What are your thoughts/opinions on the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Mono Ultra Premium

Save your money and buy a pair of the new Fosi V3 Monos with the 48 volt power supply. SOTA class D that will embarrass those four and five-figure amps! $280 and 240wpc@4 ohms with vanishingly low distortion. The new sheriff is in town!

I had the Ultra DMC 2.0 in my system as part of Orchard’s Steve Hoffman Forums amp tour; my understanding is that the Ultra Monos are the identical amp modules with separate cases/power supplies. I found their amp to be a fantastic overall performer - transparent mids and highs, lightning-fast transients, extended highs and great control of bass. It’s very neutral tonally but has plenty of weight and a palpable sense of attack and decay. Overall I was really impressed, it will be on my short list for my next system upgrade. If you haven’t found it already check out the Steve Hoffman amp tour thread.

@jasonbourne71 

You’ve done a direct comparison? Or…

I recently acquired the starkrimsom monoblocks V1 with upgraded 300w power supply used. I had the AGD Audions V2 in my system as reference. The orchard audio made me sell the AGD audions. I did a shootout between these amps on a number I speakers like magnepan LRS+, Harbeth 40.3, 30.3, zU Audio Soul 6, b&w 805d3 etc and found the starkrimsom to be better than the AGDs given everything else the same. They do need a good preamp and I paired them with the benchmark LA4 preamp  I am talking to Leo to but the ultra premium monoblocks with the LPs upgrade.

I recently bought the Ultra DMC 2.0 which, as mrmojo said, is basically the same as the ultra monos. I did a direct comparison with the Hifi Rose 180 integrated GaN amp and I didn't notice much of a difference. The mids were slightly better on the Hifi Rose. I've kept both and use them in different rooms but the differences are negligible. I use the starkrimson in a room where the components aren't really on view/display where I needed them to be closer to the speakers, and the Hifi Rose is in a room where it also does double duty as a conversation piece for guests due to its striking (some might say polarizing) look.