Class AB vs. GaN Class D Which sounds best ?
The Amps we will feature are the AGD Production Audion Monoblock GaN FET Patented Class D power amplifier, vs. Jeff Rowland 625S2 High level class AB Lets see if you can tell the difference. Share your decision and explain why you chose the way you did... 00:01:26 - Sample Q
00:04:54 - Sample J
00:07:06 - Begin discussion.
Пікірлер: 181
Great video Mike! Love me some sample J! Open, airy, and transparent soundstage, fast and punchy, yet soft and nuanced with super grippy bass.
Fun demo - thanks for this Mike
Q was the best in my ears, can’t explain why 🤷♂️. That’s some really nice stuff you have. It’s amazingly beautiful to look at.
@OCDHIFiGuy
2 жыл бұрын
Appreciate that !
Would just like to mention that these sample tracks are some of my favorites on the planet. That is all, carry on.
Mike, thanks for this eye opening experiment. Both amps sound amazing but there’s something on Sample Q that feels like it’s missing on J. I’m not sure what it is, presence / overall robustness (maybe?). I’m not sure if that’s the Class D. Regardless of which is which, kudos to this Class D amp!
@dilbyjones
3 жыл бұрын
Marlon Cipriano I picked J as class AB
Oh yes nice video comparison. 7500 is a killer deal for that level of workmanship
Absolutely special product here. Saw this at the Tampa audio expo and seriously considered buying this. Lots of good stuff going on. THE AUDION” Monoblock uses the unique GaNTube™ technology with Gallium Nitride MOSFET based Power-Stage, fully enclosed in a Glass Tube. The Gallium Nitride Power MOSFETS, are the unique technology design advantage of AGD Productions, and are the key to the reference level performance of all AGD amplifiers.
Hi Mike, did you have Rel subs in the past? I see your open baffle GR Research subs and wondering if you prefer RELs or open baffles to pair with the Maggie’s!! Thanks !
Man I can’t believe how good your rig sounds ... brings tears to my eyes! They both sound frigging amazing but I’ll choose Q as the one I liked better. No idea which one is class D. Maybe it was Q.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
You Prefer Jeff Rowland Class AB ! If ity brings tears to your eyes then music is important to you as you connect deeply with it , Improve your experience and put together a rig !
@dilbyjones
3 жыл бұрын
Hemant Ishwaran Mikey is a serious audio dude.
@EvanZalys
3 жыл бұрын
You’re watching a video taken on a phone or something. How can you even tell?
Sample J has noticeably more depth and dimension. Based on my experience, that would be the Class A/B. Correct?
Q had better attack, sustain and decay, i.e., a faster transient response. J sounded a fraction rounded in comparison. My guess is that Q is the AGD.
Damn Gallium Nitride Transistors. Insanely fast switching speed and extremely high electron mobility. Pretty advanced stuff. They used to only be used in Lasers when they first came out. Class D amps have truly come pretty far.
@OCDHIFiGuy
2 жыл бұрын
You are not kidding Shayhan... They have come very far I used to be very biased against them. Thanks for your feedback
I don’t care which was which it all sounded great Mikey!!! 😎👍🤟
@keesvanwoerden2156
3 жыл бұрын
I do care. I loose sleep over it
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
@@keesvanwoerden2156 lol Spoken like a true OCD Audiophile..
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Thats the bottom line man !
J had better control of the speakers. Easier to hear the effects employed by Mr Waters. The bass was the most obvious part as Q seemed underdamped. Q also sounded compressed in the midrange at times. Then again its a recording and I'm listening over youtube, my laptop headphone jack and beat up cans. I would say J sounds closer to my current AB amps and Q closer to my old Class A amps if that makes any sense. Thanks for putting up the video because I have been curious about GaN. So which is which?
First example is the best by fahr..🤯😎 right?!
I agree with Marcin. And I know there are far more brilliant minds than Bruno making Class D amps ...that are more spectacular than anything he developed.
Q is cleaner and lower timbre. J on first listen has more info but further listens reveal it as coloured and brightened by low level distortions. Q has odd attack and decay and no shoutiness/blooming. Neither is quite right but both are very good, my preference tips toward Q which I expect is the class D.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Q is Rowland AB :-)
GO MIKEY, how is the website coming along?
