Anyone hear the Class D Audio Mini GaN 5 amp yet?

Why don’t you just buy one?.....you have 15 days to return it, if not happy. Since it is so light, the shipping would be not much for both ways. You can be the one to let everyone know how it sounds versus more expensive amps (assuming you have a more expensive reference). If you don’t buy today the price is going up $50.  If you cannot play it all the time then put some power resistors on it and run it 24/7......burn in can sometimes be very little or a great deal.  One of the mini reviews on the Premium Audio site claims it got noticeably better with time.

Anyone hear the Class D Audio Mini GaN 5 amp yet?

300w 4ohm GaN Technology for $699!!! gotta be bargain if it sounds as good or better than Purifi or Hypex NC500.
What I like is that it’s that it’s 100kohm input impedance, rather than stupid low 20kohm like most Class-D’s.
Which means it can be driven direct from even tube source or tube pre or passive preamps easily.

https://www.classdaudio.com/mini-gan-5-balanced-power-amplifier.html
Cheers George

Agreed George! 

Yeah! and you yanks should love that it's an American company that's making them!!

Cheers George 

Correct. We are saying it is interesting at this point in time.   Brand new and intriguing. 

If should be obvious that GaN does not guarantee better performance.

It is obvious — that’s the reason for the original question.  Got anything less obvious and maybe even interesting to add?

Practically on many cases it does but performance alone may not equal good sound.   Good sound is a subjective not necessarily an objective determination. 

If should be obvious that GaN does not guarantee better performance.

No, but if the GaN semiconductors have been implemented right, it is the one to use today
And with this Class D Audio USA made one, it could be just a ready made board from GaN to use, in whatever case one see fit, like a $20k one could be using the same board. As Class D Audio did use Ice Power & Hypex boards for some of their kits in the past.

https://gansystems.com/evaluation-boards/gs-evb-aud-xxx1-gs/ These specs are very similar to the Class D Audio USA made one

Cheers George

Not as bad as you make out, quite good in fact for Class-D probably better than many Amir has measured costing >$2k and for just $699 on sale. If that what Class D Audio USA is using, could even better if not.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/gan-systems-amplifier-eval-board-measurem...

Compare it to other Class-D that are low priced.
For $699 don’t think you’ll find anything better perhaps, and USA made, sold and serviced, doesn’t seem to be a China, Asia, or Euro connection at all.

I said this upfront to avoid the measurement hoopla.

Only hoopla to those that don’t understand it, and it so new that’s all there’ll be for a while till some one purchases it, for the minuscule price it is, and that will come from keeping this thread active hopefully.

Cheers George

And guess what, it’s not a GaN Eval board, looks to be Class-D Audio USA own GaN technology board, big USA printed on the board  https://ibb.co/5knnR2y

Cheers George

And here's the whole thread
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/premium-audio-mini-gan-5-balanced-power-a...

Cheers George

If anyone wanted a GaN Eval board with SMPS, they are a $1K from Mouser. they do look a lot more complex than Class-D Audio’s one
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/GaN-Systems/GS-EVB-AUD-BUNDLE1-GS?qs=vHuUswq2%252BszP6hR0ubJmfw...

Cheers George

Only hoopla to those that don’t understand it

I understand it fine thanks, which is precisely why I didn’t want this to devolve into yet another endless argument about how good or bad this or that measurement is and how important measurements are or aren’t (aka hoopla) rather how the thing actually sounds.  Capiche?

I think it’s on track to get some info on sound from anyone here.
The more exposure the better.
If you search you will see I started a thread on this USA made amp quite a while back as Class-D Audio USA was developing it.
Cheers George

doogiehowser"Let attitude more reading would be your friend considering the ASR link had listening impressions"
I also struggle and wrestle with the English language because I am not a native speaker so I am not criticizing you're comment but it is not clear I believe as it is written so you may want to rephrase, reword, or reconstruct you're sentence for clarity and comprehension.

Also you may want to know because you are new here that ASR is widely disregarded here because although they claim to be about "science" it is obvious from even a casual review of they're work that they are very unscientific and make unsupported claims you will see many references to this on Audiogon you need to find better sources and a word of advice don't let the word "science" make you think it is "true."

