Ixycore

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (i5, 256GB SSD, 40GB RAM, Sonoma 14), 4TB external SSD with Thunderbolt 3, Audirvana Studio, Qobuz Sublime, Gustard U26 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 & SW-6 switch, Sonnet Pasithea; Preamp: Hattor Audio ARP-S; Active filter: spl Audio Crossover MkII; Power amplifiers: Vinshine/Kinki Dazzle & mono NC500 Nord Acoustic amps on subwoofer; Loudspeakers: Qualio IQ [on loan]; Subwoofer: sound|kaos D15; Cables: Exact Express Flame, Furutech; Power delivery: 2 x Kinki/Vinshine Tai Hang on amps and source stack, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, AudioQuest FogLifters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat; Room treatment: 2 x PSI Audio AVAA C214 active bass traps
1st upstairs speaker system: Source: FiiO R7 into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Preamp/filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos; Loudspeakers: sound|kaos Vox3awf; Subwoofer: Zu Method; Cable loom: Exact Express Earth; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra, Akiko Audio Corelli Corundum & Castello Solo; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Furutech cable lifts, Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
1st upstairs headfi system: DAC: Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Headphones: Raal 1995 Magna, HifiMan Susvara
Desktop system: Source: HP Z2 workstation Win11/64; USB bridge: LHY UIP; Ethernet bridge: LHY EFI; Ethernet reclocker: Stack SmoothLAN; DACs: Gustard R26II; Preamp: Topping A900; Speaker amps: Topping B200 monos; Headphone amp: Enleum AMP-23R; Loudspeakers: Virtual Hifi Viper; Headphones: Final D-8000, aune SR7000, FiiO FT7, HifiMan Susvara Unveiled
2nd upstairs headfi system: Shanling EM7; Headphones: Meze 109 Pro, Fiio FT3, HifiMan HE1000 Unveiled
2nd upstairs speaker system: Source: smsl PL200T CD transport, 1TB microSD; DAC: Shanling EM7; Crossover: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box II;  Amplifiers: LAIV Crescendo Chorus monos; Loudspeakers: MonAcoustic SuperMon Mini with Dynaudio S18 subwoofer
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: ModalAkustik MusikBoxx; Subwoofer: Zu Mission; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: TBA

If you're a Dune fan, you know. Frank Herbert's Ixians were a highly advanced technocratic civilization from Ix as the 9th planet of the Alkalurope star system; and the Imperium's premier manufacturers of machines, advanced gadgets and spacecraft. Back on Gaia of 2026 meanwhile, Ixycore are a new French brand. Their maiden product is a monaural GaNFet amplifier of 200/400/800W power doubling into 8-2Ω. Its gallium-nitride outputs switch at up to 1.2MHz. They're driven by a 1'300W 100kHz GaN-based SMPS. Other specs are 20kΩ/63µΩ i/o impedance, <0.00005% THD, 140dB SN/R, selectable AC/DC drive and hi/lo gain, 24.3/36dB of voltage gain on XLR/RCA and extreme peak efficiency of 98%. This lot bags into a ¾-width aluminium case of 30x23x6.5cm WxDxH which loads our bathroom scale by 4.5kg; or 0.7 stone in Imperial metric. Our earthly Ixians breached daylight at Vienna HighEnd 2026 in the Newcomer's area. Their Frédérik Dezé called the outing "a fantastic proof of concept, allowing us to lock in premium industrial partnerships and early-bird customers. We are currently working on our first limited run and estimate that production status and review-ready units will be fully operational around November 2026." As this next photo from his media pack shows, he didn't actually bring an amplifier. Why? Dune's Ixians lived underground due to the strict religious laws of the Butlerian Jihad which banned thinking machines and advanced computers. It had the Ixians operate in a moral grey area whilst skirting the edge of prohibitions. Purely based on specs and related promise, Ixycore based in France's Villemomble under CEO and co-founder Jean Cohen Adad too might operate at the edge of prohibitions as set by linear gain circuits with linear power supplies.

