Porsche announces it will use gallium nitride technology in its high-end audio systems.

Lighter, more compact, and more powerful

Porsche has announced the launch of the world's first mass-produced, high-end in-car audio system utilizing gallium nitride technology.

Gallium nitride (GaN) is a semiconductor material that achieves much higher efficiency and power density than conventional silicon, enabling electronic systems that deliver higher performance in smaller and lighter packages.

Porsche, in collaboration with the University of Stuttgart, will be using this GaN technology in its first automotive application, the Burmester® 3D high-end surround sound system.

A high-performance GaN-based chip will be responsible for the voltage conversion necessary to drive the 400-watt subwoofer amplifier, and this technology is scheduled to be first introduced in mass production in future Porsche vehicles in 2027.

Steffen Burosch, who is in charge of audio system innovation at Porsche's Weissach Development Center,

"Powerful bass is part of the exhilarating experience that customers expect from a Porsche. The power reserve of Porsche's systems enables confident and dynamic sound reproduction, perfectly matching the character of a Porsche sports car."

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It's also said that "the sound in a Porsche is pure emotion itself, and using GaN can further enhance that experience."

Incidentally, Porsche has already filed several patent applications to protect the technological innovations developed as part of this project.

New semiconductor technology for mass production

Gallium nitride is considered an innovative semiconductor material, and its application to blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) became widely known in the 1990s.

Currently, GaN chips are used in a wide range of applications, from small, lightweight USB chargers for smartphones and tablets to space satellites.

Gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor switches (commonly known as transistors) achieve higher switching frequencies, and thanks to their material properties, their switching losses are significantly lower than those of equivalent silicon-based transistors. As a result, heat generation is reduced, voltage conversion efficiency is improved, and electronic components such as capacitors and inductors can be made smaller and lighter.

The same can be said for the Burmester® 3D high-end surround sound system. GaN semiconductors have significantly higher power conversion efficiency compared to conventional silicon-based semiconductors, resulting in less energy loss and heat generation. As a result, cooling requirements are greatly reduced, allowing for a weight reduction of approximately 201 TP/1 T of heat sinks, as well as miniaturization of passive components.

So, that means the entire amplifier will be lighter and more compact.

Furthermore, it seems there are environmental benefits as well, as the amount of aluminum required for energy-intensive aluminum production is reduced, thus reducing the CO₂ emissions that would normally be generated during amplifier manufacturing.

The idea of leveraging the advantages of gallium nitride under the harsh conditions of a sports car was apparently conceived by Porsche in mid-2023.

Then, in the spring of 2024, Porsche's team of audio, semiconductor, and sustainability experts collaborated with the Institute for Robust Power Semiconductor Systems at the University of Stuttgart to develop the first prototype of a GaN-based subwoofer amplifier.

Porsche is driving GaN innovation.

Lars Heuken, Porsche's head of strategic semiconductor management,

"We focused on the fundamental technical challenge of efficient voltage conversion. Efficiency and weight are crucial factors in sports cars. The fact that Porsche is proactively driving innovation itself is a good example of how we see our role as a technology leader. The team worked closely with world-leading chip manufacturers and audio development partners and ultimately succeeded in developing a mass-producible subwoofer amplifier."

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The potential of this is immeasurable, and this is only the beginning.

GaN is said to be ideal wherever power conversion takes place, and there are many potential applications for it in Porsche sports cars, which they are currently investigating in more detail.

This semiconductor can also be used for power conversion in high-voltage systems, and GaN, for example, is said to be particularly interesting for high-voltage systems in electric sports cars.

Mr. Burosch sees further opportunities, particularly in the field of in-car audio, and is said to have already defined the next application area.

Porsche offers audio options from both Bose and Burmester, and while there's a significant price difference between the two manufacturers' options (Burmester is more expensive), I often hear that the difference in quality is also considerable (Burmester is worth the higher option price).

With this newly announced technology, I'm really curious to hear what kind of sound the Burmester system will produce, as Porsche says it "can further enhance the experience."

Having said that, I've always been intimidated by the price of the previous Burmester options, making excuses like, "Well, I also want to hear the Porsche engine sound, so I don't need to be that particular about the audio," but in reality, I just couldn't afford them. Will the day ever come when I can afford the Burmester options, which will surely be even more expensive with this new technology...? (lol)

Source:(Official) From Lab to Listening: Porsche introduces Gallium Nitride for High-End Audio