Does anyone have Idea about how good is the SMSL PA400 and PA-X Power Amplifiers with Gan(Gallium Nitride) with FET( Field effective transistors) technology. Is the Class D getting better with this tech in Sound Quality than Class AB
Powef Amplifier of GAN(Gallium Nitride) with Fet Transistors
- Thread starter JohnDoe89
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No idea on the SMSL but I have a 4 year old MiniGan 5 power amp from ClassDaudio which sounds better than my B&K ST 2140, Creek Evo, and a EL34 based power amp (which sounded better than an Odyssey Stratos) in my system.
The MiniGan runs cool, has zero hum, and has been absolutely trouble free so far.
Class D is a solved problem. Amplifiers are a solved problem. Unless you prefer the coloured sound of Class A tubosaurus amps, you get an absolute neutral sound with many of the current Class D topologies. I too have discarded my EL34 based Class A amp. There is no way I'm going back regardless of what people say about Class D. You would agree that a high fidelity amp is one that doesn't change the original signal. That's the meaning of hifi, isn't it? Many of the class A amps aren't high fidelity even though they have many a fan following for their coloured sound. Class-D amplifiers will continue improving gradually, not because they have to catch up with class-A (that time is past), but because of the competition [between] class-D designers.
pmamagazine.org
Is Class-D Technology About As Good As It’ll Ever Get?
Bruno Putzeys calls class-D a “solved problem,” but responses from Peachtree, Orchard Audio, and Bel Canto suggest otherwise—pointing to GaN FETs, digital input topologies, and implementation refinements as the next frontier for sonic gains.
pmamagazine.org
I haven't heard the SMSL specifically, but in general the GanFET amps. sound great - I heard an AGD Tempo. Also I don't own any of these specific implementations, but I own a VTV Hypex N core amp. and a Nuprime AMG STA both of which sound excellent, and I agree with mbhangui - Class D is sounding great indeed vis-a-vis the class A,AB etc.
Cheers,
Sid
Sadly I can't answer your first question.
For your second question though -
I have said it many times - differences in Class D vs any other class is the same as differences between different amps within the same topology.
I do not have a preference presently - between various classes. I have a couple of favourites from Class AB, Class A & Class D. All have different sound signatures and all are great.
But apples to apples - Class D has a lot of advantages, availability, price, running temps, system matching.
My only gripe is that a lot of manufacturers (for class D) provide sub-par systems that do not last.
For your second question though -
I have said it many times - differences in Class D vs any other class is the same as differences between different amps within the same topology.
I do not have a preference presently - between various classes. I have a couple of favourites from Class AB, Class A & Class D. All have different sound signatures and all are great.
But apples to apples - Class D has a lot of advantages, availability, price, running temps, system matching.
My only gripe is that a lot of manufacturers (for class D) provide sub-par systems that do not last.
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morerajendra5678
Active Member
I am not trying to contest any of the opinion given. But a simple question here is wasn't the sound coloured when it was recorded? I have never been to high-end live music shows. But from the little I have heard during a group practising for Annual fest in college or school, the unamplified voice of the singer is over-powered by even sound of unamplified harmonium. But you always get to hear the singer clearly in recorded sound even with 50 musicians playing the orchestra.
So I believe we all are listening to coloured music. Degree of colouration of sound varies with equipment used in chain (be it recording chain or playback chain).
You are right about the colouration part. However, even with colouration, a good recording with no compression sounds enjoyable. Also I didn't speak about the fact that there are excellent Class A, Class AB amps and mediocre Class D and vice versa. It is impossible to get what it would have actually sounded live. You cannot avoid few things in this audio chain. Sometimes it is technological limitations. Sometimes it is the deliberate compression by the recording label. Sometime it is the way the singer wants it to sound like to the audience. And most important, you have the room which creates havoc because of reflections. You cannot control what the recording engineer had in mind when he/she mixed the sound, boosted few frequences and dialled down few frequency to make the final master. But once you have the recording with you, it is your choice not to further tamper with the sound by using a coloured amp or to listen to it without changing any bits. Both approaches are fine. I know many are fanatic about the tube sound and there is nothing wrong with that. It makes certain frequency sound special because of even numbered harmonics. The voice gets extra texture, the guitar strings sound unnaturally heavenly. All this being done by burning watts in 3 digits to producte sound output in single digit with help of extra sensitive speakers. And then there are solid sate Class A, which don't have output limitations but sill consume/waste lot of heat along with the fact that they are all expensive. With the current technoligical advances when Class D can do better and with lesser heat, why get sentimental about Class A, AB, D, etc? It is me and I would not pay extra to get a coloured amp. I would rather use the money saved and spend it on good speakers which btw are still not a solved problem. As far as colouring the sound is concerned there are better ways to colour it without spending tons of money. One can use dsp, graphic equalizers, software equaliztion, bass & treble control, harmonic generators, etc and I use all of them depending on the mood and the spirit being imbibed that makes me do so.
