@markmuse Thanks for the details. 

@greg_f Thanks for the correction on Aavik. Are Pascal modules a GaN design or no? I didn’t think they were. They sound great regardless. 

Technics Grand Class Integrated Amp

Aavik uses the Pascal modules. I currently have Hypex based Ncore NC400 monos with a BAT VK-40 preamp, I would like to upgrade to either the new Hypex Nilai 500 or the Aavik I-280. Very difficult to find comparisons. 

@blisshifi 

If I remember a conversation with Alberto correctly the Tempo is simply a stereo version of the Audion, probably with a common but beefier power supply. I have two of them to use as mono blocks that also bi-amp. 

If the Audion's and Tempo's are rolled off in the HF, I might now be able to hear it. I can't hear anything over 10k. But I think there was a model upgrade in the Audion at some point. Maybe wrong, but if so that might account for different perceptions.

I don't think Rick Shultz is modding GaN amps anymore. I had an LSA Voyager I was going to send to him, but he said he wasn't doing it any more. That was a year or two ago.

You might contact Alberto at AGD. He replies to emails to his site.

Thank you for all of the responses so far. 

@verdantaudio I agree there is no objective best amp. I’m asking about peoples’ preferences and the reasons they landed there. I am not hoping to get a unified alignment on this thread, but get broad knowledge about what’s available and how they differ. Which AGD amps did you compare to the Atma - were they the Audion? Would you characterize them as rolled off on top, or just sweet? My brother has the Audion, though he lives too far for me to be able to try them in my system to compare. 

@jeffseight To my knowledge, Aavik uses Purifi, not GaN. I agree they are some of the best Class D, and I have a high affinity for them. I own Borresen 02 as we speak. 

@markmuse Interesting to hear that you find the Tempo to be less dark than the Atma as others comment that the Audion are darker than the Atma. This is helpful to understand what might be gained by moving up to the Tempo. I’d be curious to hear of anyone who has compared the AGD Audion to their higher offerings and share their impressions. I personally have heard the Atma monos at shows and have found them to be brighter / more detailed than many non-GaN solid state amps. I’m guessing that Ralph voices the monos to be more like his OTLs, of which I have owned two (MA-1 and S-30). 

@yyzsantabarbara Thanks for the impressions between the GAN1 and GAN400. I wasn’t aware Ric Schultz was offering mods. I’ll look into that as well  

Keep the comments rolling, it’s all helpful!

The amps I want to hear is the Daniel Hertz Maria "amps". It is like the PeachTree GAN1, but maybe not GAN. It also has an A2D convertor for analog sources. I also believe a sub is easy to hook up to it. No remote control though.

I am looking for forward to what the future will bring with Peachtree GAN1 like pieces. Eliminating so many items makes sense to me in many ways other than just cost.

BTW - when I owned the LSA Voyager 350 it was with the older KEF LS50 and the Thiel CS3.7. I forgot I had not upgraded to LS50 Meta yet. I sold the Voyager because my CODA #8 that I owned at that time was stronger on the bass for the hard to drive Thiel CS3.7. Wish I had not sold the CODA #8, it is perfect for the LRS+.

As I post this comment, I am listening to some Earth, Wind, and Fire on the LRS+ and PeachTree GAN1 and each time I hear this MODDED "amp" I am shocked at how good it sounds. Just beautiful.

@yyzsantabarbara 

Always appreciate your thorough assessments. I have a Voyager and love it. I also have a Ric Schultz EVS 1200 and love it too

I am using a pair of AGD Tempo (bi-amping). I compared the AGD's to the Atmasphere monos and to a Pass XA-25. 

Both the Pass and the Atmasphere's are darker than the AGD's in my system (Bakert Rhythm pre and Fyne F1-8 speakers). The AGD's are smooth, detailed, and balanced - again in my system and to my ears. If you have speakers that are a little bright you might prefer the Atmasphere monos which are also excellent.

