Best Class D GaNFET Amp Comparison. Who to invite?

Which Aavik?

Mola, NAD and Bel Canto are not GaN based amps. And because it uses GaNs does not make it the best amp. Everything makes a difference. Then there are modded amps.....like my modded Peachtree GaN1 digital amp.....which is different from the analog Class D amps. Please, do some research.

Here is a list of really good Class D analog amps:

1. Modded VTV Purifi 700 dual mono with my mods (non GaN).

2. Modded Orchard Audio dual mono biggie with my mods.

3. Stock AGD amps

4. Stock Atmasphere amps.

5. Hypex Nilai dual mono amps with my mods (non GaN)

6. LSA Voyager or Peachtree GaN 400 with my mods.

All above $6K or less. For more money there are the following:

Bigger AGD, Merrill amps, ?

Then there are the digital Class D amps (PowerDACs) that do not need a separate DAC, Preamp or analog cables.....in this category you have:

Peachtree GaN 1 with my mods

VTV D300 with my mods

Lyngdorf integrated amps (non GaN

Technics integrated amps (getting rave reviews) $2700 and $10K  (little one is non GaN and biggie uses GaN).  Little one does use GaN in power supply.

And now you have the new Mark Levinson company (Daniel Hertz) with their digital amps that may be way out there......their integrated amps start at $8K. (not yet reviewed).  I bet he is using GaN....he does not say.

I think that regular class D is history......and that digital Class D (or power DACs) are the wave of the future. LESS IS MORE!

16 minute video with Mark Levinson

I would definitely say the HifiRose RA180 is the best sounding class D Ganfet I’ve ever heard.

@jeffseight I can send Ric's modded Peachtree GAN1 but I cannot make it up to either location, working too much. You need a SPDIF streamer and volume control. 

I have a few options at home to do both. 

@tweak1, I am not sure of the significance of your posting of the M.L video, but I can assure you, that listening 1 meter away from the mouth of Coltrane's horn, and  for hours, as he states this experience when he was 16 years old, surprises me that Mark is not deaf by now, and listening this close is not a recommendation I can make. This, from my own experiences. Always, MrD.

@ricevs 

Rick, I looked on the VTV Purifi website and

could not find your number 1.  VTV Purifi 700

Is the model wrong?

What are the mods for the Peachtree Gan400 , mentioned above?

HiFiHandy, Which other Class D's are you familiar with?

I spoke to the Seattle people today and they are excited

about a class d event. 

I’m interested if it’s in Seattle.

Akira,

Great. Would you want to attend, assist or provide a Class D amp?

I was just abbreviating.....it is the newer high powered module from Purifi....the 1ET7040SA

The mods are mostly the same for all amps.  I will have more info on my site in a few days.   Basically, clean up the AC input path.....the output wire and output jack path, change the caps in the output filter or mod the existing ones.....Sometimes I change the input wire, mod op amps, damp things, remove not needed parts, raise the input impedance, change some input stage parts, etc.  

Peachtree Gan400 

LSA Voyager GaN 350

@jeffseight Jumping over to this thread.

I’d be up for a shootout in the Bay Area.

I could bring the following:

Hifi Rose RA 180

Peachtree GaN1

Class D Mini GaN 5

Purifi 1ET400A

I’ll shoot you a PM...

D-sonic M3a worth a look

I’m interested if in Seattle.   I can’t bring amps, but I can lend a hand and ears.

Starkrimson Ultra

Maybe you can get on the tour or work something out with Leo to get it for your date.

Orchard Audio Starkrimson Stereo Ultra Amp Tour! | Page 18 | Steve Hoffman Music Forums

Jeff.....ya forgot our Orchard Audio Ultra. It'll win I'm sure of it. Let me know when you need it and I'll work it out with Leo for ya.

@evank,@rajugsw, and @ricevs  thanks.

I am open to supporting this please contact me and we can make arrangements.

I live in Anacortes, so coming to Seattle with my two amps is doable.  I currently have the HifiRose RA180 and NAD M33.  I am very familiar with those two amps.  

PS Audio M1200 would be a great amp to test as well. I'm actually looking to pick up a class D amp so I'd be willing to bring some drinks to the event to listen, if in the Bay. Scotch anyone?

Seattle seems to be taking the lead on support. 

I need to find a better venue to rent for 2 days.

Anyone in the NW with a good room for audio?

