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?
How do these various GaN amplifiers perform at low volume (ideally, when paired with speakers known for low volume performance, e.g. horns, BBC monitors, etc). Full disclosure: as I mentioned in another thread, I heard and very much liked the R1000 driving TADs at low volume, but I suspect that machine, because of Panasonic’s capacity and the Technics brand’s relative lack of cachet, is something of an outlier (and therefore likely a bargain too). Thanks in advance for any info. |
@blisshifi you can demo the amp though the tour that is currently going, right now there would only be one person in front of you. |
All power supplies have a sound. "Properly designed" is not a static thing. The more you know (by listening tests) the more you know that changing one cap or diode or whatever on a power supply makes a serious difference in sound.....as I stated before, how you mount a linear power transformer makes a sonic difference. One advantage of linear power supplies is that they are simple (especially, if unregulated). So there is less listening tests to do. Switching supplies are lighter and take less space....they also run at higher frequencies so there is no 60 hz ripple to filter but they need high frequency filtering....hence, usually an inductor is series with the output. I learned a lot about how parts effect sound in the early 80s when designing a power supply for the Sota turntable.....this was a 30 volt pre-regualtor. There was already a 12 volt regulator inside the turntable and all it was doing was spinning a belt with a motor. But every single thing I did to this 30V pre-regualor changed the sound.....even the power cord.......what was really interesting was all 4 power transformers I tried had completely different sounds. What a crazy game this is. So, what is properly designed? Is it something you do with theory or do you have to listen like crazy?.......only to find out later in time there is even a better way to get better sound......it never ends. The best amps to mod are the ones that sound the best stock. I modded the latest IcePower IceEdge ones.....but would not recommend it or any other IcePower modules......they are not bad....just not as good as: the VTV amps using the Purifi modules or latest Hypex NCX500 modules, the VTV D300 GaN amp, the new Nilai amps, the Orchard amps, the LSA Voyager and all the Peachtree GaN amps. All these sound great stock......and much better modified. Of course, the Atmasphere amps would sound much better modded but usually if someone spends that kind of money they are afraid of mods.....plus they would not be manufacturer approved. The two main types of mods I do are parts replacement and also parts removal (most gear has parts that are not needed that mess up the sound....for instance, all the hardware on a toroidal transformer........or extra switches, connectors, and wire, etc. not needed). I also damp things, add mass and also can add modified Wima bypass caps on the power supply....etc. |
Thanks guys. I’d love to be able to demo the Atma-Sphere monos before. Not sure if I mentioned on this thread, but I’ve owned Ralph’s MA-1 and S-30 OTLs in the past and both were quite good. He’s only about 30-35 min from me, so I’ll try to ping him and see what might be possible. @ricevs In your experience, given your mods, have you found GaN amps to be more accessible to mod vs other ICEpower, Hypex or Purifi modules? In listing the mods you apply, the one that seems to be done on the power supplies or boards themselves are the cap replacements, and everything else seems to be wiring and chassis mount parts, is that correct? |
If you buy Atma-Spehere class D mono blocks, do yourself a favor: bin the stock power cables and purchase 2 Shunyata Venom V10 NR power cables. You can thank me later. More/better bass. Speakers disappear easier, improved vocals. |
Technics SE R1 plus its SU-R1 digital front end.....someone A/Bed it with the Su R1000 and said it was noticeably better. It has giant linear power supply. The first GaN amp available and maybe still the best? This baby uses GaNs and switches at 1.5 meg. https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/technics-r1-reference-system/ You have the Merrill GaN amps.....not much noise from them lately. Java hifi in New Zealand Linear power supplies are fine with class D amps......Atmasphere uses linear power supplies. Modified Purifi and Hypex amps are great too....and they use mosfets on the output.
