Gallium Nitride GaN Class D Amplifiers


In my recent research for a possible upgrade to my current amp (Benchmark (AHB2) I was reading about the new higher end design for Class D. I'm very interested in learning more about these new GaN(Gallium Nitride) designs. Three companies are offering some very well reviewed products and they are not going crazy with Watts per channel:

Orchard Audio offers a 250 watt Amp

AGD a 100 watt

Atmos-Phere also a 100 watt

What's interesting  is while Orchard is a new company AGD and Atmos-Phere have been around a while producing high end Tube amps. In almost every review it is noted how these newer designs sound like Class A or Tubes with all the benefits of Solid State. One reviewer couldn't go back to his tube amps after extended listening to the Orchard. No wonder AGD and Atmos-Phere are getting into this technology. It's very exciting as these amps are highly efficient turning over 90% of the power they draw into sound compared to about 78% with A/B designs and I believe even significantly lower for Class A. They run cool and usually weigh between 10-28lbs. I plan to do more investigation. Small size and light weight with decent power is very attractive. There are also mono block offerings for more power if needed. These are not cheap Class D products. They are well designed and constructed.

Orchard Audio's base model is around $2700and their Dual mono version with larger power supplies is $5500.

Both AGD and Atoms-Phere are $5000

Mono blocks for each are about twice the cost.

Has anyone had any experience, demos, etc ., with these types of GaN Class D amps?

 

jfrmusic

Atma-sphere are exclusively mono and run about $6000 the pair. The other two vendors offer both stereo and mono as far as I can tell.

I’ve auditioned the Orchard Audio and AGD Productions GAN amps in my system. To my ears, they did not sound alike, and other than being GAN chip amps were not sonically comparable.

The AGD Audion amps were natural, extended, and transparent with a large sound stage. Not dissimilar to my SET tube amplifiers, and to Atma-Sphere OTL tube amplifiers that I also auditioned for an extended time, although both lacked the elusive 3D depth of the tube amplifiers.

The Orchard Audio amplifiers sounded sharper and more precise. They skewed away from my listening preferences.

I don’t think one can price shop in the GAN amplifier arena and think they’re getting the same (or similar) sound for less money among available products.