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Anybody else waiting for GaN and Purify to have a baby?

So many promising things being written about products using either technology, anybody know there’s an amp in the near future incorporating both?  Gotta say I’m more than curious about what that could sound like. 
soix

Showing 8 responses by soix

soix OP
10,015 posts
 
As it stands I’m thinking pairing the GaN 5 with a decent tubed preamp could be the heart pretty darn good-sounding system for not much $$$.  Yes?  No?  What tube preamp would you use?  Off the top I’d be curious about a Schiit Freya+ or a Quicksilver Line Stage.  What say you?
soix OP
10,015 posts
 
@jjss49 — Great synopses, and thank you.  Most helpful and look forward to future thoughts/comparisons and if anymore changes to the GaN 5 with more hours. 
soix OP
10,015 posts
 
To me nothing beats out Linear SS Pure Class-A to at least >50w then you have your "warmth" and "fleshiness" but also with hyper detail and sense, immediacy, slam, and startle factor. 
I’m a fan of Class-A amps’ sound as well — not so much the electric bill that comes with them tho.  Similarly a fan of tubes but not a fan of their limitations on which speakers they’re comfortable driving or tube cost/maintenance.  Maybe I’m just kidding myself, but I’m hopeful for the first time these new GaN and Purify amps can finally and effectively bridge the gap enough between both technologies and at a lower cost while being more Earth friendly.  The fact that a guy like Ralph is finally building one and has so many positive things to say about the new tech’s potential is especially encouraging to me.  Hey, I’ve got a wife, a mortgage, and two kids soon headed for college so gotta be able to dream about something. 

soix OP
10,015 posts
 
initial reactions to the mini 5 are quite positive btw... still listening, swapping, assessing, will report findings in about a week or so i would hope
Mucho looking forward to your findings @jjss49 — any of the initial “chalkiness” clear up?

soix OP
10,015 posts
 
in the front or the back?
Yeah I was definitely referring to the front and not the back — not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Having to do mods tells me design is in question.
Not sure about that — coulda just been cost constraints in designing to a price point.  Always trade offs.  That’s where modders and model upgrades (looking at you ARC) come in. 

soix OP
10,015 posts
 
Class D offers the ability to have a similar distortion signature, but at a much lower level, easily over a magnitude lower. This allows the amp to also be more neutral. A class D amplifier also does not need regular service, makes a lot less heat and is more compact. If you can offer all those advantages over tubes with the same smoothness and detail thru the mids and highs why on earth would you **not** do that? 
Does this notion give anyone else a slight bulge in their pants?
soix OP
10,015 posts
 
highly unlikely you will find anything for $750 that will even be able to fairly compete. Its even kind of interesting you think its possible which sort of denotes a latent desire to have the $750 sound as good. I guess its a common fantasy.
Nobody said they thought a $750 amp would compete with an amp 10x the price — you made that up in your mind somehow.  We’re all just wondering how the Mini GaN 5 sounds for only 750 bucks and need other amps to compare it to is all. 

May be be a dumb question, but couldn’t another designer/manufacturer buy the Purify modules and incorporate GaN devices in an amp on their own?

soix OP
10,015 posts
 
@jjss49 — unfortunately I haven’t heard any GaN or Purify amps.  I’ve got a defunct McCormack DNA-0.5 Rev A amp I was planning on sending to Steve for repairs and/or upgrades (thinking it’s probably the dreaded and fatal input board failure given my unit’s age), but after reading the reviews of these new amps I’m rethinking that now.  The Mini GaN 5 was one I was eyeing but looking to hear more real-world feedback before possibly trying one, so obviously I’d be very interested in your impressions especially since you’ve got the Audions as a reference for comparison.  Anyway, that’s my story for now.  
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