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Ok, just for tracking purposes, these are all the amps I’ve seen people list out:
Are these pretty much all the highest regarded GaN amps out there or are we missing any from this list? Since this thread has started, I’ve looked into a few amps. The fully-upgraded Starkrimson Ultra 2.0 seems appealing, as well as Atma-Sphere Class D monos and the AGD Solo monoblocks. I would love to be able to demo one or more of these against my reference electronics, which would be the $40K T+A A 3000 power amp with the T+A PS 3000 HV power supply. This combo has been very difficult for me to best with anything else, though I have found a few more affordable amps that simply have a completely different but almost equally as enjoyable presentation. The T+A stack is one of the most natural sounding amps I’ve ever heard with some wonderful bloom considering it is solid state. It has similar richness to a high powered, big tube SET amp I owned years back, but it outperformed in many other ways in that it isn’t rounded at the frequency extremes and can control just about any speaker out there regardless of load. I love this amp so much that T+A became the first brand I sought when I decided to start my dealership business. More recently, I have been incredibly surprised with the Cambridge EDGE A integrated amplifier that I got for my floor in June. Its performance is incisive, yet still musical, and it does a wonderful job of presenting a deep, holographic stage. Over prolonged listening, it becomes more obvious that it doesn’t control speakers as well as the T+A stack. There is less bloom, and music at times can sound just a tad more clinical - but to many, it may still may be on the warm side of neutral. For $6500 including a built-in DAC, this unit is a sleeper that I could probably live with. I’ve compared both these units to numerous other amps, though I haven’t had a ton of Class D amps in possession. The two I’ve played with are a Mivera PurePower SE which uses the ICEpower 1200AS2 board with quality parts and chassis, and the T+A A 200 amplifier, which is the perfect mate for the renowned T+A DAC 200. The ICEpower amp is as expected - incredible control at the frequency extremes with a slightly thin midrange and clinical to borderline fatiguing top end. And despite its power, the output gain doesn’t match some of my other amps. The T+A A 200 is a different beast for being Class D. Built around Purifi modules, the customizations result in the amp having a very organic, but somewhat forward presentation. This amp has more warmth and density to it than a Primaluna EVO 400 amplifier, but I wouldn’t go the distance of calling it colored. It is an incredibly linear amp, and my only wish is that it took better control of hard to drive speakers (T+A does make the M 200 monoblocks now) and that the amp does a better job with depth. Oh, I did also own a custom Class D amplifier that ran on a very robust linear power supply made with Russian PIO caps, and it was good in my second system when I had it, but it wasn’t a match for other amps I owned at the time. I found out later that Class D amps and linear power supplies don’t really go hand in hand, for reasons I forget why. I suppose the only way I will know whether one of the GaN amps out there can sway me from what I’ve heard already is to try a few. I’ll admit that the efficiency and control that Class D offers is quite appealing, but I haven’t found any other amps that combine the control and natural presentation of that of the T+A HV series electronics. |
I heard the Atmasphere Class D amps at CAF last year and was very impressed with what I heard. It was a sound I think I could easily live with, at least driving the big and I suspect very efficient Classic Audio speakers, which I suspect are a fairly easy load given their affinity with OTL tube amps, , but do not know for sure.. Then I heard the Atmas OTLs briefly after that and the sound was more similar than different from initial impression. I have not seen any measurements yet to assess, but I would be unhappily surprised if measurements turned up anything of generally significant concern with the Atmas Class Ds. No doubt @atmasphere has tons of experience and knows good sound when he hears it. |
@mapman… “@invalid, …when I look at measurements, specs, or other objective information, I’m looking as much if not more for red flags ie clear problem areas as I am which measure best…”.
In this post I think you did an excellent job of rationally stating what an experienced audiophile with a bit of leaning towards measurements would do. Measurements are just one of many sources to learn more about a component, not by a long shot the only. There are things to be learned, but the bottom line is, what does it sound like. Your views are not remotely ASR like. |
I am wondering what is meant by 'dynamics'. IME, most of the time when audiophiles talk about 'dynamics' they are really talking about higher ordered harmonic distortion. Dynamic contrast should come from the recording, not anything else.
@invalid FWIW Dept.: you're talking about measurements made 35-40 years ago or so. Just as any other field of technology, the measurement world has vastly improved. IME sometime in the 1990s, we crossed a threshold where we could finally measure a lot of stuff we were hearing that we could not measure prior. But many audiophiles are still making decisions based on how things were back before that!Imagine trying to surf the web on an Apple 2 of an IBM PC... The problem we have now is almost as bad: most people including those that make the measurements, fail to understand their significance WRT how the ear/brain system perceives sound.
