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Starke Sound AD4.320

greenpsycho

Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2018
Messages
87
Likes
120
Hey all, just a quick overview of the Starke Sound AD4.320 (https://www.starkesound.com/detail.html?id=47). . I picked it up on Black Friday (along with 2x of their SW12 subs https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/starke-sound-sw12-review.18113/). The MSRP is $1400, but I got it a bit cheaper, and its on sale now for $900 (https://shop.starkesound.com/products/starke-sound-ad4-amplifier)

There are some great interior photos and a more thorough review here (https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews.../starke-sound-ad4-320-power-amplifier-review/), but I wanted to put something up because for the price, I think I got an amazing value.

WHY?
I have been looking for a small footprint class D amp for my 3 channel home theater system. I have 2 Emotiva PA-1’s but Emotiva stopped selling them this year and I had a really hard time trying to source a third. In the meantime, I have been using a 6 channel Rotel RMB 1066, which was fine, but its very large, very heavy, and has vents all over (which is fine, but my speaker amp is in my basement where I do some woodworking, so I was looking for something better for that environment).

Based on the class D products that have gotten good reviews on this site, it would appear that most of them come from Europe or are DIY solutions, and I was looking for something a bit “easier”.

FIT and FINISH
Package arrived double boxed, plenty of foam on the inside. As I stated in my other review, the manual is practically non-existent, but that’s fine. I had hoped for an auto-sensing power on function, but alas, I need to run a long cable for the trigger (which I’ll probably do at some point from my XMC-1).

As you can see from the photos, this thing is a beast. The plugs and everything on the backside look top notch, and the entire case has these really thick panels (presumably for heatsinks and cooling?). The thing is a monster, but no vents, no fans, and I think it looks absolutely great.

PRICE
You can see the specs on Starke website, but 4 channels at 225w at 8 ohms, in a sealed class D design for under $1000 seems like an absolute steal to me.

OVERALL
My own impressions on the sound probably don’t mean too much especially as this is used for home theater use and not critical listening. That being said, when I fired up some movies and shows, the top end seems a lot clearer and crisp, while there was definitely more controlled base across the board. It reminded me of when I first went from a class a/b to a class d amp and that clarity and speed you get.

Overall, I’m loving it, it fit my needs exactly and while I can’t vouch for their proprietary power module, I hope someone can get this measured soon.

PXL_20201204_161358259.jpgPXL_20201204_161412280.jpgPXL_20201204_161422188.jpgPXL_20201204_161435991.jpgPXL_20201204_161708849.jpgPXL_20201204_161714547.jpgPXL_20201204_161752831.jpgPXL_20201204_161829667.jpgPXL_20201204_161847094.jpgPXL_20201204_161925431.jpgPXL_20201204_161955789.jpg
 

Hemi-Demon

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2019
Messages
435
Likes
514
I think its cool that you bridge two channels and run down to 2 ohms. I might buy one of these. I wish we had some measurements.
 

nstzya

Active Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2021
Messages
216
Likes
164
I think its cool that you bridge two channels and run down to 2 ohms. I might buy one of these. I wish we had some measurements.

The spec for bridged at 2 ohms is for the amplifier load - what the amplifier sees. Specifically, it's NOT for speaker load. In other words, you can't bridge and drive a 2 ohm speaker. I wondered the same as I thought there might be a typo. I clarified by email with the manufacturer.

Wondering how the OP is liking it?
 
OP
G

greenpsycho

Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2018
Messages
87
Likes
120
yeah, still good on my end. TBH, I'm just running some lower end home theater stuff thru the amp (aperion audio LCR), but its been on 24/7 for the past few months, and no real issues to report - it just kinda does its thing.
 

paulgyro

Active Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2020
Messages
144
Likes
100
Hey all, just a quick overview of the Starke Sound AD4.320 (https://www.starkesound.com/detail.html?id=47). . I picked it up on Black Friday (along with 2x of their SW12 subs https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/starke-sound-sw12-review.18113/). The MSRP is $1400, but I got it a bit cheaper, and its on sale now for $900 (https://shop.starkesound.com/products/starke-sound-ad4-amplifier)

There are some great interior photos and a more thorough review here (https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews.../starke-sound-ad4-320-power-amplifier-review/), but I wanted to put something up because for the price, I think I got an amazing value.

WHY?
I have been looking for a small footprint class D amp for my 3 channel home theater system. I have 2 Emotiva PA-1’s but Emotiva stopped selling them this year and I had a really hard time trying to source a third. In the meantime, I have been using a 6 channel Rotel RMB 1066, which was fine, but its very large, very heavy, and has vents all over (which is fine, but my speaker amp is in my basement where I do some woodworking, so I was looking for something better for that environment).

Based on the class D products that have gotten good reviews on this site, it would appear that most of them come from Europe or are DIY solutions, and I was looking for something a bit “easier”.

FIT and FINISH
Package arrived double boxed, plenty of foam on the inside. As I stated in my other review, the manual is practically non-existent, but that’s fine. I had hoped for an auto-sensing power on function, but alas, I need to run a long cable for the trigger (which I’ll probably do at some point from my XMC-1).

As you can see from the photos, this thing is a beast. The plugs and everything on the backside look top notch, and the entire case has these really thick panels (presumably for heatsinks and cooling?). The thing is a monster, but no vents, no fans, and I think it looks absolutely great.

PRICE
You can see the specs on Starke website, but 4 channels at 225w at 8 ohms, in a sealed class D design for under $1000 seems like an absolute steal to me.

OVERALL
My own impressions on the sound probably don’t mean too much especially as this is used for home theater use and not critical listening. That being said, when I fired up some movies and shows, the top end seems a lot clearer and crisp, while there was definitely more controlled base across the board. It reminded me of when I first went from a class a/b to a class d amp and that clarity and speed you get.

Overall, I’m loving it, it fit my needs exactly and while I can’t vouch for their proprietary power module, I hope someone can get this measured soon.

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Thanks for the review! Have you considered sending it to Amirm for him to measure and review?
 
OP
G

greenpsycho

Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2018
Messages
87
Likes
120
I mean its just not feasible. I'm all the way on the opposite coast, and I use my amp everyday. Im sure amirm has quite the backlog, so its just not a good fit for me.
 

paulgyro

Active Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2020
Messages
144
Likes
100
I mean its just not feasible. I'm all the way on the opposite coast, and I use my amp everyday. Im sure amirm has quite the backlog, so its just not a good fit for me.
I hear you and completely understand!
 
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