The current concept with RCA/XLR inputs and 3.5mm trigger socket builds on know-how developed with the Gemincore circuit patented in 2001 by engineers Nicola Lomuto and René Lambruschi. This attracted attention at the 27th AES convention of 2005¹ where René and Bruno Putzeys made independent presentations. To redefine what modern class D amplification can be and build the world's best amplifier regardless of operational class, Ixycore formally formed in 2022. The original €2'500 250W/4Ω Gemincore amplifier already switched at what for its time was an outrageous 500kHz, used a 4th-order output filter and twin 500VA toroidal power transformers followed by 45'000µF/channel filter capacitance. It was distributed by EARS SARL of Paris. With newer GaNFet parts capable of switching far faster than silicon Mosfets did 20 years ago, the dead time as the delay between on/off states reduces. This is viewed as a main contributor to lower total harmonic distortion. Rather than 2005's linear PSU, Ixycore also harness GaN tech for a fast-recovery highly efficient power supply whose 100kHz action sits well out of band unlike a linear supply's 50/60Hz. It's how Ixycore go full-on GaNbusters. There's also advanced protection via 300-ampere 3µs static switch across the outputs to shunt the full current when exceeding 28.5A which avoids a common 5mΩ relay's collapse of the damping factor here specified as 20K at the output terminals. Meanwhile global voltage acceptance spans a broad 85-270VAC.
________________________

¹ Readers of lengthy memories remember this as a time when none other than Jeff Rowland promoted ICEpower amplifiers with input transformers. Meanwhile at the beginning of the new millennium, Bel Canto had already followed up their original 845-based high-voltage SET integrated with their eVo 200.2 amplifier based on modified Tripath or 'class T' tech before switching to ICEpower six years later. Today their most upscale Black range is based on modified low-gain nCore.

To state the obvious, a classic class AB never mind class A circuit with linear power supply would have to be wildly larger, heavier and costlier to duplicate Ixycore's power rating whilst likely falling far short on its speed, noise and distortion figures. Having already reviewed ambitious GaN amps by Merrill, AGD and LAiV whilst owning a pair of the latter's Crescendo monos, the tech's known potential had me at immediate hello upon learning of Ixycore's show presence in an online report. Frédérik's quick response put me into the November loop. Time to defy our High End's equivalent of the Butlerian Jihad with ultra-modern hifi kit for thinking wo/men? If thinking implies higher greener efficiency, far greater compactness, extreme power stability, lower distortion and analogue resolution finally on par with today's best digital sources – then yes, this assignment should be all about that. Before the end of the year nears when this story is booked to continue, what else might Frédérik divulge now?

Given his minimalist proof-of-concept Vienna presence, I couldn't help but think of Mircea Naiu's Ella amplifier patented with 71 claims. With the same power specs as Ixycore yet 1MHz bandwidth and a topology "between class A and D" with 2'500VA peak power consumption so nowhere near modern class D's efficiency, this analog gain tech doesn't seem to have had much commercial traction despite a short-lived association with Audio Physic. Just because something is novel and works great guarantees no market-place success. Other factors are at play, many of them beyond a new brand's control or foresight. How will timing, hifi circumstance and global events work out for our new Ixians now that their mono amps are about to take the onramp onto the Audiophile Highway? Beyond the three already mentioned, other brands on its wider GaN lane are Argent Pur, Hifi Rose, Java Hifi, Mytek, Orchard, Peachtree, smsl and Technics. In Vienna, Hifi Rose unveiled their new RA80 monos at right which pack 500/1'000W into 8/4Ω and 2kW peak power into 2Ω. This sector is hotting up by degrees. Above left, an original Gemincore amplifier's interior with dual power toroids; output module in front.

"I'm on holiday to the end of June. Thanks a lot for your preview. It's very detailed already and shows your investment and work as a journalist. Duly noted that you'd like to go deeper on our history and engineering. I will do my best to provide you with great information. I'd love to take you up on Zoom and perhaps René Lambruschi can join." Clearly at least one of the original engineers was still involved. Some projects must be put on ice to await availability of more advanced parts than existed when a concept first birthed. Unlike ICEpower, Hypex, Pascal, PowerSoft, Purifi, TI & Co., Ixycore won't be an OEM module but turnkey amplifier like Mola-Mola's Kaluga and its siblings have been for Ncore. "I'm back in the office fully recharged and ready to work with you on your next chapter of the Ixycore story. Thanks again for the incredible teaser. The echo in the market has been fascinating and highly qualified audiophiles are already tracking us down. To feed your next preview page, I'd love to organize that Zoom call. Our lead engineer René Lambruschi would join but only on Teams. René and Nicola's story is beautiful. They are pure uncompromising passionate minds. During our chat we'll explain the transition from the Gemincore architecture to what today is Ixycore. In short, Gemincore had demonstrated that their patented high-frequency switching topology was theoretically superior. Ixycore is the full realization of that dream made possible by modern full-GaN semiconductors and ultra-premium contemporary components driven to perfection. As discussed, our first highly exclusive production run is scheduled for November. We have officially allocated a pair from this specific batch strictly for your review. Let's chat next week. As the living God of the Ixians, René doesn't use a smartphone. He can only be reached via his computer and Teams for collective calls. He neither does Zoom nor has a webcam." Microsoft it was—audio only for René.