Thank you very much for your time and effort. I am very much surprised by the power supply noise you mention. It must have been a defective power supply from the factory. When the unit was tested before shipping to you this was not present. I will burn in the other power supplies that I have longer to ensure this does not happen to anybody else.
I'm watching this review for the 3rd time LOL. Thank you for another wonderful review. I'm very tempted to get this amp but I've also heard many great reviews on the purifi eigentakt class D amps. I really hope you can also review the purifi amps & make a comparison to this GaN powered amp.
Surprising it doesn't get big and fast with most speakers...I mean, it's 2ohm capable for goodness sake. Wondering if just a preamp with a better impedance match might not give you better results? Great review, thank you.
It was incredibly good with DO400 PreDAC, the question is 2ohm stable for how long, how loud and what frequency because actual music is more complex and demanding than test tones, it’s a very good Class D amplifier that I could happily use if I don’t have Accuphase E-4000, thanks
Interesting …this is a new era in audio ! From tube to solid state and now chip . As someone stated not very expensive parts, and good results! So once people understand the topology this will be a new chapter in audio. Dynaco , Heathkit , Halfler ! Also it’s a very good way to introduce electronics to a new generation of people who didn’t have the opportunity or reason to probe into this science or skill ! Young people, older people who are attention challenged ? In this attention challenging society! Can have something to focus on ! It’s truly time to start behaving like a evolved species! Music not murdering , Guitars not guns , Health and wellbeing over sickness and despair ! Music can do that ! And does ! Don’t sell your boat , to cross the sea… Sorry to go off course , but it’s relevant we can’t sit around and talk music and $5000. Power cable? While some kid is planning to shoot up the school ? What does that say about the schools or what education has become ? Learning music or electronics is a very good start in the right direction! Self esteem is priceless. Fear not…the soldering iron is your friend .
When looking at 2 tiny boards and 2 tiny Switching mode power supplies I really do not see much of cost there , BOM for these maybe 200usd total , case is solid but again with another 200usd , why does it cost so much $$$?
@@OrchardAudio Please explain what makes it expensive to build . I have been in semiconductor distribution business for 23 yrs , is there a single part or few that drive the cost ?
@@kdomster9141 There are many expensive parts (I use only high-quality components) and I do not build these by the thousands. Also, note these are assembled in the US not China. There is also the cost of labor and all other typical business overhead, like testing, stocking, advertising, etc.
@@OrchardAudio I just don't see it , maybe you could look for better/less expensive EMS to build it for you. And if it is like with speakers where 300usd worth of cost turns into 1500usd speaker than I'm not too thrilled by such business model. Again I do not see expensive parts there at all . Maybe finding lower cost EMS building it to your specs for example in Eastern EU and getting cost down while keeping quality to the same or better level to drop the price to 799usd assuming that BOM cost is 300usd would allow you to sell much more units and gain funds for more R&D , market presence and brand recognition so create space for more products .... I could never understand why no one in this industry can not think this way ?
I don't know of anyone who listens at 105db. If you do it is a major impact on your hearing. On another note, it would be interesting for you to listen to this amplifier with their increased capacitor option and the WBT speaker terminals.
A reviewer must test the components in every loudness level to be sure specifications are met, please read the graph none of the extreme levels are playing prolong time, I also did mentioned they offer different versions in case if you missed it.
@@Tharbamar Thank you for your content and ongoing reviews. I don’t mean to be harsh or critical on the topic of listening levels. I am aware of the various versions of the amplifier and I think that they hold great potential in sound quality. It would be very interesting to see what you think of a fully optioned unit with the enhanced power supply and connectors etc. also the 150w/ch. mono amps. Thank you once again for your work here and sharing your experience and insight. It is much appreciated. Best regards, John Shepherd
@@johnshepherd708 This review is of the Starkrimson Duo, there are no capacitor upgrade option for this amplifier. The only options you have for this amplifier is the gain. The Starkrimson Stereo Ultra (500Wpc) stereo amplifier is the one that has the power supply and capacitor upgrades. I am open to sending one of these to Thu as well if he would be interested in it.
Does balanced circuitry typically improve low level listening? I noticed you made a point to mention this amp performed well at lower volumes. Or is it possible that high watts per channel on this amp improved lower level listening?
Thank you very much for your time and effort. I am very much surprised by the power supply noise you mention. It must have been a defective power supply from the factory. When the unit was tested before shipping to you this was not present. I will burn in the other power supplies that I have longer to ensure this does not happen to anybody else.
It’s coming from right channel power supply, left is quite.
@@Tharbamar I will investigate it once the amp is back. Thank you.
@Tharbamar confirmed defective power supply from their factory.
@@Tharbamar Will you be doing a follow-up review with a repaired, properly functioning Starkrimson ?
Yes please.
I concur, I have an SMSL DO100 and Starkrimson mono blocks and the pairing is great w/ my ref1.
Love that class d is getting so good now, so many reasonably priced options for audiophiles
Yep, it is the best stereo image I’ve heard out of Class D amplifiers.
