Building Your Own (Easy) DIY HiFi Amplifier and Saving Thousands With Latest Technology!?

Orchard Audio Starkrimson is a High-End DIY KIT Audiophile Amplifier Using The Latest GaNFet Technology. It is regarded as one of the BEST HiFi Amplifiers under $3000.

Amplifiers in this Video:

Speakers in this Video:

Pre-Amplifiers in this Video:

0:00 DIY KIT:GaNFet Amplifier!
0:51 AD
1:19 Inside the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Amplifier
3:20 Sound Review:Orchard Audio Starkrimon Amplifier!
5:18 Amplifier Comparison:Burson Monoblocks VS Orchard Audio Starkrimson
7:37 Amplifier Comparison: AXXES Forte 1 VS Orchard Audio Starkrimson
9:17 Amplifier Comparison: AGD Tempo VS Orchard Audio Starkrimson
10:41 Amplifier Comparison: AGD Audio Audion VS Orchard Audio Starkrimson
12:21 Is Orchard Audio Starkrimson Worth The Price?
13:12 Tube Pre-Amplifiers With Class D Amp?
14:50 Best Pre-Amplifiers For Orchard Audio Starkrimson
23:10 Problem and Solution For Orchard Audio Starkrimson

#Hifi #audiophile #diy

[Jayiyagi]

*Hey Guys! Thanks for stopping by. Please use the time stamp below to skip to parts you are most interested in!*

0:00 DIY KIT:GaNFet Amplifier!
0:51 AD
1:19 Inside the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Amplifier
3:20 Sound Review:Orchard Audio Starkrimon Amplifier!
5:18 Amplifier Comparison:Burson Monoblocks VS Orchard Audio Starkrimson
7:37 Amplifier Comparison: AXXES Forte 1 VS Orchard Audio Starkrimson
9:17 Amplifier Comparison: AGD Tempo VS Orchard Audio Starkrimson
10:41 Amplifier Comparison: AGD Audio Audion VS Orchard Audio Starkrimson
12:21 Is Orchard Audio Starkrimson Worth The Price?
13:12 Tube Pre-Amplifiers With Class D Amp?
14:50 Best Pre-Amplifiers For Orchard Audio Starkrimson
23:10 Problem and Solution For Orchard Audio Starkrimson



Amplifiers in this Video:

Speakers in this Video:

Pre-Amplifiers in this Video:

[markmorrow]

I ordered and built this amplifier last year. I originally went the route of the single power supply but added the capacitor upgrade. After assembling the amplifier and getting some time with it, I was very pleased. It sounded pretty much as Jay described to me. But I was curious about adding that second power supply and capacitor bank and what kind of impact that would have on the sound of the amplifier. So early this year I called Leo, and ordered the additional goodies to do the dual mono upgrade. The upgrade was pretty quick to install. The chassis is the most time consuming part of the original build. What did I get by converting from a single power supply to the dual mono setup. What I noticed was a little bit more width and depth to the soundstage. Instruments are a little more dimensional and there is an ease in the way music comes, just smoother. But these are small, not night and day differences in my system. Very enjoyable to listen to. The amp doesn’t draw attention to itself. The way I like it.

[SuperMcgenius]

Regarding chassis vibration, some manufacturers have used dyna mat Which is used in the automotive industry to dampen car panels. It is extremely effective.

[sgnl_]

Paired a Starkrimson Ultra with a Freya+, denafrips ares II and a pair of LRS - been very happy with this setup and a great match budget-wise.

[AA-dfbv]

Went to open house today in nj.Heard the starkrimson, sounded better than the monoblocks.Enjoyed meeting Leo, needless to say I will be buying the amp, it sounded THAT GOOD.

[legionecapone]

I think this one of the most spot on reviews you have done. I agree with pretty much everything you said about this amp. Well done

[goodsound]

This one was a bit confusing. All those "howevers". You describe how much you like a given combination and then you ruin it with "however" coming up with so many caveats that it's not clear what you really liked or not, or what combo was superior to another. A review need structure .

[TT-eois]

Hello Jay and thank you for the great amp comparisons!

In 2022, auditioned the original V1 Starkrimson with 18.8K uF of additional capacitance per channel and a single power supply. I became enamored with the sonic signature, power and finesse that the Orchard Audio amp offered, thus purchased Leo's top-of-the-line Starkrimson amp "at that time". Has dual power supplies + additional 28.2K uF of capacitance per channel!

WOW, what a revelation in dynamics, transients, speed, tonality and overall extreme balance in the full bandwidth presentation. Soundstage width, depth and height now Easily Surpasses my small humble dedicated 90sf music room boundaries, with precise musician placement, air, imaging and excellent attack/decay details…Overall system and room Totally Disappears!!

Jay, the unit you tested, even though it has the latest V2 power supply, is an "entry-level" Starkrimson GaNFET amp...no "dual mono" supplies and No "additional" capacitance per channel...these additions will make a Huge Upgrade in overall sonics! Today, Leo offers the Starkrimson Stereo Ultra DMC V2 with updated Dual Micro Audio SMPS1K2 -SKU multi-voltage power supplies and additional 43, 600 uF of capacitance per channel. I may have to test-drive that new unit and hear for myself the blown-away upgrade fidelity sonic impacts!!! 🤪

[kendavis]

Excellent video… I love comparisons, and you describe the differences very effectively. Keep them coming like this!

[mddawson]

I recently built a Hypex Nilai500DIY 250W stereo power amplifier kit. Fun build and sounds incredible.

[michaelmityok]

Wish I had started this crazy hobby now, would have saved me mucho dinero lol!

[johntucker]

Very detailed, thorough review Jay. Thanks.

[MrBonger]

Thanks for the video. I always get more out of a review when products are compared to one another

[victorwalsh]

I have had the original stereo ultra and I now have the dmc dual mono 2.0 design and I love these to death. To me they really let the speakers shine. Preamp them with tubes and holy shit….heaven

[MDchaz]

Great review Jay. I’ve been looking at Orchard’s offerings for pairing with Magnepans. Thanks for all your experimentation and insight.

[ejk]

Aric Audio preamp and Starkrimson Ultra owner here.

[DonToye]

Love these review of the DIY kits. Thanks Jay.

[OrchardAudio]

Thank you very much for your time and effort.

[whocares]

HUM.... You DO know Orchard Audio makes brand new Premium monoblocks... I heard them in their show room. I bought 2 after a long demo. I put my money where my mouth is.

[matytinman]

Very great review! 👏👏👏
I agree with the vibration problem, it happens with almost all reasonably priced amplifiers but it has an easy and CHEAP solution. And yes, good class D is better with a good preamp (tube or not) than only DAC output.