One month later and I am very happy with my Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra monoblocks. After seven years with the BHK250, any change would have been an adjustment. It is a different presentation; not better, not worse just different IMHO. They are crystal clear without being analytical and present nuanced detail without any aggression. After a few weeks I swapped the BHK back in and was surprised that I really didn’t have a strong preference. What prompted the change was heat. I now leave the system on 24/7 which is a big plus. Image below is my P15 with everything on and cranked. I’m guessing Duke Energy is none too pleased.
Duke? You in Florida?
Tampa/St Pete area.
PM sent.
I picked up a pair of Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra monoblocks that arrived 3/26 to replace(hopefully) my Clayton M300 monoblocks that are having issues.
I’ve lived happily with the fully balanced Class A M300’s since 2006, Wilson last upgraded/serviced them in 2016, unfortunately Wilson doesn’t seem to be around any more and no one that I’ve talked to wants to touch the M300s.
These amps are a very different beast than the Class D I remember listening to 10-15 years ago.
They are very accurate and detailed without being fatiguing and with a touch more oomph in the low end than the M300s. The ARC Ref 6se preamp seems to be as good a match w/ the class D amps as it was with the M300s. I think straight wire with gain is applicable to these amps - like the M300s but with a bit more detail. I like it. And my living room will be a bit cooler this summer. 
Leo sent out a notice about a price increase at the end of May - these amps are worth every bit of $5,000 a pair with a 3yr warranty and 30 day refund.
I had high end Class D amps before the Gryphon bug hit me. NBS Universal II Power Amplifiers. It used Bruno’s boards. But NBS put an excellent Class A source for the Class D portion. They were, and still are sweet amps. This was maybe six years ago. Went from those to Class A. I think A and D have strong similarities that I enjoy.
Anyway, here I sit in Class A heaven and I can’t wait to flush it all for a speaker system that has what, 20 drivers each channel? And each with its own Class D Amp. Fun. I will have both for awhile, but there can be only one! The battle will be glorious! Or at least not dull.
I’ve had both the Starkrimson 25 (the new model - major sonic improvements - faster switching, improved output filter and more power output - stable to 2 ohms) and the solid silver wired Ultra’s configured as monolocks along with a 3 channel mono in a box tat I built. All have served me well for over 5 years).
Can’t wait until the new and improved Ultra modules com out next year. A friend of mine pairs his woth the BHK Preamp and loves it.
After a month w/ the premium ultra mono’s I decided that some of the bottom end oomph that the Clayton’s had was missing. Traded up to the LPS version and am surprised and pleased at the improvement in timing, clarity and depth of the music. They do a great job driving the VR5SE speakers.
I am currently auditioning the Stellar Gold Preamp w/ my Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra and I love it. The OA Ultra is driving a set of Dynaudio Contour 20i. Digital front end is a Holo Audio Red into a Denafrips Pontus 15. Analog front end is a Mofi Ultradeck in the a Stellar Phono. Suffice it to say this setup sounds excellent in my room.
Compared to the BHK preamp which is very good with the OA Ultra I’m really digging the dark background, soundstage, tonal density, and detail I’m hearing from the Stellar Gold. The BHK provides more air and has a lighter sound to it. It’s been my go to for nearly 2 years with the OA Ultra. But I think that’s going to change.
The only constant in my setup for the past 3 years has been the OA Ultra if your in the fence about class D check out Orchard Audio amps. I auditioned the 25 Minos last year and the only reason I didn’t buy them was that I already owned the OA Ultra.
I have owned a pair of 25s for a year now and while they are good with an excellant SS preamp the Holo Serene KTE they get even better with a good tube preamp. I owned a BHK preamp for several years and don’t personally think it sounded all that different than SS not matter what NOS tubes I put in it. I have run the 25s with tube preamps from Supratek, Don Sach, Backert Labs and now the Aric Audio Motherlode XL. It’s my opinion that a “good” tube preamp will take the 25s to another level. And yes I know my opinion of the BHK preamp is different than most on this forum but after four years of ownership it is what it is. There are better and they all cost less than the price of the BHK once it became a direct sale item.
The BHK Pre is pretty easy to best.
I am listening to Class D at the moment. Built in to the speakers. My soundstage has never ever been this well defined. But I miss the Class A cleanliness. I hope I get over it.
Unfortunately, that is what I found too about the BHK with preamps costing a third of its final MSRP. While it was OK paired with the BHK amps, it was lacking if used with other amps plus its self-noise and being overly finnicky about tubes.
Every category of amps has its own unique set of characteristics, so you have to learn to except them. I think you will enjoy your new simpler setup if you just give yourself time to adjust to it. The Janzen Valencia’s have a sterling reputation on their own without Edgar’s influence.
Well I was thinking after I wrote that. “Listen carefully Allan. Is something missing or is it something new?” I believe it is something new. More body, more soul. It seems nice.
Oh, and the speakers have at most, ten hours on them. Is breakin still a thing?
Differerent or new can be a good thing. Just give them some time to reach their potential.
I’ve been using my OA Ultra paired with the StellarGold preamp for 8 months now and I too think they are an excellent match. Galium nitride class D can really allow the golds dimensionally and resolution to shine. I use the Stellar phono as well and, again, a great combo. I haven’t tried many preamps with my system, as it stands today, but the StellarGold doesn’t make me feel the need explore more. Can’t come up with any aspect, sonically or otherwise, that I think needs to be addressed.
Chocolate and vanilla, I have this debate with a friend occasionally, soundstage vs harmonic richness. He’s a devoted measurements/Class D guy.
When soundstage is there, it’s nice. But it’s not always in the recording, mono for example. Harmonic richness, also not always there, is what tickles me.
Timbre is ineed critical.
Soundstage is an artifact of the recording process, but it is fun.
Hopefully the “dirt” you are hearing will dispense with a proper burn in.
Indeed. A little time at a recording session and post production puts the imaging debate in perspective. I vote accuracy, believability, every time.
Indeed.
What do you mean, a 12-foot wide drum kit does not sound real?