Affordable GaN FET amp from Peachtree Audio

Thanks for the history lesson. 👍
Something tells me that with the use of GaN FETs and lots of good old time on their hands (for all the R&D being done), the future is going to look a lot brighter for "digital" amps.

The sound I'm hearing out of my Technics SU-G700M2 is unlike anything I've heard and yet it's all in a good way. As I adjust to the sound and notice what sounds like minor trade offs are beginning to look more like the shedding of bad aspects and maskings and the revealing of more musical information, if that makes any sense.

It's more than a different perspective, but it's still early in the game.

All the best,
Nonoise

Yes it does. In my post @7:57am I cite a reviewers take on the Technics where he describes the process, as best he can. It's the same for my Technics SU-G700M2.

And yes, TacT, Wadia, Lyndorf all do something similar but the GaN FETs are stirring the pot more than ever.

All the best,
Nonoise

@musicfan2349

That quote you attributed to me was not mine.
It was ozzy62’s.

All the best,
Nonoise

@barts ,

It’s over my head as well but here’s this from their site:

First and foremost is the GaN-FET amplifier module. It has several inherent advantages in a power amplifier that even the best MOS-FET designs simply cannot achieve. A GaN-FET power stage provides a precise high-power reproduction of the Class-D PWM signal with extremely high linearity. This linearity eliminates the need for ANY feedback, ultimately allowing for the best possible audio quality providing clean, clear middle and high frequencies and a tight, solid reproduction of low frequencies. GaN-FETs track the complex audio waveforms so much more accurately than MOS-FETs resulting in significantly more transparent and natural sound. The difference is something even a casual listener can hear and appreciate. The GaN 1 is also designed so that it does NOT even require a digital-to-analog-converter (DAC). The digital audio signal at the input directs the amplifier outputs to drive the speakers. Although DACs have continued to improve over the years, there is no DAC better than NO DAC! This concept is not a new one as similar devices often referred to as "Power DACs" made quite a splash in our industry years ago, but this time around, using the concept with GaN-FETs raises the bar to an entirely new level.

 

There’s also this from Twittermachines on the Technics SU-R1000 (which uses GaN FETS:

It’s also worth pointing out that there’s no DAC, no digital to analog conversion, taking place inside the SU-R1000. Incoming digital signals are upsampled (to 32-bit/768kHz), sent through a 1-bit Delta-Sigma converter, followed by another stage, the PWM converter, which forms a so-called “ternary” (2-bit) signal out of the 1.5MHz 1-bit signal. So each transistor only has to handle a switching speed of 768kHz/1-bit which is easier to handle in terms of the natural response time of a GaN-FET. I include this information knowing full well that few people will really understand it, yours truly included, so let’s just say that digital remains digital right up to the speaker binding posts.

I read somewhere that Wadia did a similar thing all those years ago but was stymied by the limits of the output devices they had then. It’s still over my head but I can definitely hear the results with my Technics SU-G700. I still prefer going analog in from my SACD player but it’s a close enough call to make me know that a better coax cable can level the playing field, or, maybe not.

All the best,
Nonoise

👍😄👍

Yes, it only has one input, but, as they state in the description, you can always use the many inputs of the Bluesound or a similar device. I posted this as there's been lots of discussions of folk who's only interest is in streaming or CD playback and those who'd like to experience the sound of a GaN FET amp without the steep price of entry. Then, there's the purists who would like to forego the use of a DAC and hear the signal as intended (just amplified).

All the best,
Nonoise