I'm watching this review for the 3rd time LOL. Thank you for another wonderful review. I'm very tempted to get this amp but I've also heard many great reviews on the purifi eigentakt class D amps. I really hope you can also review the purifi amps & make a comparison to this GaN powered amp.
THANK YOU
Very stable and precise sound image it presents, not found in other Classs D products.
Very true.
Thanks for another great review Tharbamar. Do you mind saying what model equipment rack you have there? Thank you!
Hi, I'm using custom made rack, thanks
Thank you. I like how you added the big feet to the small amps. Can you share where you got them?
Surprising it doesn't get big and fast with most speakers...I mean, it's 2ohm capable for goodness sake. Wondering if just a preamp with a better impedance match might not give you better results? Great review, thank you.
It was incredibly good with DO400 PreDAC, the question is 2ohm stable for how long, how loud and what frequency because actual music is more complex and demanding than test tones, it’s a very good Class D amplifier that I could happily use if I don’t have Accuphase E-4000, thanks
♥
I have these. In-credible! Big AB collecting dust for months now. Just cant do what these do.
Interesting …this is a new era in audio ! From tube to solid state and now chip . As someone stated not very expensive parts, and good results! So once people understand the topology this will be a new chapter in audio. Dynaco , Heathkit , Halfler !
Also it’s a very good way to introduce electronics to a new generation of people who didn’t have the opportunity or reason to probe into this science or skill ! Young people, older people who are attention challenged ? In this attention challenging society! Can have something to focus on ! It’s truly time to start behaving like a evolved species! Music not murdering , Guitars not guns , Health and wellbeing over sickness and despair ! Music can do that ! And does ! Don’t sell your boat , to cross the sea…
Sorry to go off course , but it’s relevant we can’t sit around and talk music and $5000. Power cable? While some kid is planning to shoot up the school ? What does that say about the schools or what education has become ? Learning music or electronics is a very good start in the right direction! Self esteem is priceless. Fear not…the soldering iron is your friend .
Hi there, do you know how this compares to the Topping LA90 Discrete?
LA90 is quieter in noise control.
When looking at 2 tiny boards and 2 tiny Switching mode power supplies I really do not see much of cost there , BOM for these maybe 200usd total , case is solid but again with another 200usd , why does it cost so much $$$?
I hear you.
Your pricing analysis is way off.
@@OrchardAudio Please explain what makes it expensive to build .
I have been in semiconductor distribution business for 23 yrs , is there a single part or few that drive the cost ?
@@kdomster9141 There are many expensive parts (I use only high-quality components) and I do not build these by the thousands. Also, note these are assembled in the US not China. There is also the cost of labor and all other typical business overhead, like testing, stocking, advertising, etc.
@@OrchardAudio I just don't see it , maybe you could look for better/less expensive EMS to build it for you.
And if it is like with speakers where 300usd worth of cost turns into 1500usd speaker than I'm not too thrilled by such business model.
Again I do not see expensive parts there at all .
Maybe finding lower cost EMS building it to your specs for example in Eastern EU and getting cost down while keeping quality to the same or better level to drop the price to 799usd assuming that BOM cost is 300usd would allow you to sell much more units and gain funds for more R&D , market presence and brand recognition so create space for more products ....
I could never understand why no one in this industry can not think this way ?
You have some kind of material under your amplifiers to deaden the sound what is it called
I don't know of anyone who listens at 105db. If you do it is a major impact on your hearing. On another note, it would be interesting for you to listen to this amplifier with their increased capacitor option and the WBT speaker terminals.
A reviewer must test the components in every loudness level to be sure specifications are met, please read the graph none of the extreme levels are playing prolong time, I also did mentioned they offer different versions in case if you missed it.
@@Tharbamar Thank you for your content and ongoing reviews. I don’t mean to be harsh or critical on the topic of listening levels. I am aware of the various versions of the amplifier and I think that they hold great potential in sound quality. It would be very interesting to see what you think of a fully optioned unit with the enhanced power supply and connectors etc. also the 150w/ch. mono amps.
Thank you once again for your work here and sharing your experience and insight. It is much appreciated.
Best regards,
John Shepherd
@@johnshepherd708 This review is of the Starkrimson Duo, there are no capacitor upgrade option for this amplifier. The only options you have for this amplifier is the gain.
The Starkrimson Stereo Ultra (500Wpc) stereo amplifier is the one that has the power supply and capacitor upgrades. I am open to sending one of these to Thu as well if he would be interested in it.
What kind of stands do you have for your JBLs??
Custom made hardwood stands.
Hello excuse me How could it compare to smsl vmv a1?
SMSL VMV A1 is does not have true power to properly drive demanding speakers.
😃GaN Amp RUclips sound test video Have??
Does balanced circuitry typically improve low level listening? I noticed you made a point to mention this amp performed well at lower volumes. Or is it possible that high watts per channel on this amp improved lower level listening?
Balanced helps there as balanced circuits are typically lower noise than the single ended equivalent by 6dB (2 x less noise).
lift your cables off the carpets...
Ok
hahaha.....😂😂😂
@Tharbamar That would make a very interesting video.😊
What speaker stands are you using with the L100?
I’m using custom made hardwood stands.