Need to be legal for a 200 person capacity.

Joe/Leo- thanks! 

HiFiHandy- the Rose and new NAD are great. Please PM me so we can coordinate.

---

Mbolek,

I will contact the Bay Area folks to see about arranging one there as well.

Here are my thoughts on what is being suggested:

This is a "fun only affair".  No clear information will be attained.  Because:

1. You will have some modded gear and others not modded......If you are not hearing a component at its tweakiest best.....then you are not hearing it fully.  Every amp that uses Purifi modules sounds different from every other amp with Purfi modules.....and then you add tweaking?  Now you have a whole bunch of different sounds.  If one person modified all of the amps the same way to the max then you would be at least hearing them all in a better way.

2. Every amp needs a different amount of burn in and especially WARM UP time.  I will never listen to the modded GaN 1 here unless it has been playing music for at least 1.5 hours.....sounds like shite before then.  This was the same with my modified IceEdge amps (what tweak 1 has).....they sounded thin and grainy for at least 2 hours.  So, are you going to have all amps playing music for a long time and not turn them off before the testing?  Hardly.  As the amp here has been playing music it has gotten even better.......so, it is still burning in!!!

3. All amps need a MATCHING or at least GREAT footers underneath them.....and underneath the feet needs to be a Great platform.  So, do you have super platforms and super feet for each component.  Did you try different feet and platforms to see what sounds best with each amp?  I have an air bladder (super deflated inner tube) on the bottom then a bamboo cutting board (Ikea) then a maple slab and then the best Mad Scientist footers (two balls up and one ball down)....Nice combo.....tweaked for years to get there.  Also adding damped weight on top of a component can do wonders to the sound.  Some amps will sound better without damped weight.

4. All amps need a Matching or at least Great power cord on them.  Are you going to have the same exact power cord on all the amps.....and without shutting them off?

5. All amps (and all your equipment) will sound better run off a super Inverter (Giandel 5000) then through any other kind of line conditioner or dedicated line.....you will hear more differences and really hear the amp with the great Giandel Inverter.  A Puritan line filter can be used after the Giandel for even better sound.  Also your ground for the stereo should be a separate ground on its own Ground rod with a GROUND filter like the one Puritan sells.

6. System would need to be super tweaky and pure....no cables on floor.....speakers way away from the back wall and side walls.  Room treatments.  You would want to use recordings that showed everything....not just some rock music.....you would want Chesky type recordings......natural instruments in natural space.....so you can really tell what amp makes it sound REAL.

Since no one has the above.....then the best way to really find out what something sounds like is to get one amp at a time and A/B it with your reference amp on your own system......and tweak the power cord, footers, etc. over some time.   Then get a second amp in and do the same and on and on.  After you have spend a couple of months really finding out the differences then compare the best ones......that is the time to then have a get together with maybe 5 (at the most) other people......then you can do the shoot out over 6 or more hours so you can hear each amp properly warmed up and being fed by the best power cords....etc.

But, if you just want to have fun.....then mass shootouts are fun.  Wine, beer, cool dudes, good music........However, if you really want to know something solid about the possibilities of things......then mass shootouts are NOT the way of knowledge.

No matter what you do.....you can enjoy it......enjoy and love the ride.....The ride goes on (forever)......We are the ones that decide whether we enjoy the ride.....or not.  I pray you all choose love and joy.....in more and more moments of your day.  Blessings.

Subscribed 

Zzzzz…..zzzzz…..zzzzz….huh, wah? Zzzzz…..zzzzz……zzzzz…

Why only GaN @jeffseight ​​​​​​?   It is just out of curiosity?

Racer,

I do have some of the items on your list.

But with your knowledge and assistance

the event will be fun and provide Class D guidance

for those who tweak and those who do not.

This will be a 4-5 hour event.

Dude,

Revised to be Class D . Gan or No Gan.

@jeffseight Thanks for taking the lead on this.  I'm in full support and would love to assist in the Bay Area.  

I'm thinking I could help secure a good spot in the North Bay...:)

@ricevs Please stop with all your irrelevant conditions.   At some point, you need to step in the batter's box or line up to the free throw line.  Can't pass on your next golf shot...

All this gear isn't dependent upon humidity, atmospheric conditions, red pill/blue pill, mattress tags, Mars orientation....