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The first person in the world to hear a modded Nilai amp gave me a little feedback today. " I know I have a lot of break in to go on this one but so far am liking what I'm hearing (replacing a very nice tube amp; too hot in PHX for that right now)". The Nilai amp is the latest and best amplifier tech from Hypex.....measures very similar to Purifi (both mosfet amps....no Ganfets). It is available as a kit or assembled. Lots of great class D right now. The stock Nilai has terrible wires, output connectors and AC inlet, extra wires and switches and stuff it does not need.....I do other stuff too. You can see the pic of his modded Nilai amp on my site. I will be adding more pages this week for the different amps I mod. |
@invalid No need to be so absolute. I’ve bought many items just because I had a chance and liked what I heard. I’ve also heard many things that sound uniquely good but don’t measure well. If you can’t hear something you have to go with whatever info is available In order to be able to make an informed decision. Otherwise it’s pure guesswork and the chance of expensive mistakes goes up.
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@invalid, when I look at measurements, specs, or other objective information, I’m looking as much if not more for red flags ie clear problem areas as I am which measure best. I don’t necessarily need the best measuring thing but I definitely do not necessarily want to pay top dollar for products that have demonstrable flaws or even are not able to justify the asking price objectively.. Nor do I want to pay top dollar for advertised abilities (specs) that don’t measure up. That’s just me. Lots of factors to consider including operational features desired for a particular application. Lots of things sound “good” to me. What is harder is to make smart decisions that maximize value. The bigger the investment, the more careful I will be in order to justify the expense. I think that is a relatively normal thing to do. |
So far nobody has produced any concrete evidence that any product discussed is the best. Just more this one sounds good or better to me judgements, which are fine but everyone has an opinion. In that case it just boils down to who do you trust most to help make a decision and then what products do you decide to try based on recommendation. I’m with @atmasphere in that my experience tells me I can typically correlate good measurements with resulting sound to a useful extent. It’s never a 100% guarantee but I find it good enough to help me make better informed buying decisions. Of course in the end one cannot know what any one component is capable of until it is heard doing it in a particular system. Even then the resulting sound is always a team sport among the gear in play, the room, annd even the ears listening and some teams will perform better than others even if perhaps a superstar or two are in the game.
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@mc1969 Clearly you don't understand what putting quotes around a word means. The Technics is a GaN FET amp as opposed to so much in this thread which is not. |
OK Ric, I will send you the GAN400. I paid $1200 for it. I had a modded Voyager 350 GAN before. It was much better than stock and did not have the hardness on top. It did as stock. The deficiency with the 350 GAN was the lack of real grunt on the low end. I listened to that amp with the Thiel CS3.7 in my small office (treated). Maybe that low end issue was due to power supply? The GAN400 seems more powerful than the 350 GAN. (LRS+ and Thiel CS3.7 are not easy to drive) Ric, when I get the modded GAN400 back from you I am going to listen to Sinead O’Conner’s Troy back-to-back on the GAN400 and the CODA #16. That will be my goosebumps test. |
I am very sensitive to hardness.....me no likey. I bet my mods to the Peachtree amp would not only address that issue but make it sound better in many ways. Since I modded its cousin, the LSA Voyager couple of years ago, I have come up with a couple more mods to do to the output board (changing the output filter caps to my modded Wima caps and also removing some parts it does not need). Would love to see how far this $2000 amp could sound with a $500 mod.......Who will be the first?
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I never said I was going for a comparison by price. Though price is really BS in audio these days. I just laugh at some of the prices. My comparison is of one of the best GAN amps I have owned vs one of the best Class A + AB amp I have owned. For example, the $3300 Benchmark AHB2 is better on the top end than the CODA #16. The PeachTree GAN1 after Rics mods is almost as good as the CODA #16 on the LRS+ and KEF LS50 Meta. Not so close on the Yamaha NS5000. That amp cost me $1500 + $600 for mods. The reason I am not using it is I want my analog tuners to be used. The GAN1 has no preamp just 1 streaming SPDIF digital input. The elimination of so much circuitry and cables plus Rics mods make $1500 almost equal $15000 (Coda raised prices). Of course, better to me may not be better to you.