AGD is decent a little rolled off at the top. 
The type of transistors just a gimmick. If you want the best stuff for the money I like Modwright. Unlimited budget Audionet.

I have had 3 GAN amps. Just re-bought the PeachTree GAN400 yesterday.

The best GAN amp I have had was the PeachTree GAN1 that was mentioned above, however, mine was modded by Ric Shultz at Tweak Audio. TheGAN1 went from an OK amp to almost the best system (not just amp). Something so good I sold $15K worth of gear. I sold the following

- Benchmark AHB2 monos

- Lumin X1 DAC/ steamer

- moved my Benchmark LA4 preamp to another system since it could not be used anymore with the GAN1

Maybe more gear, I cannot remember (too much work today).

The GAN1 was not better than the above gear but it was as good with the KEF LS50 Meta. The GAN1 was stronger on the bass and the AHB2 was a bit sharper sounding but the detail level was the same. STOCK GAN1 was nowhere sonically close to this.

The second best GAN1 I have owned is the Peachtree GAN400. The GAN1 is a PIA to use and it cannot have analog sources and adding a sub is very difficult. I needed my tuners back in after listening to streaming on the GAN1 for some time. I purchased the Holo Serene preamp and paired it with the PeachTree GAN400 and a Schitt Yggi+ Less is More DAC. So all of those pieces vs the single modded GAN1. The modded GAN1 was still better than the separates, but the weak link was the GAN400, the other gear is rather amazing. I tried that gear with my CODA #16 and wow.

The GAN400 though allowed me to add my tuners and KEF KC62 sub. This was with the hard to drive Magnepan LRS+ in a small room.

I was not planning to buy the GAN400 again after I recently sold it. But the amps I really want to get for the LRS+ system are more costly that I want to pay today. So I got the GAN400 as a temp measure. The only negative I have with the GAN400 in this system is a slight bit of hardness on the top end. Nothing fatiguing or annoying, just that it is the weak link in this system. If I did not have the need for my analog tuners I would have stayed with the modded GAN1 and sold the KEF KC62 sub. The GAN1 still puts out some good bass minus the sub.

The third GAN amp I had was the LSA Voyager 350. It was also modded by Ric and it then became an much better sounding amp. Overall it was not as strong on bass and felt a little lighter in sound compared to the GAN1 and GAN400 from PeachTree. I would have not considered it for the LRS+.

If my other office gear was not so good I would not sweat using the PeachTree GAn400 with this office system. Though the low price ($1200), low cost of the LRS+ speaker, and the almost excellent sound of the amp are good reasons to just stick with the GAN400.

I should add that the modded GAN1 was very good with the amazing Yamaha NS5000 speakers but only when the volume was turned up higher than expected. That made me think the amp was underpowered for the speakers or the room was too big.

Not sure of your budget but Aavik is one of the best names for SQ.

Pricey of course. 

Some rave about the NAD. Not heard it. 

Have heard Orchard, Peachtree, LSA, Atmasphere, Aavik, Bel Canto.

But all with different rooms/speakers etc. 

I proposed to do a shootout with the top names in class D

but the field is still growing so it would be a task.

GaN amps are not unlike other amps and each manufacturer has a slightly different interpretation and the resulting sound can be quite different.  I have a customer who just did an Atmasphere vs. AGD test.  Both amps are great.  He liked the AGD better because it sounded more like a stereotypical MOSFET design which is quite tubey sounding.  His system needed a more musical amp and he looking to move away from Leben.  If his system was more musical, the opposite result might have been the case and the drier Atmasphere amp could be a better fit.  

I personally have tested Peachtree vs AGD and again, the Peachtree is brighter and more sterile.  It doesn't make it bad, just different and needed to be paired with different speakers.  

There is never an objective "best" amp.  It is what is best for your taste in your system.  

I recently tried the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Stereo 2.0 and I thought it was a fantastic amp.  It drove my Magnepan LRS+ very well.  I'm no expert at describing audio gear but the clarity, texture, mids and bass were well done.