Class D - A Fork in the Road

@koestner I listen for 15 hours a day with a CANOR AI 2.10 Hybrid Class D and no tube issues at all. Now I am only in my office 2 weeks out of the month but still, preamp tubes are 1) cheap and 2) not as prone to failure as power tubes.

https://www.thesoundadvocate.com/2022/01/canor-ai-2-10-hybrid-integrated-amplifier-evaluated/

Sadly, you won't find a purveyor of GanFET willing to go toe to toe with one of the better D amps I mentioned above.

@ericrhodes1 This statement is false.  This one is too:

I've listened to them and wasn't overly impressed with any aha moments. Their claim to fame only applies to the cheaper D amps from China and the mass produced, sourced amps used for third party purposes.

There might be Chinese made GaNFET amps but I don't know of one. All the Chinese amps I've seen employ chips (often made by TI) which are not GaNFET based (I don't find these amps very pleasing BTW so I think we're in agreement on that point). Your comment about being cheaper is making me wonder if you know what GaNFETs are. 

This bit is true:

Bruno Putzeys has a good interview where he effectively explains his (Eigentakt) way of getting around GanFet's claim to fame of faster switching speed.

The main advantage of GaNFET is due to their lack of leads on the actual devices (they have solder pads instead) they have lower inductance, which is critical in the output section of the amp. So its much easier for the designer to control stray inductances on the board (inductances can be parasitic and so can oscillate). A couple of minor advantages are lower idle currents (due to lower on resistances of the devices) and less heat (on the same account). Its nice to have an amp that is cold to the touch no matter how long you run it.  Their speed isn't such an advantage since the faster you switch the more RFI issues you can have and you don't need to switch over 500KHz to make a low distortion amp. 

The result is you can have a lot less switching noise interfering with other components in the system. Bruno of course recognizes this and has mentioned it as well. It is a testament to his skills that his circuits rival the noise floors of the better GaNFET amps out there. 

So there are GaNFET amps out there who radiate less noise than a good number of tube amplifiers, which is to say they are very quiet. 

Hey @atmasphere ​​​​​​, although I think you misunderstood some of my post (probably my fault), I appreciate the detailed information you replied with. Thank you. 

Ralph @atmasphere is correct on all fronts. GaN FET Class D is much better than the typical stuff designed in Europe and made in China. They are cheaper in price because of volume whereas companies like Orchard Audio & Atmasphere design and manufacture everything here in North America.

I heard Ralph’s Amps at the NJ/NYC Audio Show this past weekend and they sounded great driving Popori Speakers.

As did Orchard Audio sound fantastic driving Soundfield Audio Cardiod/Open Baffle Speakers.

What about these from Laiv? Are they proper GaN FET Class D as they describe? Price seems very competitive compared to other GaN  FET Class D

https://www.laiv.audio/harmony-ganm