Update : I ve been listening to the Mini Gan for a few hours now.
I can now confirm my feeling : it is an amazing amplifier !
It still needs a little break-in; highs are extremely good and accurate, the low ends are crazy as well and it's powerful. If you like the Sabaj A20a you will strongly like this Mini Gan.
I can now confirm my feeling : it is an amazing amplifier !
It still needs a little break-in; highs are extremely good and accurate, the low ends are crazy as well and it's powerful. If you like the Sabaj A20a you will strongly like this Mini Gan.
I'm not 100% sure the raised heatsinks are a bad idea, it is not impossible that it may have an effect, those thermal pads in mention can work very well as insulators...
It is possible that a raised heatsink may cause some sort of thermal ventilation effect, but this would probably work better if it was a non-reflective heatsink and sloped towards a funnel in the centre.
Seems to me that the best feature of that particular mounting style would be bracing the coils/inductors...
But I could be wrong.
It is possible that a raised heatsink may cause some sort of thermal ventilation effect, but this would probably work better if it was a non-reflective heatsink and sloped towards a funnel in the centre.
Seems to me that the best feature of that particular mounting style would be bracing the coils/inductors...
But I could be wrong.
Hi, I think many assumptions have been made about these "flying heatsinks", we have a rational explanation from the manufacturer on the one hand and a bunch of opinions on the other.
I tend to base myself on facts and the fact is: my Purifi heats more than the Mini Gan after intense listening at sustained volume
I no longer have a thermal camera but here is what my Purifi gave:
If you had been attentive to the post, this is not a DIY type amp but an amp manufactured by Premium Audio which depends on ClassDaudio.
I think you don't know me well enough? Do you know how many reviews I've posted here and how many people I've helped with DIY projects? A big number)
This is, exceptionally, to share an impression on a Gan Amplifier that nobody knows. I have no action at Premium Audio ... neither at Sabaj .... nor at DrMordor ... and nowhere else)
This is a DIY forum, not a forum for the review of commercial products. Yes, I have seen your other reviews and asked you the same question, which you did not answer. You are not providing the forum with schematics, build guides, tweaks or other info that is DIY.
There are many fine forums for reviews of ready built new products. Your reviews would fit well there. Here we welcome topics that are Do It Yourself.
There are many fine forums for reviews of ready built new products. Your reviews would fit well there. Here we welcome topics that are Do It Yourself.
So ... if a DIYer sees where class D/FDA is heading he/she should post in Vendors forum? Without even selling anything?
Class D is all about miniaturization and the most recent developments are not easily DIYable IMHO. The field of DIY through hole stuff will be narrow (read: extinct) and the field of class D and FDA with almost all parts SMD will be broad. With parts many of us can not even handle. Bummer? Challenge? Personally I don't care that much... if an affordable ready made device is better than DIY devices I change fields without blinking an eye. It is about the results not the topology/DIY or non-DIY etc. This means the future in class D/FDA will mostly be either putting ready made modules in a casing or to buy ready made stuff and maybe modify it. Any good review or tips are welcome I think.
I did a tour and just returned with a Sabaj A20a that I brought for listening tests. I don't need it at all, I was just interested. It is a very good device and I respect danibouns comments. In fact I bought it partly because of his comments and partly because of experiments with MA12070 modules. It is way better than many other ready made devices and it sets a new 0 point. We came to the conclusion it makes no sense anymore to refurbish/renovate many classic/vintage amplifiers when such a good device can be bought for such a price. In some cases it is cheaper than the parts needed for a refurbishment Personally I don't care a iota about class A and big clunky old technology so for me new developments are interesting. Not everything old is good and not everything new is good. So what to think/believe of new developments and where to find info? The opinions of daniboun are more neutral than buyers opinions on the sites where such devices are sold.
If all this is against or in the red zone of forum rules then please have the mods decide what is allowable and what not. Then an official statement and also a sharp eye towards other links to reviews of existing/ready made devices. It would be a pity when these developments and the information would be forbidden as it is a rapid moving market with many new developments that will be standard whether one likes it or not. It is looking forward and not many sane persons buy ALL that is coming out except for the true fanatics. The sites motto is "projects by fanatics for fanatics". The fanatics of which I am one believe/wish/hope for new devices that give satisfaction while being small, affordable, power efficient and (of course) better sounding and measuring than the ones they replace. In other words: progress.
