According to the company, Porsche plans to become the first automaker to mass-produce a high-end sound system featuring gallium nitride technology in 2027. A GaN chip handles the voltage conversion for the 400-watt subwoofer amplifier in a Burmester 3D high-end surround sound system. The new power electronics are designed to lose less energy, generate less heat, and thus be lighter and more compact.
The Burmester sound system in the current Porsche Taycan has already set the bar extremely high. In our in-depth review of the Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo with Burmester, the combination of 21 speakers, 1,455 watts of total power, a 400-watt subwoofer, Air Motion Transformer tweeters, and Dolby Atmos impressed with tremendous dynamic range and three-dimensional sound staging.
With a rating of 97 percent, the Taycan ranks at the top of STEREO GUIDE’s car audio leaderboard alongside the Volvo ES90 with Bowers & Wilkins, which also received a 97 percent rating. Porsche is already working on the next generation of amplifier electronics.
GaN powers the 400-watt subwoofer amplifier
Based on current information, the new high-performance gallium nitride chip is not located directly in the audio output stage. Rather, it handles the voltage conversion for the power supply of the 400-watt subwoofer amplifier. So, the primary focus is on a more efficient power supply rather than simply replacing the actual audio power transistors.
That’s an important distinction: Gallium nitride doesn’t automatically improve the sound quality of a sound system. However, its higher efficiency can give developers more leeway in terms of power reserves, cooling, weight, and installation space. How much of that actually makes a difference in the end depends on the overall tuning of the amplifier and speakers.
“A powerful bass foundation is part of the emotional experience our customers expect from a Porsche,” explains Steffen Burosch, who is responsible for innovations in audio systems at the Porsche Development Center in Weissach. The lower power losses associated with GaN technology are expected to help deliver this performance more efficiently. Porsche plans to begin series production in 2027, but has not yet specified the exact vehicle model or provided further technical details about the complete sound system.
What is gallium nitride?
The abbreviation GaN stands for gallium nitride, a crystalline compound of gallium and nitrogen. Gallium is a metallic element, while nitrogen is a nonmetal. Together, they form what is known as a III-V compound semiconductor with a significantly larger bandgap than silicon.
Gallium nitride should not be confused with gallium nitrite. A nitrite contains oxygen and is based on the nitrite ion NO₂⁻. In contrast, the GaN used in power electronics contains only gallium and nitrogen. Furthermore, the concept of a classic “gallium salt” does not adequately capture the nature of this semiconductor crystal: its chemical bonds contain both covalent and ionic components.
Gallium nitride first came to the attention of a wider audience in the 1990s in the form of blue light-emitting diodes. Today, GaN power semiconductors are found in applications such as ultra-compact USB power adapters, mobile communications technology, satellites, and industrial power electronics.
Why GaN Requires Less Cooling
GaN transistors can switch much faster than conventional silicon devices while generating lower switching losses. Less energy lost means less waste heat. The higher switching frequencies also allow for smaller passive components such as inductors and capacitors. The University of Stuttgart cites high switching speeds, low losses, and compact designs as key advantages of GaN power semiconductors.
With the new Burmester system, the heat sink is expected to be about 20 percent lighter. Because other components can also be made smaller, the entire amplifier becomes more compact. In sports cars, every kilogram counts; in electric vehicles, lower weight also has a positive effect on energy consumption—at least in theory.
Porsche also points out an environmental benefit: The smaller heat sink requires less aluminum, the production of which is very energy-intensive. This reduces the associated CO₂ emissions right from the amplifier’s production stage.
However, very high switching frequencies present new challenges for developers. PCB layout, filtering, and electromagnetic compatibility must be carefully optimized to ensure that the fast-switching power electronics do not introduce unwanted interference into the sensitive audio system. Simply using GaN chips in place of silicon transistors is therefore not enough; the circuit must consistently take advantage of their unique properties.
From the Stuttgart Lab to the Porsche
The idea to use gallium nitride in the Porsche sound system was conceived in mid-2023. Starting in the spring of 2024, sound, semiconductor, and sustainability experts from the sports car manufacturer worked together with the Institute for Robust Power Semiconductor Systems at the University of Stuttgart to develop an initial GaN-based prototype.
In collaboration with an as-yet-unnamed international chip manufacturer and an audio development partner, this led to a production-ready solution. According to Porsche, the company has already filed several patent applications.
The planned integration into the Burmester sound system, announced for 2027, is also expected to be just the beginning. Porsche is exploring further audio applications and is also considering GaN for power conversion in high-voltage systems. This could mean the technology will play a greater role in the electric powertrains and charging systems of future sports cars.
Burmester and Porsche Stay on Track in the High-End Market
Even the current Burmester sound system in the Taycan demonstrates the importance Porsche places on sound quality. Its exceptional dynamics, high-resolution AMT tweeters, and spatial imaging that extends far beyond the vehicle’s cabin thanks to Dolby Atmos made it one of the best factory-installed car audio systems in our test.
At first glance, GaN technology doesn’t promise a leap in nominal power—even the current Taycan already features a 400-watt subwoofer. Its advantage lies instead in delivering this power with lower losses, reduced cooling requirements, and less weight. Whether Porsche and Burmester will be able to take sound quality even further beyond the already top-tier level they’ve achieved remains to be seen in a listening test in 2027.