Q sounded better to me, but i donk know what amp that was?
cab you remove the cage around the tube?
I really think class D, has arrived and is now a serious contender in the game.
@toff5812
Жыл бұрын
I'm digging up your comment, Yes class D has taken everything in its path, smaller, more powerful, we get an excellent sound with a good preamp, what could be better!!!
Hooking up a 5 channel D-Sonic in the next few days. 🤞
What was the result of the comparison?... the 3th and 4th sample sounded more rounded and the bass came better trough, my guess is that it was the AB one
You can never tell by listening through the mic and KZread, we all know what’s class D is, connect your oscilloscope and it’ll tell you right away where the real sound is and where the micro saw class D sound. Your brain is built that way to accept undistorted sound waves while class D is and will always be distorted wave and you can hear it at highs very easily, after listening to class D even ppl “without ears” complain they can’t relax and sound isn’t warm and muffled at highs. Somehow people don’t like new 4000$ advanced class D amps in their cars but prefer old school AB warm sound, have any idea why?
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
go to AGD production.com for the scope images . You've never seen switching mode this fast and clean..
Sample Q was much better. It sounds more 'natural,' has a Bigger more 3-D sound stage, more punch, and is very warm, open, and detailed simultaneously, beautiful.
@OCDHIFiGuy
Ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing!
I thought the noise floor on sample J fell through the basement; it was unmistakably lower. If I had to guess I would lean toward it being the class D.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Youve got a well trained ear my friend, Thats exactly what you heard.
AB still has that smoothness. D sounds really efficient and powerful but boomy on certain frequencies. Is there a way to use both?
@OCDHIFiGuy
Жыл бұрын
Not that Ive seen... Unless you biamp with different amp types
@babolababs4732
Жыл бұрын
Yea there is, many are building hybrid amps with class AB for pre and class D for out stages.
Personally if i was just starting out Class D wins.....they are both excellent but in todays world with energy the way it is the D has arrived, and the AGD's are a works of art.
00:01:26 AB 00:02:32 AB 00:03:35 D 00:04:54 D
J sounds more pleasant except a not ideal bass (Q works better there). But UcD becomes closer and closer to hi-end. Faster mosfets, faster drivers, more integration stages, and they will break through.
To me Q is class D and the other class A/B, is that correct? Anyone know? Thank you
Hi Mike are there any more affordable class D pre or power amplifiers you can recommend
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Sure , the Jeff Rowland 125 is 125WPC for only $3K brand new
@anjovandijk9797
3 жыл бұрын
thx Mike
Class D is now a serious contender
00:01:26 - Sample Q 00:04:54 - Sample J 00:07:06 - Begins discussion.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks D !
the second version of "Mother" sounded better to me. More emotional, dense, and natural. First one is very good but has what I call a little too much of an electronic echo to it. Maybe you could argue the second version is a little more to to the sound of the studio also? My guess is version one of "Mother" is the class AB amp.
I may be wrong but I'm thinking j is the class d amps both sound really good.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Correct !
Sample Q is the GAN?
So the better looking one is the better sounding amp ? How can anyone tell listening to this video? I certainly can't, must have cloth ears 😊
Q wins for me hands down!
didn`t read on, which is which, but i prefere the first sample - Q
I’m a sound engineer. Please explain how playing a recording of these systems back through my system reveals anything about them?
@OCDHIFiGuy
2 ай бұрын
First off I don't believe the initial sentence. You are not a professional or you would clearly understand I'm showing the difference between two recordings. If your playback system can not reveal the differences, then again, you are no professional... sorry to be direct, I call it like I see it.
@user-pd5pw4xv9w
2 ай бұрын
@@OCDHIFiGuy - the recordings are also dependent on your choice of mic, its preamp, its AD convertor, and even the sample rate and bit depth you used. When other people play those back, their own DAC, amplifier and speakers come into play. So how are we to know the source of whatever is being revealed?
Before it goes to far j is class D I use both types. I can honestly say i don't have a favourite.
