Porsche to use gallium nitride in Burmester audio systems from 2027
Starting in 2027, Porsche plans to install the Burmester 3D High-End Surround Sound System with gallium nitride-based components in future models. The new technology will initially be used in the 400-watt subwoofer amplifier, Motor1 reports.
Less heat and more compact components
Gallium nitride, or GaN, is a semiconductor material used, among other things, in chargers for electronics. Porsche says that transistors based on it switch faster and lose less energy as heat than their silicon counterparts.
Reducing the thermal load will make it possible to shrink the amplifier's heat sink by around 20%. Engineers will also be able to reduce the size of passive components, including capacitors and inductors, without lowering output power. The company notes that using less aluminum for the heat sink could reduce the production impact, as producing this metal requires significant energy consumption.
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Development for next-generation models
Porsche calls the Burmester 3D system the first automotive audio system based on gallium nitride technology that is ready for mass production. The company developed the project together with Burmester and the Institute for Reliable Power Semiconductor Systems at the University of Stuttgart. The amplifier prototype was created in spring 2024.
The technology is intended for a future production Porsche vehicle and does not provide for upgrades to cars already produced. The development focuses primarily on efficiency, reducing the weight and size of the equipment, and lowering the thermal load, rather than solely on increasing the audio system's volume.
