Starkrimson® Ultra Amplifier Modules -- 250/500W into 8/4ohm

[fpitas]

Here is what a customer wrote on another forum.

"To compare with another well-regarded Class D amp, I did some track by track comparisons with the Purifi-powered NAD c298. The NAD brings a warmer signature than the Ultra, with more prominent bass output. Like the Ultra, the NAD provides great resolution and coherence, but each instrument is less prominent and more part of a whole. And while the NAD provides plenty of upper midrange and treble extension, its overall sound is one of solidity rather than airiness. If the Ultra is a front row experience, the NAD Purifi is the sound from the middle of the concert hall. These are both great amps that should forever erase concerns about class D as audiophile devices. Which amp is "best" comes down to preference and system matching.

To get a sense of how the Ultra plays with different equipment, I subbed in some smaller, less expensive speakers (B&W DM601 S2) as well as a solid state preamp (Schiit Freya S). The B&Ws sounded great with the Ultra, and in a nearfield setup they paired with the Ultra to deliver a strong soundstage and accurate voicing. The Freya S was a pleasant surprise - while it didn't deliver all of the synergy of the Rogue preamp, it was surprisingly capable in delivering a transparent view into what the Ultra can deliver. With the less expensive solid state preamp the Ultra's top end energy was more prominent, but not uncomfortably so. If you're stepping up to the Ultra from a lower-cost system, it will play well with your current gear.

So that's it - a fantastic amplifier with amazing capabilities for a great price. When it comes time to choose power for my next pair of speakers the Ultra will be on my short list. Thanks again to Leo for giving me a chance to experience it."

What is your explanation for that? Load dependent response, or...?

 

[orchardaudio]

What is your explanation for that? Load dependent response, or...?

My amps have higher bandwidth. It's not load dependency as my amps are not load dependent and neither are the purifi modules.

 

[SIY]

Here is what a customer wrote on another forum.

"To compare with another well-regarded Class D amp, I did some track by track comparisons with the Purifi-powered NAD c298. The NAD brings a warmer signature than the Ultra, with more prominent bass output. Like the Ultra, the NAD provides great resolution and coherence, but each instrument is less prominent and more part of a whole. And while the NAD provides plenty of upper midrange and treble extension, its overall sound is one of solidity rather than airiness. If the Ultra is a front row experience, the NAD Purifi is the sound from the middle of the concert hall. These are both great amps that should forever erase concerns about class D as audiophile devices. Which amp is "best" comes down to preference and system matching.

To get a sense of how the Ultra plays with different equipment, I subbed in some smaller, less expensive speakers (B&W DM601 S2) as well as a solid state preamp (Schiit Freya S). The B&Ws sounded great with the Ultra, and in a nearfield setup they paired with the Ultra to deliver a strong soundstage and accurate voicing. The Freya S was a pleasant surprise - while it didn't deliver all of the synergy of the Rogue preamp, it was surprisingly capable in delivering a transparent view into what the Ultra can deliver. With the less expensive solid state preamp the Ultra's top end energy was more prominent, but not uncomfortably so. If you're stepping up to the Ultra from a lower-cost system, it will play well with your current gear.

So that's it - a fantastic amplifier with amazing capabilities for a great price. When it comes time to choose power for my next pair of speakers the Ultra will be on my short list. Thanks again to Leo for giving me a chance to experience it."

I can not personally comment, I can only go based on what customers say.

See here for a lot of other comparisons:

Orchard Audio Starkrimson Stereo Ultra Amp Tour!

Leo, I noticed that the website no longer mentions...or maybe it never mentioned...what is the capacitance for the Stereo Ultra...and is that...

forums.stevehoffman.tv

So basically, this is a claim with no evidence.

Your engineering is great, so I'd strongly urge you to not sully it.

 

[fpitas]

My amps have higher bandwidth. It's not load dependency as my amps are not load dependent and neither are the purifi modules.

I'm not sure how higher bandwidth accounts for differences well within the audible range.

 

[orchardaudio]

So basically, this is a claim with no evidence.

Your engineering is great, so I'd strongly urge you to not sully it.

I agree, but I would also think that the subjective collective opinion of many individuals and all the awards also backs up the engineering.

