What are your thoughts/opinions on the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Mono Ultra Premium

Save your money and buy a pair of the new Fosi V3 Monos with the 48 volt power supply. SOTA class D that will embarrass those four and five-figure amps! $280 and 240wpc@4 ohms with vanishingly low distortion. The new sheriff is in town!

I had the Ultra DMC 2.0 in my system as part of Orchard’s Steve Hoffman Forums amp tour; my understanding is that the Ultra Monos are the identical amp modules with separate cases/power supplies. I found their amp to be a fantastic overall performer - transparent mids and highs, lightning-fast transients, extended highs and great control of bass. It’s very neutral tonally but has plenty of weight and a palpable sense of attack and decay. Overall I was really impressed, it will be on my short list for my next system upgrade. If you haven’t found it already check out the Steve Hoffman amp tour thread.

@jasonbourne71 

You’ve done a direct comparison? Or…

I recently acquired the starkrimsom monoblocks V1 with upgraded 300w power supply used. I had the AGD Audions V2 in my system as reference. The orchard audio made me sell the AGD audions. I did a shootout between these amps on a number I speakers like magnepan LRS+, Harbeth 40.3, 30.3, zU Audio Soul 6, b&w 805d3 etc and found the starkrimsom to be better than the AGDs given everything else the same. They do need a good preamp and I paired them with the benchmark LA4 preamp  I am talking to Leo to but the ultra premium monoblocks with the LPs upgrade.

I recently bought the Ultra DMC 2.0 which, as mrmojo said, is basically the same as the ultra monos. I did a direct comparison with the Hifi Rose 180 integrated GaN amp and I didn't notice much of a difference. The mids were slightly better on the Hifi Rose. I've kept both and use them in different rooms but the differences are negligible. I use the starkrimson in a room where the components aren't really on view/display where I needed them to be closer to the speakers, and the Hifi Rose is in a room where it also does double duty as a conversation piece for guests due to its striking (some might say polarizing) look.

At Axpona earlier this year I listened to the Starkrimson stereo amp.  It was connected to an Orchard Audio PecanPi Plus.  The combo sounded clear with excellent separation and depth. I listened to a lot of systems that day, and the clarity of the Orchard Audio setup just resonated with me.

I own both an Orchard Audio PecanPi and a PecanPi Plus streamer and they both sound great.  The owner, Leo, provides great customer support and designs great sounding cost effective gear.  If you can live with the minimalist design parameters, Orchard Audio gear provides great value. I will be buying some of his amps soon.

I had the AGD Audions V2 in my system as reference. The orchard audio made me sell the AGD audions. I did a shootout between these amps on a number I speakers like magnepan LRS+, Harbeth 40.3, 30.3, zU Audio Soul 6, b&w 805d3 etc and found the starkrimsom to be better than the AGDs given everything else the same.

@maverick2108 Wow, that’s very interesting especially given the significant price difference.  Can you go into more detail as to what specifically the Orchard did better than the AGD?

@perkri If you were interested. Tune in 28:56 for the video clip where the host compares Fosi V3 Mono with 5000$ Naim Supernait 3 and 9000$ Canor AI 1.20.

@maverick2108 Wow, that’s very interesting especially given the significant price difference.  Can you go into more detail as to what specifically the Orchard did better than the AGD?

The AGD was my reference for >18 months and drove all the speakers I threw at it with authority and mid-range to rival some of the best tube amps. I picked up the starkrimson monos on a deal and was pretty surprised on how well they compared for 1/3rd of the price. I wasn't satisfied and took the amps on a roadshow with my friends and do a shootout at various rooms, speakers keeping the monoblocks and the preamp(benchamrk LA4) a constant. The AGD sounded thinner with high demand speakers like the Harbeth 40.3 and the B&W 802, 805 for example in the mid range and didn't have the nice airy high frequencies. The OA starkrimson monoblocks didn't break a sweat and sounded amazing all through the shootout. My friends and I were all surprised. I promptly put my Audions for sale and I am happy with the OA monoblocks. I will be upgrading to the Ultra premium monoblocks soon and will keep this small little V1 amps for a secondary system or HT.

Wonder if the power difference between the AGD Audions 100w vs Sharkrimson monoblocks 150w made the difference.

Kennyc,

Possibly but it's not just power. The SQ and the details in the midrange and high frequency were enough for me to settle with the starkrimsom. They also did a great job with the magnepans and b&w 802/805 that we tested with. In a smaller room both AGD and starkrimsom monoblocks sounded good.

Has anyone compared them to the Atma-Sphere Class Ds?

The three things I care most about in an amp are (1) non-analytical sounding [it hurts my ears] (2) mid-range weight / vocal realism-emotions [non-hifi people notice this most on a quality system, in my experience] (3) sufficient bass to create the soundstage.

My experience in lower priced class D amps is they typically fail in (1) and (2). Are the OA amps, near tube amp (EL34, 300B) quality in (1) and (2)?

It would have been on my short list but the lack of a single ended input is a deal breaker. Yes, I know that there is an adapter cable. Not a chance.... I've done everything I can to simplify, match and perfect things like cables and connections, and I'm not about to add another set of connectors and cables.

@pprocter ask Leo if the converter circuitry can be built into the amplifier. He has done other custom things. 

Thanks,

aldnorab