Class D is just Dandy!
Check out this review: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0220/AGD_The_Audion_GaNTube_Monoblocks_Review.htm He loves them...bought them...replaced his tube amp. AGD says they are using the IRS20957S PWM driver chip ($2.01@100).....and probably then a pair of $1.05@ GaNs on the output. You can see most of the circuit inside the tube in the above review. This means anyone can do this for practically nothing. Putting the circuit in a tube is just a gimmick. If they put that board inside the box and it was made in China with all the very same parts it would sell for around $1000 for the pair of mono blocks....no kidding AGD are using LM4562 op amps ($1.00 each) on the input. There are no expensive parts in this amp. You can see the very good sounding inexpensive Wima caps and Nichicon caps. But we don't want to wait for the Chinese version that sounds as good for $1000......no, let's buy the one with the board in a tube for $7000......heck, we have money to burn.....he he. You see, fun times for cheap are right around the corner. Of course, anyone can make an amp similar to this....if someone else here is the US made it and sold it direct....probably $2500 the pair.....still...way less than $7K. |
Would require more technical ability and energy than I have and my health could be better (I will leave the amp making to the younger guns) .....but mostly I am writing a book that hopefully will make more difference in the happiness of people than a better inexpensive power amp. I want everyone to be happy! |
I also have high expectations for the use of faster switching GaN output transistors in class D amps since they have the potential to eliminate dead-time, which even further reduces distortion, which in turn, typically results in improved sound quality. I've been using good quality class D amps in my combo music and HT system for almost 6 years now. In my opinion, they're the best option for attaining hi-end amp performance quality at an affordable price. In my experiences with good quality class D amps, I've discovered their most unique quality is that they have no sound qualities of their own. They just faithfully amplify the inputted signal without adding or subtracting anything. They're like the audio amp ideal of a "straight wire with gain". Due to this extreme neutrality of class D amps, I've come to the conclusion that the most important factor determining the overall sound quality level of a system utilizing a good quality class D amp is the sound qualities of the preamp chosen to pair with it. This neutrality also means the overall system sound quality contributions made by source components, and even interconnect and power cables, will be readily apparent and need to be chosen carefully, too. I've not yet listened to a class D amp utilizing the much faster switching GaN transistors but am looking forward to doing so, hopefully, at an affordable price. Based on my experiences with good quality class D amps, however, I suspect the use of GaN transistors will result in these amps being among the most neutral ever produced. Choose your preamp, source components, interconnect and power cables appropriately. Tim |
