Context. Even though my hifi shack—a repurposed shelved-out bathroom for in-door storage—includes nCore and Purifi amps, I don't use them. Too dry, overdamped and mechanical. However, I did hear two switching amps I could have settled down with; the aforementioned AGD and Merrill. Whilst not the same as my class AB 2.5MHz direct-coupled Kinki monos with lateral Exicon Mosfets, they offered equivalent sound. Since I already owned the Kinki for a fraction of the ask, I had no reason to change. The closest I've heard to Kinki's sonic aesthetic was Goldmund under Michel Reverchon. Under new management with product up the evolutionary ladder, I haven't the faintest how much distance their current-gen models  have created from what I listen to. But that's the status quo which the GaNM duo would parachute into. So I'd heard and adored two prior if very costly implementations of gallium-nitride switching amps. It had me most curious. How similar or different would Laiv's perform to my steady 250-watt residents? I was ready for romance. But the high-spec class D rejects in my hifi cemetery reminded me of a possible alternate outcome. With the GaNM launched April 11th at the Axpona show, I'd find out shortly after how my dice would fall. Snake eyes or full house?

Laiv's Axpona exhibit as documented by Michael Lavorgna in his Twittering Machines show report.

Spec-ials: 128mm wide, 119mm tall, 260mm deep. 3.9kg. 94kΩ input. 1.4Vrms sensitivity. Damping factor of 500/1kHz. 29dB voltage gain. Less than 0.8% THD at full 200-watt output. 95dB S/NR. 400 watts into 4Ω. Global voltage acceptance of 100-260VAC at 50/60Hz and 1.27A from a fanless medical-grade 250-watt switching supply with Infineon silicon-carbide CoolSIC™ Mosfets and Rubycon elcos. From Infineon's data sheet we see that the GaN part Laiv are using for the outputs is an enhancement-mode power transistor capable of switching beyond 10MHz with a drain/source on-resistance of just 7mΩ. For more we wait on Laiv to return from Axpona. What we can see already is that unlike Audio Group Denmark's very expensive class A amps which outsource their SMPS to Pascal, Laiv's GaNM didn't hit up Taiwan's popular MeanWell for an OEM board but minted their own. Like speaker houses who fabricate their own drivers, that again speaks to admirable vertical engineering.

It even crafted its own take on a VU meter as shown in the later video. It also shows how the power supply and signal-path circuitry are two distinct modules which separately slide then seat in the case from below. Having handled and listened to all previous Laiv models except for the phono stage, I couldn't help but think that these GaNFet monos were their most ambitious yet: high-power fully proprietary so decidedly not repackaged OEM class D monaural amps with latest-gen output devices for less than €5K/pr outside US tariff zones. At this juncture in our narrative, reader Michael checked in with "you might consider noting that China is restricting sales of US-procured gallium-related rare earth minerals. Of course that wouldn't apply to Laiv but affect AGD and other US manufacturers. Then there's the finished product tariffs destined for the US which certainly would affect Laiv. Of course this could all be moot if someone in power blinks! China has a weapon that could hurt America: rare-earth exports."

Politics. I prefer not to muddy these pages with that dirty business. Our readers can add those connections and possible implications from their end. Back on hifi and Laiv's resourcefulness, this promo video tells its own story. It takes real skill and associated financial commitment to produce something this slick. It demonstrates how the game of 2025 is played at the top. One mustn't just have good product and smart styling. One must also master the many layers of successful branding and promotion well beyond circuit and CAD chops to be considered complete.

If we add up all the evidence—the multiple victory laps through the hifi press on all of their models, the speediness of new product introductions, the maturity of styling, presentation and promotion—it's no exaggeration to say that as a complete brand, Laiv hit the ground running far faster than most. This extends to the above show system. It focused on the real world by using no room treatments but instead an open-baffle speaker whose 'figure 8' dispersion downplays side-wall reflections for fewer room issues. A Kinki/Vinshine Tai Hang DC blocker assured that regardless of power-line grunge during a hotel-based show, this system had a clean AC foundation. Where many exhibitors go over the top, Laiv's exhibit played it 'normal' so how most buyers would at home; with minimal fuss but well considered. While my loaners took a 3-day westerly route from Hong Kong to Bahrain, Leipzig then Shannon/Ireland, Alvin Chee and Weng Fai Hoh headed south to Penang's Malaysian hifi show. Running a successful audio brand can entail a lot of hifi show participation.

Once Weng had completed setup in Penang, I received the answers to my remaining spec questions: "Into 2Ω the Harmony GaNM delivers ~300W. Instantaneous peak power is even higher. The power supply's switching frequency is 75kHz, the GaN stage operates at 384kHz. The output impedance is 0.016Ω. Yes, the VU meter display can be turned off if preferred. In this circuit there is zero global negative feedback." That last spec tracks with other GaN implementations which state that their devices' superior speed and from it, higher switching precision require less to no corrective feedback measures. Do we spot a bumper sticker of 'class D for purists' in the making? If single-ended triode freaks can claim the purist pin by going zero NFB, why not GaNfêters? Because here we're dealing in 200, 400 and still 300 watts into 8, 4 and 2Ω with very low output impedance? Must purity oppose power? Can't we have pure power like the AC filter guys sell us already? Let's also remember that the dual-differential GaNM output stage runs on just four transistors so in minimalist fashion of two per half wave. Now the stage is set for options. The display can show the brand name, stay blank or become the vertical VU meter. The latter's range can be set to max out at 200, 100 or 50 watts. Brightness spans three steps. Then there's always on or black out in 10 or 20 seconds. Even the L/R glow is optional. Its associated toggle is a 3-pole switch whose centre setting equals off. If we opt for stealth mode, the only 'on' sign is Laiv's signature white pin-prick LED. Adding L/R backlight becomes the next step. Full glow adds the Laiv logo or meter although even at full brightness during the day, the jumping needle is quite dim at four metres away. As to size, a CD jewel case—should you remember what one looks like—perfectly covers the GaNM's front if set onto its spine; and the amp's depth if we add half the CD case's own width. Getting the needles to move just took some volume, getting actual sound a Shaolin death grip. For a flummoxed while I chased a persistent 'mute'. After three different variable sources, I began futzing with my speaker-cable connections as the last potential culprit when twitchy meters showed incoming signal. Et voilà, I finally managed sound in one channel. For mysterious reasons, my spades and Laiv's posts entertained themselves and my fingers with an oil 'n' water routine. Once I wised up, wrist torque applied in earnest and soon sound followed on both channels. Should all else fail, reach for a socket wrench. Then what? The probably first thing you'll notice is what you don't notice: noise. I don't keep 100dB or higher speakers around just to sniff for noise so can't prognosticate unconditionally. With my options, the GaNM twins simply played dead just sitting there fired up with naught else to do. That's what one hopes for of course but not all high-power amps deliver the basics. Aside from being very compact and super handsome, that was the 3rd box Laiv ticked off categorically without even trying. Just how ticked off would I feel by the end of this gig?