The Future of Audio Amplification
GaN technology looks to be very promising and I read that the latest state of the art for power transistors in fast switching applications is to thin-layer GaN directly onto SiC substrates. This apparently saves big costs and allows the advantages of GaN to be realized relatively inexpensively. Looking forward to auditioning affordable Class D amps using this technology. |
Here’s a couple: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marco_Fanciulli/publication/224426167_Epitaxial_growth_of_zinc_... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022024800008538 https://techxplore.com/news/2018-08-fujitsu-triples-output-power-gallium-nitride.html One thing that is difficult, and I have experience with series 2 and 6 elements to make CdSe-based nanocrystals with ZnS shells, is how to deal with crystal lattice mismatch; some elements’ bond lengths just don’t align well in order to interface optimally. Typically, one had to dope in some intermediary element to "fill" the gaps created by the lattice mismatch. Looks like there’s a similar challenge/constraint in fabricating thin layer GaN onto SiC wafers. This is why, IMO, we haven’t seen the industrial "breakthrough," yet. Ideally, one would want pure GaN crystals in the form similar to that achieved with SiC in order to make large enough wafers. |
Reading a class D review (6moons/Nord Ice?) the reviewer mentioned power cord sensitivity as an issue. Several months ago I replaced a wireworld series 7 PC (MSRP $300) with a boutique $800 PC which sounded significantly richer And just a week ago I went from toslink to a prototype coax (not at liberty to say until production). Last night, listening to Ray Charles Duets was amazing Oh, my amp is Audio Alchemy DPA 1 |