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This is Not a fair comparison...The CODA #16 is $13,000 W/O meters and $16,000 with meters....and you’re trying to compare it to a $2,000 amp and you say it’s Better...I should hope so...The Peachtree is one heck of an amp for 2K.....But use a Tubed pre amp....I get no harshness at all and a soundstage that's deeper and wider than my Tube amps. |
Someone previously posted that most comments on GAN were not using higher end non-GAN amps as comparison. This morning I took the Peachtree GAN400 down to the much larger Livingroom where I have the amazing Yamaha NS5000 speakers. Here is what I heard compared to the CODA #16:
Overall, the sound is about 8/10 and the CODA #16 is a 9.5/10. If the CODA #16 had the same top end as the Benchmark AHB2 I would give it a 10/10 The CODA #16 with my LRS+ in the smaller office
I am keeping the GAN400 for a while. Maybe until the next iterations of Class D of GAN come out. This would be for the LRS+. If anyone is interested, I would be willing to sell the modded GAN1 since it is no longer used. Though a warning, using it is not for the faint of heart. It is bit more complicated.
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helomech....I've A/B'd the Aavik and Peachtree against the Belles SS , low watt tube amps, 845's....KT88's and class D sounds More Musical. And the Manufacturers are Not trying to rip everyone off as you prescribe....but offering alot of Value for your $$$$. You are just a plain old Class D hater, and that's fine. To each his own. But us Class D lovers will just keep Enjoying the Music ! There is a market for both Old and New technology. |
Firstly, I referred to GaN FETs as a flash-in-the-pan technology, not class D as a whole. Secondly, I didn’t claim all GaN amps will necessarily perform poorly, merely that I have considerable doubt that any of them are really noteworthy. Lastly, the primary reason class D has been gaining market share is that more manufacturers are adopting the technology as a way to save on both manufacturing and shipping costs. Unfortunately, many of them choose to not pass the savings onto the customers. That and class D on the whole has improved in sound quality over the past couple decades, and some do indeed approach the performance of decent AB amps. However, the majority are still rather sterile and lacking in dynamics. Thing is, many “hi-fi” manufacturers are merely in the game to maximize profits. If sacrificing 10–20% of performance vs an AB counterpart allows them to do that, you can be dam sure that’s what they’re going to do. They also know that the majority of people purchasing these amps don’t have a decades-long history of obsessive gear flipping. These are often people looking for a simple, lightweight and unobtrusive solution with impressive specs on paper, and have little reference by which to judge performance. That and auditory memory is generally unreliable. So unless the listener A/Bs their latest/greatest class D amp against their past class A-AB amps, it’s unlikely they’re going to notice the shortcomings, and just as likely their expectation bias will lead them to a skewed conclusion.
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I am comparing the Peachtree GAN400 with my CODA #16. In the past, have compared the CODA #8 with KRELL Duo 175XD and the Voyager 350 GAN in the same system at the same time. The PeachTree GAN400 is not too bad at all. I like the other amps more (except the Voyager 350 GAN) but not MUCH more. All 3 GAN amps I owned were better to my ears than the other Class D I owned from D-Sonic and NAD (Master series). The modded GAN1 by Ric gave my CODA #16 a good run. The CODA #16 is more powerful, and my speakers could use that power, so the #16 was the winner. Tonight, I am going to re-try the GAN400 in my larger Livingroom with my Yamaha NS5000. I will move the CODA #16 to the office with the LRS+. I have visitors coming for 4 weeks this weekend and it maybe safer to get the CODA out of the line of fire. |
I've got a Technics SU-R1000 which I think is pretty brilliant and is the first "digital" amp that I have really liked. I also had its baby brother in to play with for a couple of weeks and thought that was excellent as well. I had a NAD M33 for about three months and couldn't get rid of that fast enough. It's tough to compare the Technics to some of the others because of all the additional features that it brings to the table, so not really apples to apples. There is a gentleman in the area who has the AGD monoblocks and I would love to spend a day with him comparing the Technics and the AGD. I may see if my dealer is willing to loan me his AGDs for a long weekend as well. I'd also be interested in comparing the Peachtree with the Technics G700M2 as they seem in the same price ballpark. Sorry I can't offer more, I just have not heard any of these in the same room with the same equipment. |
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@helomech Hey man, Stick with your class A/ AB Amps. But Class D is no flash in the pan. They are becoming an ever increasing market year after year and are starting to take a BITE out of your A/ AB sales. Aavik..Peachtree...Atma-Sphere...Jeff Roland....Orchard...AGD.....good stuff and MORE MUSICAL to many than A/ AB. I do enjoy a Big Tubed Preamp with a ClassD Amp however. |
@helomech Reference is a big deal IMO/IME. I use LPs and CDs that I recorded and mastered myself. It helps having been at the recording session. @mapman GANFETs have been around since 2009. They became much more commonplace about 2016; at that point most of the major US players had their own version of the devices and they became a lot less expensive.
