, which is not a given by any stretch. |
I have the e-purfy Audiophonics Class D amp. I decided to try it after I just couldn't get satisfaction with my MC75 tubed monoblocks. To be fair I just don't think the 75s had enough oomph to properly power the inefficient Sonusfaber Oly 1 book shelve speakers I have. I am highly pleased with the Audiophonics. One could say is is ultra or hyper transparent. BUT I would like to say try now a pair of 300 watt tubed monoblocks. But 14K used is still a lot of $ to outlay. The Class D was really a superb bargain at not even 1200 USD, and ultra fsat shipping and no VAT or import, from France. |
@soix FWIW our amp is easily updated too. |
Local shop did not have those amps, brought in the trusty Sunfire sig 600, pretty much embarrassed the NAD, Mcintosh, amps they had. Almost,didn’t hook her up, as about a year-ish ago, I did go in and hear the the Thor amps and 2 different devialet thingies, Sunfire had so much more authority in bass and midrange.
I will keep looking, calling shops if they carry the brand.
enjoy |
Just bumped into this thread a few days back… Three weeks ago a close friend who is dealer to a few selected products locally call me to invite me to hear his last addition… a class D new amp who just received… Was pretty skeptical being heavily tube biased… but my friend has a lot of miles in audio, and sensibilities that we share so …We heard the AGD Tempo on a pair of marvelous QLN monitors driven by an LTA preamp…The Tempo is the new entry level offering, a stereo version of the Audion monoblocks…We then we took it to my place and hook it to my Gibbons X driven by my Supratek Grange … After those two sessions I can truly understand and agree with your comments on the AGD line… In my system it clearly outperformed the marvelous First Watt F8, Nelson’s latest iteration on his remarkable boutique line… Have to tell you it got surprisingly close to my beloved Lamm ML2 SET amps… The Lamms were superior in most aspects but the small AGD’s performance was much closer to them than to the F8 which is surprisingly considering it’s dna… A couple of caveats… we matched the Tempo with a couple of high efficiency speakers. The excellent Dirty Weekend 4 from Zu at 97 eff.and a 92 db model from QLN, specifically design and built for tube matching and it was nice, but did not had the magic it show with more difficult loads… We also drove it with his own AGD Alto preamp and it did very nicely, but again, did not had the magic it showed with really good tubes preamps like the Supratek and the LTA… We are waiting for a pair of Audion monoblocks that should arrive next week to see how much more it adds to the Tempo experience, and which of them is going to take the place of the excellent F8 in my rack… So, in my experience and opinion these Gan class D amps are in a class by themselves that when properly matched and driven, as is the case with mainly every true high end component, can be a truly end game amplifier with which one can live happily ever after… At least, I know I could …
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Well, it certainly was with the Tempo which is a stereo one box version of the Audions. Which as I understand its basic difference is a bit better power supply and having the Gan circuit outside the main body in the glass envelope which probably helps insulating it from the rest of the amp and ps, and also makes it more upgradable… |
Just finding this thread as I’m new to hearing about the AGD. I see a mention of ZU Dirty Weekends above... How good/bad of a match would the Audion’s be with Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers. I currently run a Cary Audio SLI-100 (KT-150 output tubes) and I’m looking for a change - either Class-A (Luxman, Pass, or First Watt) or outstanding Class-D (AGD, obviously). Would likely pair with a tube-based pre-amplifier (to be determined), but open to suggestions. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated - thanks! |
I have had the AGD Audions for a year and thoroughly enjoy the music they reproduce. Over the years, I have owned various Class A/B and SET tube power amps and thought that I could never live with solid-state amps. My early introduction to Class D was underwhelming. But the Audions have totally changed my perception of music reproduction equipment. They are the most engaging amps I have ever experienced. |
