The Orchard Audio Starkrimson Stereo Ultra 2.0 Amplifier. GaNFET Class D Goodness!
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- Опубликовано: 23 июн 2023
- A pretty straightforward and comprehensive review of the excellent Orchard Audio Starkrimson Stereo Ultra 2.0
Link to the this amp on the Orchard Audio Website:
orchardaudio.com/2023/04/21/s...
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I'm glad to see you review this amp from Orchard Audio. I don't think their amps really get the attention they deserve. I've had the Starkrimson Mono's, with the higher gain option and 300W power supplies in my main system for over 6 months now. So hard to describe just how good they sound! Very full and dynamic sound with the punching power most amps are missing, while still sounding analog. And these amps play very clean at even the highest volumes.
I recently bought the Starkrimson monos with the GaN power supplies. They mopped the floor with my Parasound. Great at everything. The speed and resolution and sparkle combined with the easy, non fatiguing presentation is truly high end. Also, bass control no AB could match. Its also true: i run them at healthy volumes, and they are actually cold to the touch!
Thanks for the support, I am glad you are enjoying your purchase.
Thank you very much for your time and effort.🙏
Thanks for sharing something with us.
Another great and highly informative review, thank you! Really want one of these someday. Hopefully not overkill for my little Spendor Classic 4/5's, but would definitely future proof any system upgrades down the line. 🙏
Great amp!
Sounds beautiful driving my ELAC Veal 409 speakers. It never gets hot.
Great review. Very informative and helpful.
always great to see a new vid from MOD!yesterday i got an class d sub(rsl) and the idea of class d power in the low end of things with ab power in my 2 channell amp makes sense to me. guess ill find out soon enuff . please keep em comming man!
Love the intro ..
Thanks for the review. I've had my eye on the Orchard Audio MonoBlocks for a while. If I ever pull the trigger on them, I plan to match them up with a Tube preamplifier. Probably the Musical Paradise MP-701 MK2 Tube Preamp. I suspect a fine tube preamp is called for as I've noticed that none of the reviews of GanFET amps mention aspects like tonality and palpability. Even soundstage and imaging are often an afterthought. IMO, until solid state amplification matches well implemented, single ended triode tube amplification in those areas, it will continue to be a case of personal preference; Vanilla or Chocolate, Beer or Wine...
Another great option for Maggies. I’ve got the Peachtree Gan400 for my Magnepan LRSs. I’m impressed with the GanFET tech. This Orchard Audio would probably pair well with a Schiit Freya+ in tube mode.
I have quite a number of customers doing exaclty that Freya+ in tube mode into my amps.
Also this amp pairs great with Magnepan LRS and the 1.7 speakers. See Tom Martin's review from The Absolute Sound.
subscribed...!
Having been an owner of Apogee Scintillas…sometimes you need that level of juice!
But …you may not need it …but it’s nice to have.
🤣☕️🍕👍
Good video. You're one of my goto reviewers and i still don't know your name.
Here's my take on high wattage amps. Do you need a V8? Yes and no.
Its speaker dependent and synergy ultimately but consider an imaginary 99% perfectly musical system listening at say 80dB.
If i wanted to play it louder because its my favorite artist. Often we will be disappointed, either the speaker or the amp or both can't "preserve" the perfection at the loudness we crave.
This is where the headroom comes in and the speaker's power handling ability is required. A 30 watt SE KT150 amp might well cut it given the right speakers.
I just love this hobby with all its complexities.
More power to your channel MOD!
Looks nice, I'm kind of over the other manufacturers who just bung in a pair of off the shelf class D modules in a box with their name on it and call it a day.
I glanced at the Starkrimson, but picked up the XTZ Edge 300 to try and save money. Very natural sound with good control, no glare at all. Class D has come a long way.
I also started out with the edge...liked the sound size and efficiency. Still looking, I found orchard audio. Bought the dual mono and loved the sound. More open and tight....then I bought the DIY version of the dual mono starkrimson ultra....Wow! More open sounding. Soundstage is amazing, speed airy highs and tight bass...definately a step up for even the dual mono blocks. Gan fet forever.
@@TheGoldentrev1965 My taste is not for the airy or transparent. I like a sound where the instruments and vocalists have flesh on the bones. That's what my current set-up delivers. Strong sounds coming out of a pitch-black background.
Glad you found some components that match your needs. Until you find them, it's a hunt with lots of hit and miss.
@@TheGoldentrev1965 Just as an afterthought, if you're still experimenting, the boys over at Alpha Audio channel are very into the new Hypex Nilai dyi kit's sound. They seem to think it's superior to a lot of other class d amps. There are some comparison demos on their channel.
Nice video. Firstly it depends on the room. In. 20x30 ft room, 500 watts is not all that, especially if you’re playing reggae ect. Then, hopefully you have subs with their own amp to augment the sound. At this level, music begins to sound real, like it is on stage. Secondly, lower volumes have more snap and dynamics. Lower wattages are ok, but when you want to feel the music, higher wattages are a must. Everything else is a facsimile, kinda.
3- 6 times a year with a Slight tech spin you be set to be one the top before you know it.
Leo and I have similar backgrounds in Fire Safety & Design and HIFI Love
Great laid-back trustworthy review from the heart!!!
Thanks
Thank´s for review! Is there nothing to say about soundstage and 3D experience?
