Digital input amp

Love it when a guy comes on here (@tvrgeek) and corrects a person with more experience in designing and building amplifiers than anyone here. Node has a DAC...

What is the GaN 1?

It is a 200 watt-per-channel power amplifier designed to be the sole interface between your variable output digital audio device, like a Bluesound NODE, and your speakers. The GaN 1 is a simple, pure and cost-effective audio solution. Connect the GaN 1 to a streamer and a pair of speakers. That's it...no DAC, no preamp and no input switching. The signal path from the music to your speakers is remarkably short and free from artifacts. Do you want to hear the intricate details in your music that have always been there, but you couldn't quite make them out before...but NOT in an analytical or fatiguing way...simply reproduced as naturally and realistically as they were captured? Then the GaN 1 is for you!

Thank you Ralph. Much like the Gold Note PA-10 that employs switching technology (their version of GaN) and is not Class D as some of the  audio journalists have misstated over the last couple of years (Darko). 

If this is false then its not a class D amplifier inside although it might employ switching technology.

Whatever okay. I will stick to known engineers, designers and builders that have a stellar product line and reputation as my sources of information. Not an unknown commodity as such.  You also seem to be very attracted to cheap, economical products. Are you a regular from ASR? 

  FYI, I have designed and built SS, tube and amplifiers. I have a degree in electronics.

Gad my post was deleted, gads I questioned the OP credibility, Gads. 

 @jetter +10,000 Ralph has forgotten more than most will ever know. He is  respected and is a proven source for knowledge, world class amplification and engineering/design. Gads unlike a certain someone. Sigh and he/she has nothing to offer from stand point of teaching and thinks he is the smartest guy in the room, sigh.  

@tvrgeek Lets impart some knowledge on the PA-10.

I’d guessed given the overall sound of the PA-10 that it was in some way Class D in its architecture, but Gold Note makes no mention of this in their technical specifications. Personally, I’m a massive advocate of Class D technology when it is done well and so I asked Gold Note directly “What Class of amplifier is the PA-10?”. Here is the response I got – “ The PA-10 features quite an interesting design. It is not a Class D amplifier but it leverages a new technology that uses MOSFETs for the output stage, in common with the Class D, featuring an output oscillator (GaN Mosfets with Gallium Nitride), a proprietary design that actually doubles the power of the amplifier when reducing the impedance – exactly as a pure Class A but with extremely high efficiency to deliver great amounts of energy.” So there you have it. 

Only way to find out would be to listen to one. Or are you spec sheet jockey?

Totally useless spec like you post I guess. Love these keyboard engineers. Head on back to ASR.

Sad Gold Note only gave marketing BS as a description.  I would love to see an IEEE or AES paper on whatever they are doing to see if it really is innovative. The  bummer is it is within my price, but only direct sales and no audition/return policy I could find. Their published specs are not defined so even though they are not impressive, not knowing the parameters makes them meaningless.  At what power/frequency is .01% distortion?  Is it .0001% half a Watt lower?   Could be a great amp, could be not so.  Totally useless specs. 

 

Hmm so you called them all? So cause a guy worked for you makes you an expert, okay. 

So you called them in Italy? Really. Funny they answered all my questions. Guess that is why I am enjoying these amplifiers and you are not. 

Not my fault you live in the boondocks and cant get an audition. Head on over to Best Buy. You can keep living in 1960 if you want.  If you were remotely interested you would have seen Safe and Sound that offer return privilege's:

Returns
Returns are accepted for products purchased within the last 30 days. You must call us to initiate a Return Authorization 800-820-6460.

• You are responsible for return shipping costs.
• Products MUST be in LIKE NEW Resalable condition.
• You MUST have the ORIGINAL BOX and PACKAGING MATERIALS.
• You MUST have all of the original accessories, manuals etc.
• Your package should be INSURED for the FULL VALUE for your protection during return shipping.

Enjoy 1960 Mr Geek! 

Guess Google is new to you:

https://goldnoteusa.com/dealer-locator/

Gestalt Audio1637 11th Ave N  Nashville TN 37208USA

Phone: 615-838-7178Email: colin@gestalt.audio

Brooks Berdan Ltd.110 West Olive Ave.Monrovia CA 91016USA

Phone: (626) 359-9131Email: info@brooksberdanltd.com

NEW US DISTRIBUTPOR I BOUGHT FROM THEM.

Analog Matters1453 US 1 North Unit D-32Ormond Beach Fl 32174USA

Phone: 800 752 4018Email: analogmatters1@gmail.com 

BTW it was not from Gold Note Specs, read much. Use google much, no bio please yawn. Should read some of the reviews (what I quoted slick) as they are all positive just like the Schiit you purchased. Go to a show or two, get enlightened.

BS you quoted does not give any hint and their published specs 

COVID? Come On Man! Are you Howard Stern? No really if your gear sounds good to you then good for you. Gads you are not the end all know it all as Ralph pointed out. Enjoy your JDS.

Thought you ordered a Schiit amplifier or was that just Schiit.

Please do tell me what I have suggested that you have hear (no first hand experience I see) or heard are crap, slick?.  

Still did not answer my question.

It's your life you can live it in fear or not. 

Please do tell me what I have suggested that you have hear (no first hand experience I see) or heard are crap, slick?.  

@atmasphere Interesting (though that was not marketing, you and @tvrgeek both got that wrong) So class T is not really a class though, and it is really just Class D with  GaN mosfet built in house like your amplifiers. Nice! The PA-10's sound freaking awesome, much better than the Schiit I used to have, you should give them a listen and like your amplifiers the reviews have been very positive. 

https://www.hifipig.com/gold-note-pa-10-power-amplifier/

https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/gold-note-pa-10-amplifiers/

https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/goldnote13/

https://darko.audio/2020/07/brawn-and-brains-gold-notes-pa-10-power-amplifier/

According to Wikipedia, “A Class T amplifier is an audio amplifier IC design. Rather than being a separate “class” of amplifier, Class T is a registered trademark for Tripath’s amplifier technologies. The control signals in Class T amplifiers may be computed using digital signal processing or fully analog techniques.” The page then goes into detail but I’ll not quote all that here. So, it seems that most switching amps are class D, some are erroneously called class T and some really are class T.

I’d guessed given the overall sound of the PA-10 that it was in some way Class D in its architecture, but Gold Note makes no mention of this in their technical specifications. Personally, I’m a massive advocate of Class D technology when it is done well and so I asked Gold Note directly “What Class of amplifier is the PA-10?”. Here is the response I got – “ The PA-10 features quite an interesting design. It is not a Class D amplifier but it leverages a new technology that uses MOSFETs for the output stage, in common with the Class D, featuring an output oscillator (GaN Mosfets with Gallium Nitride), a proprietary design that actually doubles the power of the amplifier when reducing the impedance – exactly as a pure Class A but with extremely high efficiency to deliver great amounts of energy.” So there you have it.

@atmasphere You have forgotten more than I will ever know.