Gan will not change much unless you are going to go into kilowatts output. Read about Gan from Bruno Putzeys. Any eye opener for me. Especially read the section "The Revolution that is, and isn’t GaN"
Life on the Edge - A Personal Perspective on the Past, Present, and Future of Class D Audio Amplifiers - HomeTheaterHifi.com
The past quarter century of class D developments look strikingly different when seen through the eyes of the audio consumer and through...
hometheaterhifi.com
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I haven't heard a silicone based class D in my system so can't comment on the link above, but a friend's son who's heard my earlier systems and came home after a very long time to hear my current setup with the class D amp immediately mentioned how dark and black the silent passages were compared to what he remembered.
Now thinking about it, it's the blackness of the quiet passages that adds to the musicality as a whole for me.
Now thinking about it, it's the blackness of the quiet passages that adds to the musicality as a whole for me.
I have very limited experience with class D. I have only heard VTV with purifi module in high quality and revealing systems, one vtv amp had the tube input. Although very good technically, black background, highly detailed, etc, but it had no musicality, no emotion. That is not something that I look forward to in my system. But, I can understand why many people like it. The amp with the tube input was much better for obvious reasons. And if you do get used to the sound then everything else will sound colored. But what is Jagjit Singh with the emotion.
This just strengthens my view that sound is subjective just like art is. What floats ones boat may not be musical to someone else.
morerajendra5678
Active Member
There is no denying the fact that there are some good Class D amps. Similarly you cannot strike out the fact there are some equally good Class A, Class AB and tube amplifiers.
Evenone sets certain kind of goals for the system and accompanying equipments are just the means to achieve the goal.
When someone chooses to go with tube amplifier for the system, he is aware that he will be getting a coloured sound but at the same time get lots of warmth, smoothness and a catalyst to enable to get emotional connection with songs.
They have embraced colouration in music for its other virtues.
reignofchaos
Well-Known Member
The best analogy I can give is that class D amps are like electric cars - technically perfect but without a soul.
I do not know maybe my ears are crap or maybe I am more into music - I am not much of a critical listener.
I personally do not find the lack of soul in class D amplification. My main system has class D amplification and I absolutely love it.
I also had a Sugden Class A till mid this year, I did not find it to have any more soul than what I hear on my main CLASS D system.
I also have class AB amplification for my HT. Tube Pre for my another active system.
They all sound good to me. I think what we keep forgetting is, most systems will sound great, given you can spend some time on how they interact with you room. Regardless of the topology of the amplification used.
I have heard a great system with AYIMA Amps, I do not like these amps personally, but the system they were in sounded great. I have heard some incredible music in small recording studios and they are almost always on studio monitors and mostly completely class D, just because the speakers are carefully placed with sound first approach. They sound incredible.
I personally do not find the lack of soul in class D amplification. My main system has class D amplification and I absolutely love it.
I also had a Sugden Class A till mid this year, I did not find it to have any more soul than what I hear on my main CLASS D system.
I also have class AB amplification for my HT. Tube Pre for my another active system.
They all sound good to me. I think what we keep forgetting is, most systems will sound great, given you can spend some time on how they interact with you room. Regardless of the topology of the amplification used.
I have heard a great system with AYIMA Amps, I do not like these amps personally, but the system they were in sounded great. I have heard some incredible music in small recording studios and they are almost always on studio monitors and mostly completely class D, just because the speakers are carefully placed with sound first approach. They sound incredible.
morerajendra5678
Active Member
Class D when driven with Tube Pre-amplifier benefit a lot from the drive given to them by Tube Pre-amplifier.
The place where I live has one of the worst summers of India. So we have a hybrid Class D for some of the worst summer days in an exclusive all tube system.
That's like saying cars with a DSG are technically perfect but the ones with soul are the manuals.
Just kidding
reignofchaos
Well-Known Member
Yep DSG and Class D - both are use and throwThat's like saying cars with a DSG are technically perfect but the ones with soul are the manuals.
Just kidding
so
so what exactly is responsible for this SOUL ?
morerajendra5678
Active Member
You found lacking in musicality and emotions as you are accustomed to tube amplifier in your system. For this very reason you found the Class D amplifier with tube input to be better than the other one.
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