Im new to see this vid. But i picked J as class d as well. Before looking at responses. Class D still seems to be missing that extra body...or ora around all the music. Theres seems to be that extra mucle around intruments with class ab amps. Be a car audiophile.. this case is the same. I have old school orion class ab amps (hcca) lots. and also full on Alpine pdx class d amp systems. Alpine system is around 2000watts total. Orion system is approx 600watts. Orion ie..class ab just sounds better. I love both. Class d seems to be easier to listen to for longer. More detail and emotion with my Orions. Alpine is mah...but way louder. And for my home system...Technics Sug700 and Paradigm monitor 11v7s. Dont laugh..Im still playin around. Thanks yall
The D is more revealing. I suppose the next listening test would be to find a “cleaner” analog power amp than the Rowland.
Sample Q = AB amp .... Sample J =. Class D amp. .....sample Q sound better.
J - Class AB. More rounded and natural curve.
It's so hard to really make judgment on KZread with its compression that has added to the music
Class d sound quality is amazing
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
iTS GOTTWEN WAY BETTER
Is the Class AB toroidal? None of these sounded toroidal.
@OCDHIFiGuy
Жыл бұрын
What makes you say that ?
@techsamurai11
Жыл бұрын
@@OCDHIFiGuy I don't know but I had to go check the inside of it. Was Q the Jeff Rowland? Sample J had me moving to the sound which is how I rate music.
@techsamurai11
Жыл бұрын
I could be dead wrong and gotten the Amps mixed up:)
listened through my phone in the sink I would say J is class D has more grip thank Q, I don't know why you chose his numbers tho! What's wrong with a and b Has the class D got switching mode power supply or traditional
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Both amps have a switch mode power supply, even the Rowland Class AB, and you've never seen a power supply that advanced its incredible...
@johnsweda2999
3 жыл бұрын
@@OCDHIFiGuy what do you mean it's advanced incredible?? Not really no, what frequency does it work at
Two very *different* songs used to compare the amps 🤔 That said, I prefer Song Q 😏
the purpose of class d is not to outshine the sound quality of class a/b coz its not gonna happen,the purpose of it is to sound as close to a/b without spending too much and save electricity in the long run
@OCDHIFiGuy
2 жыл бұрын
I wholeheartedly disagree. The purpose of class D is to push the boundary of what was achieved with A and AB, beat those designs in every way, and do it more efficiently and at less cost.
@myplaguesify
2 жыл бұрын
@@OCDHIFiGuy the big question is does class D outshine the class ab amp? not a chance
@OCDHIFiGuy
2 жыл бұрын
@@myplaguesify its clear you do not listen to the latest class Ds , they smoke the AB amps. Like clearly sound better. Why wouldnt they ? They are the current amp technology and the only one that anyone does R&D on any more. A and AB is old tech, and up till recently sounded best for HiFi. At this point, the new Gallium Nitride class D amps are the first to cross the reference set by AB.
@myplaguesify
2 жыл бұрын
@@OCDHIFiGuy or you just dont listen to latest class ab amp? class d is cost cutting amp
@OCDHIFiGuy
2 жыл бұрын
@@myplaguesify dont be silly. I am an expert. I use AB as well as D in my system every day. I use the most advanced AB in existence. Jeff Rowland. I also use AGD production Gallium Nitride Class D, the most advanced class D on the planet. Each Jeff Rowland amp is $17, 500 and a pair of the AGD monobocks for my tweeters is only $7500, so it is a cost cutting solution.
Sample J is class D amplification.Period.THE base is far better controlled.
Q is more better than J
Been trying to tell people how far class d has come...
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
They get a blank stare dont they ? lol
@jaysaudiolab
3 жыл бұрын
@@OCDHIFiGuy never fails man
@msh6865
2 жыл бұрын
@@OCDHIFiGuy they actually seem to get angry at the suggestion that a lowly class D amp can compete with the much revered class a/b.
The correct grammar when comparing two things is 'which sounds better'. You use best if you compare more than two things.
@OCDHIFiGuy
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks man !! Ill remember that !
How to hookup my class d.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
aaaa.use your hands... ?
Guess I will have wait till I can listen through headphones. Hard to tell through my crappy phone.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
They are very close if not indistinguishable is my point
Before I know which is which, I can tell Sample J's punch is more solid.
@brunoccj
Жыл бұрын
Solid bass is important in acoustic recording.
J was the more open sound Q was mumbled to me. J is the class D
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Yessir!
