What are the best GaN Amplifiers available today?


There have been a number of threads discussing the wonder of GaN and some of the individual amplifiers that have caught peoples attention, including those from AGD, Atma-Sphere, Peachtree, LSA, etc. Has anyone done a shootout against two or more GaN amps? If so, which did you prefer, and why? And on what speakers?

Also, of the one you preferred, do you prefer it over every other amplifier you’ve ever heard? If not, what non-GaN amp do you enjoy more?

blisshifi

@lak 

No issues at all. Being on this site for about 20 years now - I very well know the "regulars" and you are one of them!

Good to know that the LAIV have provided you with a realistic sound - especially when you have experienced all the very nice amps. Something to consider in the future, if I have to change my amplifier. Any other Class D topology that you have experinced Vs GaN amps? I am intrigued by the NAD M23 V2 or AGD. But then again I read a thread where a Coda S5.5 (Class A 50Watts) sounded much more powerful than a Pass 250.8 (250Watts). Confusing to make a decision without hearing one. Thanks for the feedback about the LAIV.

 

@milpai

I have not heard any other GaN amps but after reading several reviews and watching some reviews on YouTube I felt comfortable with my purchase and if I did not care for the LAIV GaNM I could have returned it, but I'm very happy with my purchase. I do own the class D Red Dragon monoblocks and the Class D Audio Stereo amp.

I was considering the Orchard STARKRIMSON MONO ULTRA PREMIUM, the Atma-Sphere Class D, the AGD The Audion MKIII, and the Premium GaN Mono-Block amplifiers from Class D Audio.

Since I own the LAIV DAC and their UDDC I thought I'd stay with the synergy they will create. 

All the amps you mentioned above are good solid choices and you can't go wrong.

@milpai 
I do own the class D Red Dragon monoblocks

 

Do you own his newer stuff or the units he released about 15 years ago. The originals.