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

@maverick2108 Wow, that’s very interesting especially given the significant price difference.  Can you go into more detail as to what specifically the Orchard did better than the AGD?

The AGD was my reference for >18 months and drove all the speakers I threw at it with authority and mid-range to rival some of the best tube amps. I picked up the starkrimson monos on a deal and was pretty surprised on how well they compared for 1/3rd of the price. I wasn't satisfied and took the amps on a roadshow with my friends and do a shootout at various rooms, speakers keeping the monoblocks and the preamp(benchamrk LA4) a constant. The AGD sounded thinner with high demand speakers like the Harbeth 40.3 and the B&W 802, 805 for example in the mid range and didn't have the nice airy high frequencies. The OA starkrimson monoblocks didn't break a sweat and sounded amazing all through the shootout. My friends and I were all surprised. I promptly put my Audions for sale and I am happy with the OA monoblocks. I will be upgrading to the Ultra premium monoblocks soon and will keep this small little V1 amps for a secondary system or HT.

Wonder if the power difference between the AGD Audions 100w vs Sharkrimson monoblocks 150w made the difference.

Kennyc,

Possibly but it's not just power. The SQ and the details in the midrange and high frequency were enough for me to settle with the starkrimsom. They also did a great job with the magnepans and b&w 802/805 that we tested with. In a smaller room both AGD and starkrimsom monoblocks sounded good.

Has anyone compared them to the Atma-Sphere Class Ds?

The three things I care most about in an amp are (1) non-analytical sounding [it hurts my ears] (2) mid-range weight / vocal realism-emotions [non-hifi people notice this most on a quality system, in my experience] (3) sufficient bass to create the soundstage.

My experience in lower priced class D amps is they typically fail in (1) and (2). Are the OA amps, near tube amp (EL34, 300B) quality in (1) and (2)?