We all have an opinion. I gave mine and you seem upset about it. When we resist the love that is in the now......we do not feel it. I meant no harm nor did I suggest that no one do what was suggested. I have exerienced most all the things I talked about and TO ME they are all relevant. What you believe is what you believe. There is no right or wrong here......just a sharing of truth.....our truth is our love....for each other.  I would never tell you to stop sharing your truth.  YOU are necessary....your truth is necessary......it is all of us.....no one is better or worse.....we are all needed to make the whole.  The universe would not be the same without YOU.......every YOU that exists.

Technics needs to be in the mix.  I believe they were the first to offer GaN in the USA.

A suggestion

Get the most expensive of the lowest overall cost brand and then match the rest to that price point.

A class D amp shootout is a great idea.

The winner should then go against a reference amp (A/AB) in the same price segment.

This will attract attention from manufacturers.

If you include a Peachtree in the competition, then maybe avoid it’s preamp and inbuilt DAC.

I am in the Pacific Northwest and would be interested and may have something to bring. Please keep us informed as this develops.

Are you going to attempt to level match?

Blind test?

SPdude- yes level matching is a must. Blind most likely.

Tag- The comparison to an a or a/b is a good thought  but which one?

The Class Ds will range in MSRP from $3k to $10k with the Aavik as an 

outlier. So where do you draw the MSRP line for a legit comparison?

Or just get an $7k Luxman and call it good. 

Peter S.

What do you have?

@jeffseight

"Or just get an $7k Luxman and call it good.’ :)

I’ve already got my Lux and may very well do just do that, but since I’m in the Seattle area I’m curious about your project and have subscribed. My only experience with newer Class D is a recent home audition of an Aavik I-180. 

Thanks for your efforts and thanks to the folks who can bring an amp to the party..

Recap:

Without calling any manufacturers yet we may have available for the Seattle event:

1. Aavik I-180 courtesy Peter S

2. HiFi Rose RA 180  Courtesy HifiHandy

3. NAD M33. HiFiHandy

4. Orchard Audio Ultra Courtesy Leo/Joe

5. Peachtree GaN 1 Courtesy Santabarbara

To Locate:

A. Technics

B. Mola Mola

C. Atmosphere

D. AGD 

E. Bel Canto

F. Lyngdorf

Also will need to secure a venue for 2 days.

Free is best but we could pay up to $1,000.

Anyone in possession of the amps in the above "To Locate"

willing to participate please advise.

I will be at Axpona to solicit maker's participation then.

It might be logical to hold this event the last Saturday in

June as Lou's event PNW Audiofest is the week before.

Bay Area Event

We have some locals volunteering gear and Scotch. Not a bad start.

Anyone else still living in the Bay Area with needed product?

I don’t have an aavik, but do have audions.  Not sure if I can commit to being there…

Technics sug 700 mk 2 and it does have GaN.

I researched the Technics MkII and could not find anything about the amplification (GaN or otherwise) in their literature. Maybe they updated it

@jeffseight I am in Seattle and could provide Atma-sphere Class D's

If it’s not raining, i am in Seattle and an interested participant…..

Cool that you are doing this - good on ya !

Jim

My latest thought is to actually hold it at/during the PNW Audio Event.

Simplifies a lot. Need to see what Lou has left.

Nquery- Excellent!

Tomic-Never rains in Arizona...

The best iteration of this I have heard was LKV Research PWR+ amp.  It has a Class A front end with a GaNFET back end.  Their PWR3 amp was 80% of the PWR+ at one-third the cost. 

Both pieces were fantastic.

LKV uses hypex module. And offers a 180wpc Integrated at $2,200.

Price is reasonable as is warranty and trial period.

Will look for them at Axpona, thanks!

I am interested and could bring the Peachtree GaN 400 if the event is held in Seattle area.

pin wa,

Thank you for the gracious offer.

Would you mind PMing me with your contact info

so when I have the specifics I will contact you?

Best,

I just proposed to the Lou Hinckley, PNW Audiofest organizer,

that we use the top floor of the Show Hotel on Saturday June 24th as a place

to setup the amps for comparisons. Awaiting his response.

So far thanks to some generous local folks we have:

1. HiFi Rose

2. NAD M33

3. Orchard Audio Ultra

4. PeachTree 400

5. Atma-Sphere 

Only 6 left to garner: Aavik, Mola Mola, Technics, AGD, Bel Canto, Lyngdorf

Stay Tuned for further Updates