Gan is a MOSFET driver. Are you sure it is Class D? If it is class D I would wager it is being switched at 300+mHz, instead of like 50kHz. That is a HUGE difference, and not even in the same ballpark because the GaN Fet can sample a waveform millions of times faster then a conventional Class D... meaning it is essentially a Class D acting like a Class AB, with vastly superior power handling characteristics.
@OCDHIFiGuy
Жыл бұрын
Its absolutely Class D using a GaN FET
Q-AB, J - D
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
You got it
@Shpillah
3 жыл бұрын
OCD HI-Fi Guy D class is very close to AB - I can hear the difference but it’s in my tolerance. I’m building dclass amps on the same modules like JR. Greatings from Poland
I’d say Q was the class D and J was the class AB. Both are beautiful sounding amps though regardless of what class they are.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
for sure.. They're Nearly indistinguishable
@NickP333
3 жыл бұрын
I know it’s not the point, but my initial impression was wrong after reading some other comments. Again, don’t care what class it is, and would love to have either one in my rig. Interesting “test”, Mikey. Just shows that Class D isn’t the dirty word in HiFi anymore, cuz as you mentioned, they really did sound SO damn close to one another.
J sounds louder
Q are the class D ones.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
No Sir, I am sorry Q is AB
@Olaya_kawaii1922
3 жыл бұрын
@@OCDHIFiGuy Thanks for the answer. Very good AB in fact. I found it more articulated with more punch and little ash in the highs. Strange that the class D seems to me more relaxed...
Every class D amp I've heard crushes AB in terms of detail and neutrality. My 17yr old panasonic XR55 matches or exceeds any AB amp under $1000 Ive heard. You people are hearing things. The distortion caused by analog amps is what you like. Class D delivers better fidelity - period. Its like claiming your 20yr old 27" CRT has a better picture than your 55" OLED because the OLED shows the limits of your VHS collection.
*J* wins hands down for me
the first time sounds more crips than the second time
all new product are class d now, its more powerfull.
@OCDHIFiGuy
2 жыл бұрын
Cheaper, more energy efficient, etc... I still like old school texture in the midrange though ..
Sample J is the class D, Sample Q is the AB
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
BOOM ! David got it ..
Q is class D and J is class AB. Clear difference in favor of class AB.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
You have it in reverse...
@keesvanwoerden2156
3 жыл бұрын
Big surprise. So maybe I will become a convert.
@sean_heisler
3 жыл бұрын
😂😂😂😂😂😂
@ashlynholme1402
3 жыл бұрын
Watch other vids or shall I say listen . That mic is amazing and the rooms treated . Great example . Class D cleaning up . Nice
@keesvanwoerden2156
3 жыл бұрын
@@ashlynholme1402 Which mic is amazing? Which rooms are treated?
J sounded better to me
I think J is the AGD class D. Mikey, your recording is way far below par. I think you should improve it at the first place.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Ive got a killer Mic setup and its no better on youtube
Atma-sphere Class D is another contender
@OCDHIFiGuy
Жыл бұрын
In my clients testing, AGD beat out Atma....Ill have to try
@phantomaudio1927
Жыл бұрын
@@OCDHIFiGuy There is about 3 different version of AGD so which one beat out the Atma?
needs a bit of treble or take off a bit of bass dude!...you can hear it on the kick drum!
I cnt belive Half the ppl in the comments..a class A/B 4channel is for mids and highs ..The mono d can yes work as a 4channel amp but it's made for subs and bass....when u run mids and highs u want a A/B amp man damn
@OCDHIFiGuy
Жыл бұрын
You got to hear the high end latest class D designs. They have better clarity and less distortion than A/B. Problem is they are TOO clean and transparent...Too perfect sounding can be a double edged sword..
@cali8221
Жыл бұрын
@OCDHIFiGuy huh??so what exactly are u trying to say??A\B amps are for mids and highs period ...mono d block are for bass and subs ..I aint knkw ppl.used d amps for there mids and highs now days jus being honest??so I'd be better getting a d block then??im running ds18s 6×9s and 6.5s
@OCDHIFiGuy
Жыл бұрын
@Cali 82! I got you. You are talking car audio.. it's different. For sure you use D for subs and A/B for mid high. I got old PPI Art Series for my Mid High and Crossfire D mono for my JL subs in my old truck... good times... but I've left that behind for Home stuff now... in Home Audio, they are more serious about the quality of the class D, so they can be used as full range amps... hope this helps ;-) 😉
@cali8221
Жыл бұрын
@OCDHIFiGuy thanks Glad sum one else understands what I'm saying ..
