Interesting. Seems to be a ways from commercialization though...
GaN Class D amps are already outdated, it's time for GaN on Diamond!
The title is a bit of a troll for everyone who kept saying that Class D wouldn't be high-end until GaN transistors appeared.
But the truth is advanced GaN transistors on diamond substrates may be coming soon, further elevating the switching speed and power efficiency.
Will they sound better? Meh, I like early 21st century Class D. :)
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@jaymark You are most likely correct. I thought it was interesting that the semiconductor industry has been playing around with synthetic precious gems since the late 1950’s. There was a recent article about HP using silicon on sapphire technology for floppy disk controllers, with a ridiculously low chip yield of 9% (i.e. 91% of the chips didn’t pass basic quality testing). |
There is so much more in design then one component in the design one great part can help but it is the sum of the whole , the quality too of the other parts used ,let’s see how it goes. many have used theGan transistor as a marketing ploy give it a fancy case and chsrge $20-$30 k for mono blocks I won’t say the names but several smaller companies used to be within reason now they think they are gold . I look much more for quality at a fair price the fancy machined case doesnot justify these over priced items IMO. |
@wolfie62 - so what is your preference when it comes to amplification? |
I got the new mcintosh class d just because it has the classic needles on meter with the blue hue.it might be a fancy case it's 2k more than my d sonic.it has 4 hype modules with mcintosh front end tweek.i don't even know if mcintosh outsourced it.mc1502.denon,marantz ,parasound and others have gotten on board so they don't lose Markey share and compition is a good thing .I like my ps audio 1200 too.i have a mix of class a,ab ,d,h and so on its like tube rolling.some of the chili tube stuff is ok but I like to buy american.enjoy the music stay healthy. |
@mark200mph - Now I'm curious, what do you have that is Class H? How do you like it? |
Yep, Carver definitely had some early class H designs. Some of them would go up in smoke too. Much later he realized his switching speed was too fast, and he’d end up in what we call a "race condition." Meaning, you have two circuits racing to be first, and sometimes it was a close tie and zap, short. :) Of course, race conditions happen in software as well. I believe in Carver's case it was a matter of one circuit not shutting off fast enough, sometimes. IN that case you'd have two different voltage rails essentially short to each other, and hilarity ensued. |
Its all about the overall design, and transistor technology moves forward, so non gan get better as well. But if a diamond ganfet costs $5,000, surely someone will hear a difference and have to have it. ;) Was not the crown K series class H? Cant find it with google, but I have a vague recollection… |