Let me know when someone actually buys one and listens to it and can share their findings.

I am tempted for that price but can’t justify another amp quite yet. The longer one waits, the better off one usually is in regards to the product/technology options at their disposal to buy. In other words, new innovations of value to many and not just a select few with unlimited funds only get better and cheaper over time.

Let attitude more reading would be your friend considering the ASR link had listening impressions.

Ha!  Going to ASR for listening impressions is like going to The Absolute Sound for rigorous reviews and objective measurements.  No bueno. 

doogiehowser

I would be careful about what groups I am disparaging.

What does that mean? Is that a threat?

Well, it’s apparent doogie’s left the reservation — no idea what he’s talking about and certainly not pertinent to the intended discussion soooooo...back to our regularly-scheduled program, please. 

What a bunch of drama kings......he he.   All these words and nothing said.  I suggest soix delete the thread and start another one with the same tile in a few weeks......maybe by then someone will have actually heard the amp and have something REAL to say.

cleeds3,884 posts07-08-2021 11:57amdoogiehowser

I would be careful about what groups I am disparaging.

What does that mean? Is that a threat?

@cleeds : it's our old friend --- he is back. Audio2Design, AtDavid, DanNad, etc. etc. Another fake account

Yeah, agreed (BTW Ric, still have your wonderful original Millennium DAC). Back before I had enough experience with various gear to know how to listen, what to listen for, and my own tastes/biases I used to overweight the importance of measurements too. I thought my original post as written would dissuade the lesser noob numbers crowd from polluting the discussion, but they’re a pervasive lot and obviously tough to shake. Oh well, maybe a topic for another day.

While we’re here though Ric, any general thoughts on GaN vs. Purify amps at this stage? My guess is, as with Class A vs. A/B amps (and pretty much everything in audio), there are trade offs and overall implementation matters as much or more than anything else, but I’d be interested in your thoughts and maybe which may have more potential for whatever reason(s). I know you’ve got some interesting mods for the VTV amps that are also high on my radar, which is actually one of the reasons I started this thread in the first place. Maybe we can salvage something useful outta this thing after all. 🤞

As I say over and over again.....EVERYTHING makes a difference. All implementations of the Purifi modules (stock or modified) will sound different. Every GaN based amp will sound different. The only way to know anything about sound is to A/B. The baby modded Purifi and the modded IceEdge are great sounding amps that can be listened to for years......but are they as good as this inexpensive GaN amp.....without or with mods? NO ONE knows (yet). Then there are the new GaN amps coming from LSA, Wyred for Sound and Orchard (all around $3K....and some of these might be moddable for even better sound).....then there are the already available $1500 mono blocks GAN amps from Orchard.....then there will be more.....and more and more and more and more and more and more.....forevermore...he he. This is why I tell people not to spend a lot of money now as this GaN thing is just starting. Class D will slowly take over the whole audio game. The potential is great.

Is GaN just a new buzzword or does it really help the sound? It makes sense that it would improve the sound.....but everything has to be done correctly. And there is no amp on the planet that has everything done to the nth degree........none. Bruno thinks that GaNs are not needed. Is he correct? Has he actually tested GaNs and A/Bed with Mosfets (both circuits tweaked to the max, of course)? I doubt it.

If Bruno put GaNs in the Purifi, then we would know exactly what GaNs bring to the table.  The best implementation of the Purifi will never happen.....same with GaN based amps.  For those that don't know, GaN is just a faster version of a mosfet.  It is the output device in a class D amp. What is the "best" implementation of a class A/B amp?  It does not exist......an ever changing and evolving reference (just like our soul).  No end to audio.

You have to do everything to the nth degree and most engineers don't have all the marbles....all are playing with limitations.  The game is ever changing.....enjoy the ride. Essence is always the same.....and everyone’s essence is Love and Joy. Blessings to all.

thyname

@cleeds : it’s our old friend --- he is back. Audio2Design, AtDavid, DanNad, etc. etc. Another fake account

Thanks, @thyname. It looks like you’re correct! The guy has a problem.

When it comes to a straight wire with gain there is an end. It is the point where you can no longer tell the difference when there is an improvement. It is hard to swallow for audiophiles but we are effectively there.

