Porsche Audio Technology Adopts Gallium Nitride Chips for Burmester Sound

Porsche Audio Technology has quietly crossed into semiconductor territory. The brand is putting gallium nitride, or GaN, into its Burmester 3D High-End Surround Sound System. Porsche claims it is the world’s first production-ready high-end automotive audio system built on the material.

Porsche Audio Technology Ditches Silicon

GaN switches run at higher frequencies and lose far less energy than conventional silicon transistors. That means less heat, which cuts cooling demands across the board. Porsche says the heat sink can be about 20 per cent lighter, while passive components shrink as well. Efficiency gains like these mirror the weight-and-losses thinking behind the BMW i7 range push.

Porsche Audio Technology engineers began exploring GaN in mid-2023 for the harsh conditions of a sports car. Working with the University of Stuttgart from spring 2024, they built a prototype subwoofer amplifier that delivers 400 watts. The Porsche team has already filed several patent applications to protect the work.

GaN Eyes High-Voltage Sports Car Systems

Dr Lars Heuken, who leads strategic semiconductor management, calls GaN ideal wherever power is converted. High-voltage systems in electric sports cars are the obvious next target. Porsche Audio Technology could follow the chip into those architectures, where efficiency and weight matter most.

On paper, this is a tidy upgrade for bass lovers. In reality, the real test is whether GaN spreads beyond the speakers into the power electronics of future electric Porsches. Still, the company is betting on quiet engineering rather than flashy marketing.

Ultimately, Porsche has turned a laboratory experiment into a production commitment. Expect the semiconductor to appear first in sound systems, then migrate into the rest of the car. Auto News Magazine will track every step.

Written By

Liam Campbell

Industry Intelligence & News Editor at Auto News Magazine. Tracking prototype spy shots, Nürburgring development mules, automaker corporate moves, and breaking global automotive scoops.

View all articles by Liam Campbell →