Class D is all about miniaturization and the most recent developments are not easily DIYable IMHO. The field of DIY through hole stuff will be narrow (read: extinct) and the field of class D and FDA with almost all parts SMD will be broad. With parts many of us can not even handle. Bummer? Challenge? Personally I don't care that much... if an affordable ready made device is better than DIY devices I change fields without blinking an eye. It is about the results not the topology/DIY or non-DIY etc. This means the future in class D/FDA will mostly be either putting ready made modules in a casing or to buy ready made stuff and maybe modify it. Any good review or tips are welcome I think.
I did a tour and just returned with a Sabaj A20a that I brought for listening tests. I don't need it at all, I was just interested. It is a very good device and I respect danibouns comments. In fact I bought it partly because of his comments and partly because of experiments with MA12070 modules. It is way better than many other ready made devices and it sets a new 0 point. We came to the conclusion it makes no sense anymore to refurbish/renovate many classic/vintage amplifiers when such a good device can be bought for such a price. In some cases it is cheaper than the parts needed for a refurbishment
Personally I don't care a iota about class A and big clunky old technology so for me new developments are interesting. Not everything old is good and not everything new is good. So what to think/believe of new developments and where to find info? The opinions of daniboun are more neutral than buyers opinions on the sites where such devices are sold. If all this is against or in the red zone of forum rules then please have the mods decide what is allowable and what not. Then an official statement and also a sharp eye towards other links to reviews of existing/ready made devices. It would be a pity when these developments and the information would be forbidden as it is a rapid moving market with many new developments that will be standard whether one likes it or not. It is looking forward and not many sane persons buy ALL that is coming out except for the true fanatics. The sites motto is "projects by fanatics for fanatics". The fanatics of which I am one believe/wish/hope for new devices that give satisfaction while being small, affordable, power efficient and (of course) better sounding and measuring than the ones they replace. In other words: progress.
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Thanks Jean Paul, I do appreciate your support
For me the Mini Gan 5 is more finished DIY amp than a pure commercial product. For good reason, very few people know it or have tried it.
I have no desire to break the rules but it is all with maximum pleasure that I share my discoveries.
And why not add a section called "Commercial DIY oriented amp" or something like that ? Might as well please everyone rather than "push" this type of thread in the Vendor section?
For me the Mini Gan 5 is more finished DIY amp than a pure commercial product. For good reason, very few people know it or have tried it.
I have no desire to break the rules but it is all with maximum pleasure that I share my discoveries.
And why not add a section called "Commercial DIY oriented amp" or something like that ? Might as well please everyone rather than "push" this type of thread in the Vendor section?
Maybe "Objective DIYer reviewing device xxx" or the like. Not only all the nice stuff but also the less nice stuff like a member in this thread commenting on the cheap RCA connectors. And the heatsinks that are no heatsinks
Of audio magazines one knows that the reviewer often can keep the device when the reviewer is positive (I recently bought such a device that was given for free). On other websites people give a good review after the first minute of use when the power Led functions OK or ....when the manual is in English. So a fanatic describing his technical orientated view on new devices with all plusses and minuses seems a good thing in the interest of audio hobbyists of all kinds. As otherwise one might get stuck in stuff one already knows aka tunnel view.
Of audio magazines one knows that the reviewer often can keep the device when the reviewer is positive (I recently bought such a device that was given for free). On other websites people give a good review after the first minute of use when the power Led functions OK or ....when the manual is in English. So a fanatic describing his technical orientated view on new devices with all plusses and minuses seems a good thing in the interest of audio hobbyists of all kinds. As otherwise one might get stuck in stuff one already knows aka tunnel view.
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I fully support Dan and his excellent reviews, observations suggestions and comparisons... For many DIY guys having an independent opinion and non vested interest is both rare and helpful.
Personally I will now be selling my sabaj amps and buying the GAN amps...
The DIY comes in as I will modify the amp by running it from a large battery and not having any mains power to the board.
Without the helpful independent advice and time and money spent by Dan I would not have discovered this GAN amp.
Mods and traffic wardens... Give someone a badge and look what happens!
Personally I will now be selling my sabaj amps and buying the GAN amps...
The DIY comes in as I will modify the amp by running it from a large battery and not having any mains power to the board.
Without the helpful independent advice and time and money spent by Dan I would not have discovered this GAN amp.
Mods and traffic wardens... Give someone a badge and look what happens!
As recalcitrant member but also ex-mod I must say that we still should be grateful for the way moderation is done on diyaudio.com. It takes a lot of personal time to keep this show going on.
Apart from this good post, Alex.
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