GaN based amplifier made in the USA from Class-D Audio USA

Soix, not enough to validate my response.  I set the MiniGan 5 back in the system.  Will give it 30 days of continuous use and then re-evaluate again on Audiogon.  My current bias was based on the fact, the Cherries sounded great strait out of the box.  Thank you.

@dwmaggie — how many hours do you have on the Mini GaN 5?  Can you update with any changes as it breaks in further?

What is needed is a class D GAN amp shootout...

We need to wait for Atmasphere's monoblocks.  Then an Orchard, Voyager, Atmasphere, AGD comparison would be great.

I actually have the Orchard Audio StarKrimson Ultra on loan for the Arizona A/V Club to get passed around. Leo Ayzenshtat is great to work with and sent us the original StarKrimson (then BOSC) Amplifiers and power supplies  last year. Yes, it was a kludgy setup but sounded so good I sent all my PS Audio M700’s & an S300 off to The Music Room ! After I DIY’d some of his GaN boards, they went up in smoke because of a not recommended Power Supply bring up method I had going (long story). But they sounded amazing when I didn’t let the smoke out of them.

Fast forward to the StarKrimson Ultra just received for my review (YouTube & for the Club & Leo). They are amazinger sounding. He’s hit it out of the park again and then some. All the issues I had last year have been resolved. No break in required either. These are out of the box perfect. Understand that I’m an all Tube Guy and I will do a comparison between the currently direct connection form my PS Audio DSSr. DAC into the Ultra and the DSSr. into my BAT VK50-SE then head to head out to the Ultra and my Jolida 3502p KT150 Tube Amplifier.

Speakers in my Evaluation :

1. KEF R3
2. Bose 901 Series 1 from 1968
3. my Homebrew DIY Open Baffle Speakers
   
4. KEF 105/3 modified

Future plans of mine are to DIY from blank PCB’s 5 Ultra Amplifier Modules for a kick ass Home Theater setup and for the Summer, use two of those 5 channels for the main L & R. Fall/Winter/Spring would be back to the Tubes for the L & R while the Center & Surrounds would be powered by the Ultra’s. Surface MOunt Soldering for me is easy but the BGA devices will have to be put on by a board shop.

The beauty is you stop listening to the Amplifier and start listening to the music very quickly.
https://orchardaudio.com/shop/ols/products/strk-ltr-mdl
https://orchardaudio.com/stereo-ultra
The ClassD Audio stuff is pretty good too (haven’t their GaN’s) through a friend who had a 250Wx2 built for him.

My Evaluation rig is setup so that nothing colors or influences the (no BAT VK50-SE in the chain - until all reviewing is done this way first)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZPGJR1RatZf2ZrzW9

What is needed is a class D GAN amp shootout..

Great customer service. I have a four channel amp sound outstanding (SDS-470). Not GaN. Initially had an issue with one of the four channels out, returned, got a beefed up power supply 800VA torroid and 60,000 uF power supply. No issues since (3 years?), quality product.

Looking forward to trying the new amps from this US company.

This little amp certainly has a good price point and feature set.

Has definitely got that on it's side, ask if they do a trial period, with restocking fee if it doesn't suit. 

Cheers George

Thanks George. I've been wanting to try a GaN amp out. This little amp certainly has a good price point and feature set. 

Interesting (and interesting tech) … would love to see some reviews of these/any new GaN amps. Maybe a development that persuades me to try Class D.

Forgot about those, still 1/2 the price of them also.

And the  Class-D Audio USA amps have 100kohm input impedance, good for anything to drive them even passives, and the also have input gain adjustment so you can go direct into them from a dac (with volume) without fear of "bit stripping" a very big plus.

Cheers George

Actually, one of the earliest Class D GaN amps is the Orchard Mono blocks.....been out for a couple of years.......$1500 the pair.  They have a new stereo amp with even more power for $2500.  Also made in the USA.

https://orchardaudio.com/shop/ols/products/bsc-mplfr

https://orchardaudio.com/shop/ols/products/strkrmsn-str-ltr