@mbmi, It's interesting that you mentioned the Pascal module as a step up, having heard the Pascal in Aavik, Axxess, and JRDG amps I think you may be correct as those amps all sound top shelf.

I have too much stuff already but would love to find a spot for the new HiFi Rose integrated.  That company and a few others are really upping the bar when it comes to new and innovative HiFi products, or Future Fi as it is increasingly being referred to online.

@marco1 I suspect there are other synergy issues. I rather enjoy my GaN amplifiers, I do not put them in the same category as my tube amps I do think they are very close. Love the detail. YMMV and I only have OCC copper IC's and speaker cables in the GaN system. 

@tvad “Nevertheless, I believe AGD Productions GAN amps (and I suspect Atma-Sphere GAN amps as well), are worthy of recommendation and audition.” I agree that they are worthy of audition.  I quite liked the AGD amps when I heard them at CAS this year.  Sorry to say not quite so much for the Orchard. I liked the Atma-sphere the best out of the three I’m just not ready to recommend as a substitution for a tube amp though.  Hopefully they will continue to improve.

@audio_is_subjective64 by “other synergy issues”  are you referring to other components in my system?  If so, what I can say is the only thing that changes during my evaluation of my Class D amp is the amp itself.  Everything else including cables, Cardas Clear btw, remain the same.  Therefore what I perceive as a lack of soul, I can only attribute to the change from tube to Class D amps.

@marco1 Sure I get it. It did not work for you, however many others rave about them. Many people say the same about Class D and G (Benchmark) amplifiers I rather enjoyed my BC e1x (daughter hijacked it). It just wasn't for you. Having Cardas Clear makes nothing fool proof. I enjoy my tube system also.

Therefore what I perceive as a lack of soul, I can only attribute to the change from tube to Class D amps.

@audio_is_subjective64 not quite sure what we are debating here.  My point since posting initially was to say that I didn’t think my Class D amps sounded like or as good as my tube amps.  If you’re certain it has something to do with synergy, my speakers, or my other components not even knowing what they are then I guess you’re a pretty smart fella.  I think I know my system a little better than you and can assure you it doesn’t.

And if my post makes no sense now it’s because you just edited yours.  Now I have really no idea what you are talking about.  But that’s ok.  Just enjoy the music.

@marco1 all good, just not for you. I am firing up the tubes right now.

I play the Technics SUG 700-2 which is around $3,000. It looks and sounds great I can't imagine anything sounding better.

Technics SU-G700M2 integrated amplifier | Stereophile.com

I don't represent Orchard, to make sure that's clear. I recently pulled the trigger on Orchard's Starkrimson Ultra 2.0 DIY kit with dual power supplies. So it is technically the DMC. It was a breeze to build and the questions that did come up, Leo was there to help and he is a pleasure to deal with. It is refreshing to be able to speak with the designer behind the equipment like Orchard, Rogue, Southerland, to name a few. There was a question earlier about being balanced, they are , but he has an adapter available if you choose to go that route. I am driving it with a Rogue RH5 preamp with Telefunken NOS 12au7 tubes and Martin Logan XT F100 speakers. Soundstage is deep wide and tall, separation between instruments and vocals very impressive for half the cost of the competition. And no sub needed.

GaN FETs are for high frequency (>500 kHz) switching circuits and are not really meant to be run in saturation with a Q point.  They have low parasitics, but that only applies at high frequencies, not audio.  Using them is more marketing than any intentional advantage over a MOSFET.  There are too many other factors involved to attribute sound quality strictly to the output devices.

I am always interested in reading other peoples opinions on various components.  And so many people mention reviews.  I find that most people really have not heard components that consistently outperform most components.  I have said this over and over, learn what makes sound do what it does and then you can cut through so much of this and know how to find a component that performs in all systems.

BUT hey, what do I know anyway.

Happy Listening.

@marco1 , @tvad 

What SQ characteristics do distinguish from the auditioned Class D Gan amps that cause you to still prefer tubes. I suspect I would agree with you and pick tubes but for my rooms allergy to heat. 

Have you ever experienced a class AB amp that got you closer to your tube preference ("soul"?) than a Class D Gan? If so, which one(s)?

What SQ characteristics do distinguish from the auditioned Class D Gan amps that cause you to still prefer tubes. I suspect I would agree with you and pick tubes but for my rooms allergy to heat.

Have you ever experienced a class AB amp that got you closer to your tube preference ("soul"?) than a Class D Gan? If so, which one(s)?

#1 on the list was 3D soundstage. Depth was more convincing using a 300B SET tube amp.

#2 was texture. The tube amp conveyed a bit more.

Regardless of what chip amp I’ve auditioned, they all sounded a bit sterile and artificial compared to the 300B tube amp. The AGD Audion GAN mosfet amp was the least so.

I have never experienced a Class AB solid state amp in my system that came close to a tube amp. I have heard Class A that approached a tube amp - Pass Labs XA-30 and XA-60.

A while back I asked John Stronczer at Bel Canto about the GAN amplifier modules. His take was the folks at Hypex have a lot of experience with, and have done a lot of research with the NCore modules, and if there was an advantage to the GAN’s they would be in the forefront of their implementation. I’m not in tune with the industry like John is, but for what it’s worth, I do know Bel Canto class D amplifiers sound extremely good and natural. I’ve owned several over the past 10 years. Presently, I’m listening to a Rogue Audio Pharaoh 2 that also uses Hypex NCore class D modules, and which also sounds quite good in my system. I think it’s as much about the overall implementation as it is about the amplifier module in the circuit. Just my two cents worth. YMMV.

@aball 

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with your statement that "They have low parasitics, but that only applies at high frequencies, not audio." The statement is completely inaccurate and misleading. The Class-D output stage runs at high frequency (our GaN modules at 800Khz), and the output MOSFET, whether Si-based or GaN-based, must have extremely low switching losses to operate efficiently. Any "parasitics" impact the efficiency and purity of the switching waveforms, causing slope variations, overshoots or undershoots during the transition. All of these factors affect the quality of sound reproduced. To better understand the fundamental principle of operation, it would help to look at the principle of operation of a switching amplifier (CLASS-D). Many articles are available online that can help you understand this better.

@aw-agd

If you read my post you will see that I’m assuming linear operation. I made the same mistake you did: I didn’t read carefully.

Also, it turns out you actually agree with my statement you said you disagree with, since 800k is high frequency.

And finally, I’m a PhD EE in power electronics who designs converters using GaN, so I’m already quite familiar, but thanks for your concern.

@aball

After reading your last message, I am even more puzzled.

Who is he using GaN in linear mode???

Honestly, it makes no sense.

Also, instead of continuing this conversation via potentially misread posts, please give me a call anytime and I will be more than glad to see where this disconnection between whatever written and whatever implied, is.

Fronting the Audions with a Primaluna EVO 400 pre-amp is the best of both worlds. .

I've had the Orchard in my system twice..for a week each and it is a great sounding amp...but as we all know, it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Fortunately, the amp is on tour and if you join the tour, you can try the amp for a week for just the cost of shipping to the next person.

Go to Steve Hoffman Forums and search the following thread:

Orchard Audio Starkrimson Stereo Ultra Amp Tour