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I have not heard the Peachtree but from what I have read it is just OK at best. GaN got a lot of hype early on here. It is a technical advancement but no one thing alone assures a superior product. It’s all in how well designed and implemented a product is overall. It usually takes some time for engineers to fully realize any new technology fully. So the rule with new tech is always the longer you wait the lower the risk. New technology gets done better and often more cost effectively over time.
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I tried the Peachtree GaN400 based on the glowing reviews and wasn’t at all impressed. It sounded like typical Class D sound—no balls in the lowest octaves, clear and articulate but also fatiguing. It was a surprisingly noisy amp as well. A local audiophile friend of mine auditioned the Orchard Starkrimson and he wasn’t impressed with it either. He preferred his other amps which had retailed for similar prices. Similar to the Peachtree, the way he described its sound aligns with what I associate with typical Class D sound. In other words, no notable sonic advantages over a competent Class AB amp. I’ve determined that the problem with forum anecdotes with regard to amps is that many are lacking a good point of reference. Someone will chime in saying that an amp like the Starkrimson powered their Magnepans or ESLs well, yet this person probably wouldn’t say that had they compared the amp to a big Krell on the same day. That or they will be comparing these amps to a mid-fi offering from a competitor. Suffice to say I suspect GaN FETs with regard to amps are mostly another flash in the pan technology that hasn’t really moved the needle. There may be exceptions of course, but I am highly doubtful at present. |
I spent about 12 hours today listening to the GAN400 on the LRS+. It was really good, many times I had to stop my work and listen. I am so glad that I got this amp back. However, there is a hint of hardness on top that my very neutral system conveys. Though, it is not something to lose sleep over. When I had my CODA #16 on this same system that slight bit of hardness goes away. You also get even more thump with the CODA #16 (150 watts vs 400 for the GAN400). The GAN400 is close to being one of my best amps, just not totally there yet. In stock form it likely the best Class D I have owned. I do not want to damn it with faint praise. It is an amp to check out and maybe with a different preamp could be perfect for a lot of people.
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If someone posts here on or some other thread I read and I feel that information is not "experienced truth" then I will make sure I post my experienced truth so people can decide for themselves (with listening tests).what is actually true. The more something gets posted the more people will think it is true. Because someone has a good rep or says something a thousand times does not make it true. I hope you ALL will stand up and be counted. Every TRUTH needs to be heard. Every one of you is valuable....is beautiful. Do not let me or anyone dominate a discussion....without telling your truth......And, hopefully, your truth is not a philosophy or opinion based on non experience.......but a TRUTH based on critical open minded listening tests......the only real TRUTH in audio. In life, the big truth is that we are all magnificent.....beyond our imagination.....we are infinite beauty, love and joy.....it has always been so and always will be so. Is that my philosophy or my experience? Both. Blessings to all! |
That is interesting. I wonder how the AGD or the Atmasphere amps compare to some Class AB amps that are highly rated in the <$10k range. But I have also read reviews, where owners were happy with the GaN amps and had no remorse replacing the AB. Of course, everyone's experience is different. |
Neutral is good for details and realism... My Sansui Au 7700 so good it was , sounded less neutral than my Sansui alpha , it was not so less sensible in my speakers/room , but with headphone i even change my french TDA 1543 Dac NOS which was more than good , for a more neutral Hidizs dac and the Sansui more neutral amplifier , because my headphone asked for the highest possible cleanliness and neutrality... They are way more refined than my speakers were so good they were in my room .. Then ideally we need neutrality as an end goal... |