Thanks
Hi. I love you videos. Thanks for sharing your insights. I wanted to ask you for a favour. I love the design of your GIK Accoustic Panels on your front wall. Could you tell me which fabric and wood type you chose to get that colour combo. I would like to order the same
Thank you very much! This is what the order says:
4A Alpha Pro Series Bass Trap Diffusor / Absorber (4")
rectangle:
2dA Nordic grey
grey fabric
muslin backing
@@MODAC Thanks man. Truly appreciate your promt reply. You are a champ. Keep doing the good work.
Id love to see a comparison between the star crimson and a mini gan 5 from class d audio. The mini gan 5 uses the same tech and puts out 200 watts into 8 ohms for araund 800 bucks. I have one and love it.
I'm on my 3rd one. The mini GaN 5 that is. Yes, it does sound great with my Maggie's too
How does Tom sell them so cheap compared to other hi end class D's?
I also have an SD250 from class d audio. It runs cool. The mini GaN 5 runs hot. Yours too?
I've heard of orchard audio for a while now and have always been curious, thanks for sharing.
I will like to add though that the NAD 3020 was never about using top quality parts, far from it. If you look inside that thing and if You've ever owned one of the original 3020s you'll know that all the capacitors and everything in that thing was as cheap as could be, they did that to make it as cheap as it could be. The reason the original 3020 sounded as good as it did was all due to its circuit, it had a wonderful circuit designed by the late Bjorn Edvardsen.
As a 20.7s owner, switching
amps won't cut the mustard
Coda Ts v3 800w@4ohms
Go Big or Go Home 🏡
THe E-Purify modules based Class D amps from France is still less costly.
Might be worth pointing out, at least as I understand it, the power needed requires doubling for every 3 db of spl (sound pressure level) gain if the rest of the system remains the same - that is, a 100 watt amp, in theory, is only going to produce 3 db more gain in spl compared to a 50 watt amp - - by the same token, a 500 watt amp is only 3db louder than a 250 watt amp - unfortunately, that's not a "night and day" difference in overall loudness which I would kinda think may be contrary to what some listeners might be expecting when considering a 500 watt amp - although, of course, I wouldn't be surprised if there are exceptions to that formula that I'm not aware of.
You are correct a doubling of power is 3dB SPL difference. So if your speaker has an efficiency spec of 90dB , that is at 1W. So at 2W it will be 3dB more and so on...
96dB at 4W
99dB at 8W
102dB at 16W
105dB at 32W
....
@MichelLinschoten correct. Every time you double the distance you loose 6dB.
lose
How does this amp sound compared to the Advance Paris A12?
That’s apples and oranges really. The A12 is an AB integrated with a multitude of inputs w/ digital capabilities. The Orchard is a basic class D power amp. I do not have the Starkrimson anymore, so I was unable to compare. Thx
Trust me you need 500 watts /current Especially if you own Maggie's
That's not my experience. Getting great results with my tube amps with 1/10th of the power.
@MODAC same here with my VAC PA 100 100 tube amp on 4-ohm taps and ARC LS15 tube preamp But my Spectron musical MK lll class D amp designed by John Ulrich output was 500watts@8ohm 650@4ohms and 1,200 watts@1ohm brought my Maggie's to their knees 😅
This amp and the crown xls which one do you think sound better ?
This one.
@@MODAC Thank you
"ferrari engine in a toyota body" is funny. that describes van alstine as well, tho hes been upgrading the look of his gear lately, even the budget preamp.
The Maggie’s have a crossover problem with both design and quality of parts, I like Maggie’s when mods are used well, a review with an better sorted speaker would be of use, Vandersteen 3a or Tad
Check out the recent video about my modded Maggies. ruclips.net/video/FAJiPTBsAog/видео.html
How can you connect a sub
High level connections from speaker terminals
@@MODAC is it includewd on the base model
Yes, they all have speaker terminals
1 year warranty is not acceptable to me.
Does the Class D amp have much of an electronic signature, and what is the price? Bryston amps have always sounded like they have some admirable qualities, but too much of an electronic signature.I haven't heard Bryston's latest, or maybe even the line before that; so I could be out of date. If they sound great with the new LRS+ speakers, that would make those speakers viable for a whole lot of people, who don't want to spend 3 grand on amps for such a demanding speaker. With such a long wait.
This amp is a very good match match for LRS+ and 1.7i. I have many customers with one of those.
For those that can't afford the best qualities available of ultra high end applications this could possibly fill a gap for less cost with lower qualities of ultimate performance but still producing better than average sounds
Dont give a ratts arse what Amir would think anyway!
AGREED!
4 different caps.
I'd take the bryston anyday over these china fabricated ic amps
@MichelLinschoten it’s not Chinese dude. Made in USA. Watch the video.
Wtf, 250$ for a balanced to single end in put, I would just make a cable or buy one .😵💫
There may be a bit more to it than that. This one is powered.
There are three ways to get from RCA (unbalanced) to XLR (balanced)
(1) Use an RCA to XLR adapter
With an RCA to XLR adapter, you break the balanced input on your amplifier or pre-amp because 1/2 of the XLR input is shorted to the RCA’s shield. Depending on the design of the balanced input this can have multiple undesirable effects.
(2) Use a transformer-based RCA to XLR Converter
A transformer-based converter can work well as long as it is properly matched to both the RCA and XLR side impedances. However, even if it is properly matched the transformer creates AC coupling which causes bass phase shift.
(3) Use an active converter
With a DC-coupled active converter, all the issues associated with the first two approaches are eliminated.
Our converters fall under # 3 above.
You are obviously not trained in electronics.
@@n.lyndley.9889 sorry to say , I am .
Class D is switching power on and off. Class A is always on full power. Gallium Nitride FETs switch up to 4 times faster than Mosfets, so there is less loss or lag of signal.