Still clinging to the myth that Class D amps are cold, clinical, and better suited for Bluetooth speakers than serious hi-fi rigs? That ship sailed. And Orchard Audio just lit it on fire. Enter the Starkrimson 25 Mono Premium—the latest GaN-powered beast from Leo Ayzenshtat and crew.
This isn’t just another spec bump. It’s Orchard’s don’t call it a comeback moment—because let’s face it, they never stopped riding the bleeding edge. While the rest of the hi-fi world was busy polishing tubes and worshipping silicon like it’s still 1995, Orchard’s been quietly cranking out GaN amps that hit harder and run cooler.
And yeah, it’s Thursday in Jersey. First time home in months, and after a week of remote coverage from Munich that felt like living on a prayer, I’m back where the coffee’s strong, the opinions are stronger, and Orchard’s latest amp proves Class D doesn’t need your validation—it needs a volume knob and a clean signal.
Yes — not a lot of sleep this week and feeling rather snarky. Another Leafs playoff meltdown didn’t help.
GaN: Because Silicon Is So Last Century
While 98% of the gear schlepped into audio shows still clings to either good ol’ silicon or the warm glow of vacuum tubes, Orchard Audio (and a few bold outliers like AGD) are playing in an entirely different league. Their secret weapon? Gallium Nitride—aka GaN—a next-gen semiconductor that makes silicon look like it’s running dial-up.
Orchard Audio and AGD both believe silicon’s time at the top is just about up. After decades of squeezing every drop of performance out of it, there’s only so much more you can do with the old stuff.
GaN transistors move electrons up to 1000x more efficiently than silicon. Translation: you get faster response, lower distortion, better thermal handling, and amplifiers that don’t break a sweat doing things silicon struggles to keep up with. Swap silicon for GaN and suddenly you’ve got a cleaner signal path, more control, and a sound that hits harder without the noise floor climbing with it.
Orchard Audio’s Starkrimson 25 Mono Premium: Tiny Box, Big Attitude, Zero Apologies
Orchard Audio’s Starkrimson 25 Mono Premium doubles down with a totally revamped signal path and updated GaN circuitry that puts it in the big leagues—without needing a second mortgage.
Built on the bones of the original Starkrimson Mono, the new Starkrimson 25 is all about muscle and precision. It cranks the switching frequency up to 1.1MHz—because when it comes to audio, speed isn’t just a number, it’s everything. With a damping factor north of 600, good luck making those woofers flinch.
The refined output filter, cleaner modulator, and tighter feedback loops work together to keep distortion locked down like a loan shark’s grip. It’s flatter, faster, and meaner where it counts—especially in the highs, a spot where early Class D amps used to fall apart like a cheap IKEA bookshelf.
The Starkrimson 25 Mono Premium features fully balanced circuitry from input to output, which keeps noise and distortion to a minimum—a must for any serious amp. It delivers 150 watts into 8 ohms and 200 watts into 4 ohms, and can even handle 2-ohm loads without breaking a sweat.
Gain is adjustable between 21.5 dB and 16.8 dB via jumpers, giving you some flexibility to match your system’s needs. The universal AC input accepts anything from 90 to 264 volts, so it’s ready to roll whether you’re in Newark or Naples.
All of this comes in a compact 11” by 6” chassis—small enough to fit in tight spaces but powerful enough to remind you that, like Tony Soprano says, “You’re gonna respect the hell outta me.”
The Bottom Line
The Starkrimson 25 doesn’t just whisper sweet nothings into your woofers—it shows up in a tailored tracksuit, hands you 150 watts into 4 ohms, and says, “Fuggedabout distortion.” It’s clean, it’s fast, and it doesn’t care about your vintage tube dreams. And if you’re already part of the Orchard family? Leo’s not the type to whack your wallet—he’ll let you upgrade without the usual hi-fi shakedown. Bada bing, bada boom—better sound, Jersey style.
Price & Availability
And the price? A launch special of $1,099.95—with free U.S. shipping. That’s what Orchard calls value. Others call it unfair. Regular price is $1,249.95.
A Quick Note on Customs (For Non-U.S. Customers)
Just so you know, Orchard Audio doesn’t mess around with customs declarations. If you’re ordering from outside the U.S., any duties, VAT, or import fees are on you. They also won’t under-value the gear or mark it as a gift — that’s against the law, and they’re not about to risk it. So be prepared for potential extra charges depending on where you live.
Related Reading:
- Orchard Audio’s Valencia Balanced Amplifier Promises Enough Juice For High-Performance Headphones
- Orchard Audio Announces The Starkrimson Mono Ultra Premium Amplifier
- Orchard Audio’s New PecanPi+ DAC And Streamer Feature AKM’s Latest Flagship Chips
- AGD Productions & Ocean Way Audio: T.H.E. Show 2023
Anton
May 17, 2025 at 11:57 am
Is there a way to listen to these outside of a show?
The direct model keeps the prices down but fascinated enough to want to listen to these.
Made in New Jersey?
Ian White
May 17, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Anton,
It’s on my “review” list for this summer after I return from Israel.
IW