 

[orchardaudio]

From @SIY objective article here:

Fresh From the Bench: A Tale of Two Class-D Amplifiers Orchard Audio Starkrimson and Purifi Audio Eigentakt EVAL1

Stuart Yaniger examines new amplifier solutions from two disrupting audio companies. Purifi Audio from Denmark, founded by Bruno Putzeys, Lars Risbo, and Peter Lyngdorf, together with a remarkable engineering team; and Orchard Audio, with a product developed from the creativity and...

audioxpress.com

Compared at 20kHz the distortion is about 7x less.

 

[fpitas]

I agree, but I would also think that the subjective collective opinion of many individuals and all the awards also backs up the engineering.

No offense, but we're pretty doggone cynical here about awards and subjective reviews.

 

[orchardaudio]

No offense, but we're pretty doggone cynical here about awards and subjective reviews.

I know see my previous post.

 

[fpitas]

From @SIY objective article here:

Fresh From the Bench: A Tale of Two Class-D Amplifiers Orchard Audio Starkrimson and Purifi Audio Eigentakt EVAL1

Stuart Yaniger examines new amplifier solutions from two disrupting audio companies. Purifi Audio from Denmark, founded by Bruno Putzeys, Lars Risbo, and Peter Lyngdorf, together with a remarkable engineering team; and Orchard Audio, with a product developed from the creativity and...

audioxpress.com

Compared at 20kHz the distortion is about 7x less.

View attachment 332257

View attachment 332258

That's more like what we want to see. I still doubt human ears hear those tiny differences, but the measurements stand by themselves.

 

[fpitas]

Did we already see a graph of output noise with input shorted?

 

[orchardaudio]

Did we already see a graph of output noise with input shorted?

Should be somewhere on this forum, but I can post it again.

 

[SIY]

Did we already see a graph of output noise with input shorted?

I showed this in my review.

 

[SIY]

That's more like what we want to see. I still doubt human ears hear those tiny differences, but the measurements stand by themselves.

Also note this excerpt:

For both of these amplifiers (this was a comparison with Purifi), regardless of where they were inserted in my system, I could discern no difference in the sound, nor was there any difference compared to some pretty fine conventional linear amplifiers that I’ve used recently. No matter what sort of music I played — from acoustic jazz to Americana-folk to electronic progressive rock, whether my own minimally miked uncompressed recordings or highly produced loud studio rock — the amplifiers did exactly what they were supposed to, noiselessly, without stress or strain, and in a perfectly transparent way. Some might complain that this reduces the role of amplification to mere appliances—that’s fine with me, I want to listen to music, not to my amplifier.

 

[orchardaudio]

Did we already see a graph of output noise with input shorted?

Starkrimson Stereo Ultra 2.0 (using Micro-Audio PS)

With bandwidth limited to 24kHz.

 

[fpitas]

Also note this excerpt:

That's comforting. Now we know you have human ears

 

[fpitas]

Some might complain that this reduces the role of amplification to mere appliances—that’s fine with me, I want to listen to music, not to my amplifier.

Since I never looked at electronics as anything but appliances, none of that upsets me.

 

[DonH56]

It's in the dealer's forum, and it's his thread, so I have no problem with introducing subjective reviews here. He's also provided objective data here, which is usually found in the review threads. I personally think the back and forth with Stuart adds some measure of credibility compared to typical manufacturing marketing.

Whatever - Don

 

[fpitas]

I'll give Stuart a pass because it is a really good amplifier.

 

[DonH56]

I'll give Stuart a pass because it is a really good amplifier.

A pass? I think he did the usual Stuart thing in challenging the subjectiveness, no pass needed for Stuart being Stuart. Neat that Orchard found his review to provide objective data and close the loop. Orchard was careful to say the subjective opinions came from customers and other articles. I am inclined to leeway in this (Desperate Dealers) sub-forum, and when reasonably challenged Orchard provided a reasonable response. Personally I'm impressed all the way around. Probably just me.

 

[fpitas]

A pass? I think he did the usual Stuart thing in challenging the subjectiveness, no pass needed for Stuart being Stuart. Neat that Orchard found his review to provide objective data and close the loop. Orchard was careful to say the subjective opinions came from customers and other articles. I am inclined to leeway in this (Desperate Dealers) sub-forum, and when reasonably challenged Orchard provided a reasonable response. Personally I'm impressed all the way around. Probably just me.

Lol I meant Orchard. But in any event I agree.