Pink Floyd is always the king
I can't hear a difference, that must be a compliment to class D amp
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
For sure
Went to 2021 Audio Show on 6/11/21 at Hilton in Long Beach. Went to the GAN audio room they connect to $17,500 MSRP bookshelves. Walked in and walked out. So bad. It has lots of bass, uncontrolled bass bloated bass like loose stool diarrhea bass. The sound is all over the places no focus. Didn’t even bother to look into the brand of speakers or the detail of the components. Also went to GAN audio in 2019 audio show and wasn’t impressed
@OCDHIFiGuy
2 жыл бұрын
well its too bad the rooms sucked, my room would sell these amps to you . I would not need to say a word.
SAMPLE Q to klasa AB , SAMPLE J to klasa D gut ? Oba grają dobrze . Sample q lepszy "kant" środek i góra. Sample j dżwięk bardziej matowy. Jak się mylę to bardzo dobry ten wzmacniacz klasy D. Z przymrużeniem oka bo ocena nie na żywo.
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Czech Republic ? Romania ? Serbia ?
@nudawas
6 ай бұрын
@OCDHIFiGuy Poland.
j is superior, q is to muffled and bass heavy
GaN only put out 175w at 4ohm..... That’s fuck all, never get reference level with 175w... Hypex NC1200w mono! Level up and feel your face skin peel with the beats
Can't tell the difference!
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
Listen via headphones.
First: You can polish aluminum all day - doesn't change the sound of anything, you can polish an empty box and it wont' play a thing. GaN's do not improve the sound of a class D amplifier. GaNfets only increase efficiency, great if you're designing a renewable energy inverter but zero benefit if you're designing an audio amplifier. Audio guys talk but where are the FFT's and Bode plots? This is the problem, audiophiles, whatever that means, have no idea what electronics is yet they are using electronic equipment. Who cares if they spent tons of money polishing something, I'm listening to an amp. I can buy a highly polished nail clipper, it's useless for audio.
@OCDHIFiGuy
8 ай бұрын
Coming from the high powered Mosfet guy... LOL.. Bi Polar devices kick Mosfets ass... And GaN Means nothing unless theres a killer circuit design. Thats what Im demonstrating..
@mosfet500
8 ай бұрын
I can see don't have an electronics background, you're making statements that science doesn't support. You're not alone, lots of HiFi enthusiasts do the same thing. Once again, GaNfets ONLY increase efficiency, if you're designing a sine wave inverter for a PV system that's great, you can't hear the difference in an audio circuit, no one can. The only thing they enable designers to do is make smaller circuits with smaller heatsinks, which saves them money but does nothing to the audio signal. GaN's are no more difficult to design with than any other semiconductor, like all semiconductors they have parameters. BPT's have characteristics, again, just like all semiconductors do. Class D has beneficial characteristics just like SET's do, it's what you like and what you want to pay. @@OCDHIFiGuy
Well, its a serious contender, it got better, it's not bad, all that stuff is true. However, good class D is still noticeably worse that good class A. Class D makes perfect sense for a car, but in a house, just why?
@rolandevans5894
2 жыл бұрын
How can you make a judgement unless you have heard all of the class D amps? I have a "good" class A amp that proved to be sonically inferior on every level to a Mola Mola Kaluga I had on home trial. GaN amps offer a very exciting alternative. I would be interested to know which particular hifi class D amps you have had personal experience with
All this talking, all this awesome equipment ... and you mic'd the demo up like THAT? Why bother Bro...
the problem here, is that KZread audio is really poor, so judging the harmonics and details is impossible.
$10,000 cash says you can’t tell the difference in a A&B blindfold test. 😉
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
LOL< thats exactly what I'm trying to show here..
Q better
@OCDHIFiGuy
3 жыл бұрын
ROWLAND !
Why these reviewers compare good amps by using old trash music? It's like they're being the amp to make their trash music sound better.
😴😴😴😴😴😴😴 who gives a shit . At your price levels they should both sound good.
No difference
too much talk
Over you tube cannot be an accurate sound ever sorry makes no point at all .
@OCDHIFiGuy
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing your opinion!