Rrrriiiiiiight.  Anyway...thanks for your thoughts Ric.  Makes sense. 

If Bruno put GaNs in the Purifi, then we would know exactly whatGaNs bring to the table.

THAT is exactly what I was wondering/hoping for.  Seems a little unlikely near term given your take on Bruno’s thoughts on GaNs, but guess we’ll just have to wait and see how that plays out.  Should be interesting to say the least.

Wow, what a bunch of crap, all this "sounds better" subjective bs. There is no arguing subjective valuations of quality-it's all personal opinion, and there is no right or wrong, no better or best. If you want to debate amps or anything else on their merits, the only metric that means anything concrete is objective performance. Bruno has told me he has looked at GaN devices and hasn't found any reason to use them. His purifi amps already perform as close to a wire with gain as one can find. The fact that people are implementing tube buffers, etc., speaks to the fact that everyone has their own personal preferences. What's the best flavor of ice cream? Who is the most beautiful woman? All that matters is what YOU like, and all this wasted time and debate trying to find some consensus is a lot of noise about nothing. The only way to know if you will like something is to try it for yourself- the opinions of others are meaningless.

@soix 
I have the Audion now for two weeks,
They are driving DC10/Viking Berlin’s (MK II).
Very impressed and will definitely keep them.
I had listened to them at Ocean Way Audio in LA and was simply stunned of what the combination of an ultra low noise floor (-130 dB), very low distortion and a SET like signature of harmonics (albeit at very low levels) can do. These amps are a discrete innovation. Specifically, never have I heard mass strings and large choirs so resolved, detailed and natural.
Also the detail and texture at very low volume are simply stunning.
Definitely try them out!

Is it a coincidence that when you put transistors in a glass tube that looks like a electron tube that suddenly the sound is called SET like? As opposed to your typical Spartan Class D amp box that no SET fan in their right mind would ever own, eh?

I wouldn’t put it that way. I understand the specific design objective was to create a GaN amp which delivers SET-like harmonics (without paying the price of high noise floor and limited dynamics). In my view this has been completely achieved.
The design of the “chip in a tube” amp board may be a matter of taste. But the workmanship and appearance of the unit are quite beautiful.

Re: AGD Class-D

Is it a coincidence that when you put transistors in a glass tube that looks like a electron tube that suddenly the sound is called SET like? As opposed to your typical Spartan Class D amp box that no SET fan in their right mind would ever own, eh?

Yeah that glass tube thing was very very questionable thing to do, but then to the gullible it "could" say it will sound better. Even the designer said it was a bit of a joke when he was interviewed way back on it.

But the worst part of it is that they use the 6550 tube push pin’s and tube socket as the contact making for input, output, power etc, which is just about the worst thing you could do re a good connection for power transferring.
(suppose it will ensure future servicing returns when the contact/s will fail)

https://www.stereophile.com/images/020720-Tube-600.jpg

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQdLm_dq9LsPFMm8BgkCfRfsmAoS1Z0MaZOv9dRXSVk_9Q7...

Cheers George

@soix 
Apologies - just realize your question focused on a different amp. Product names seem pretty close.
Still, The Audion, a mini amp :-), is worth a listening.

FYI: The miniGan $699 expired on 6/30, now $749

I read an interesting GaN article in the August issue of MotorTrend: Gallium Tech will shrink your EV Charger and Increase Range

Gallium Tech will shrink your EV Charger and Increase Range

And no doubt make it sound better too. 

So anyone heard the mini Gan 5 yet?

I have two on order (to use as monoblocks), should be here Tuesday. I use PP KT-88 amps now to drive Altec 416s in a DIY box from 800 Hz down and I'm curious how these will sound.

I have two on order (to use as monoblocks)

Did you check with the manufacturer to see if they can be bridged into monoblocks??? As many can’t, and will blow up on turn on.

Also "if" they can be bridged, the wattage yes will be higher, but all the other parameters that make for a good sounding amp goes down when stereo amps are bridged, and they actually sound worse just louder.

Cheers George

Thanks George, I don't believe they can be bridged and I don't plan to. Each GaN amp will be driving a 16-ohm Altec 416 (95 db? 98 db?) so no need for more power.
I did check with the manufacturer and was told no issue with running just one channel.