AGD certainly has garnered quite a few praises, but if you haven't purchased yet, Steve Guttenberg just sis an excellent video with the Mola Mola and another class D amp and I believe the AGD, too
After 50 years, I have finally found my destination amps... AGD Audions!
I will never forget my first system. When I went away to college I bought a $199 Pacific Stereo special-Niko receiver, Lenco TT and Quadraflex speakers. That was 1971.I don't know how many upgrades I have done since. But, by far, finding the "right" amp has been the quest for the holy grail. And after decades of different SETs, finding a SS amp that will satisfy a SET guy has been problematic... until now. I was first inspired by Forum member's rave comments. Then looking at the reviewers, I found the unique and consistent phrase "best regardless of price". With the end users and reviewers all agreeing, I decided to try a pair of AGD Audions.
Within minutes, I understood what everyone was saying. Now, after about a month of listening, I am convinced that I have indeed found the "holy grail". A SS amp that completely satisfies a SET guy... and more. I am thrilled daily by the way the Audions grab me. Now, it is no longer merely listening. It is being enveloped by a sound that opens a window into the musician's hearts and souls. They do so with an incredible lack of distortion, detail and transparency. I have never heard anything like it. Excuse what appears to be hyperbole but now hearing the Audion mono blocks I am overcome with the emotion I hear and emotion I feel.
I have come to understand that AGD Class D amps are indeed unique. The designer, Alberto Guerra, has a long background in integrated circuit development holding 10 patents including those for the MOSFETs used in AGD amps. The galium nitride modules are the only, and patented, GaNs designed specifically for Audio. All other GaNs were designed for battery chargers, radar or lidar, etc. Alberto, like Nelson Pass and SITs, owns all these GaNs made.
These amps are extremely fast. Their switching frequency is far beyond other Class D amps. AGD amps sound organic and natural with great realism like a SET but with liquidity and slam. The definition and immediacy puts them above any SET I have heard. The “tube” on top of AGD amps is a kind of tribute to the original 1906 Audion tube even though they are not vacuum tubes. They do however contain the full output stages. This contributes to heat dissipation and is a clever way to make the amps good for future upgrades. No need to ever buy a “new and improved” model. Just replace the tube. Alberto has issued a Mark II tube which is already used in his new amps and available for older.
Some would question the unique cosmetic design but once they are heard they become very beautiful. And, personally, I find them very attractive beyond the normal metal box. And the attention to fit and finish is of a high level including two excellent power cords and flight cases for shipping.
AGD amps are my final, destination amps. I am thrilled daily. My only considered upgrade would be to the top line Gran Vivaces.
Within minutes, I understood what everyone was saying. Now, after about a month of listening, I am convinced that I have indeed found the "holy grail". A SS amp that completely satisfies a SET guy... and more. I am thrilled daily by the way the Audions grab me. Now, it is no longer merely listening. It is being enveloped by a sound that opens a window into the musician's hearts and souls. They do so with an incredible lack of distortion, detail and transparency. I have never heard anything like it. Excuse what appears to be hyperbole but now hearing the Audion mono blocks I am overcome with the emotion I hear and emotion I feel.
I have come to understand that AGD Class D amps are indeed unique. The designer, Alberto Guerra, has a long background in integrated circuit development holding 10 patents including those for the MOSFETs used in AGD amps. The galium nitride modules are the only, and patented, GaNs designed specifically for Audio. All other GaNs were designed for battery chargers, radar or lidar, etc. Alberto, like Nelson Pass and SITs, owns all these GaNs made.
These amps are extremely fast. Their switching frequency is far beyond other Class D amps. AGD amps sound organic and natural with great realism like a SET but with liquidity and slam. The definition and immediacy puts them above any SET I have heard. The “tube” on top of AGD amps is a kind of tribute to the original 1906 Audion tube even though they are not vacuum tubes. They do however contain the full output stages. This contributes to heat dissipation and is a clever way to make the amps good for future upgrades. No need to ever buy a “new and improved” model. Just replace the tube. Alberto has issued a Mark II tube which is already used in his new amps and available for older.
Some would question the unique cosmetic design but once they are heard they become very beautiful. And, personally, I find them very attractive beyond the normal metal box. And the attention to fit and finish is of a high level including two excellent power cords and flight cases for shipping.
AGD amps are my final, destination amps. I am thrilled daily. My only considered upgrade would be to the top line Gran Vivaces.
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- 63 posts total
This threads a few years old but it just is so interesting to see how many tube amp fans, even SET fans, love the AGDs. Count me as one too. I’ve been a tube guy since I first heard a tube system 12 years ago. It was one of the 3-4 audiophile epiphany moments since the first time I remember hearing an actual high quality 2-channel system. I’ve probably had at least a dozen tubes since then and another 6-7 solid state amps of all types. Liked to loved most of the tube amps and liked most of the ss amps but never loved one enough to keep it as my main amp over tubes. There’s just a texture, tone and depth to tubes that pulls me in and keeps me listening I never got with ss. Until now. My main amp is a Line Magnetic LM845 premium. Love that amp for a few reasons but it is a heater. I moved to Scottsdale a bit ago and that amp is just too hot to use here 4-5 months a year. So I’ve been looking for an alternative that doesn’t make me miss my tube amp and doesn’t run hot. I’ve had Coda, LTA, Luxman, First Watt and while they all sounded fantastic and I could’ve been happy with any as the “summer amp.” But I kept hearing about ganfet amps and seeing so many tube amp lovers praise the sound. I also spent a few months with the LSA ganfet amp a couple years ago and it left me with a very positive impression and even some jaw dropping moments with vocal clarity and texture. So I decided to try the AGD Tempo Di Gan which is the entry model. Right away I was impressed with the sound. It has just enough of that tube texture while also having excellent layering, transparency and detail, with slam and dynamics. Since turning it on a few months ago I haven’t felt the need to switch back to the LM and now it’s already 100 here so it might be awhile. That being said I like this amp so much I just purchased a used pair of AGD Duets, which led me to this thread. I’m really looking forward to hearing them in a few days. Speakers are Fyne F502s and Cube Nunephar Mini. Amp sounds amazing with both. |
@abd1 Congrats on the AGD purchase! I bought my Vivaces at an Audio show in Florida in February 2020... turned out to be a 100% perfect solution |
- 63 posts total