I bought a matched set of NOS tubes from Valves N More. Left side are GE and right side are Sylvania. I also have the JJ tubes that came with the amp. The Sylvanias make music. Really didn’t need to change the left side tubes from the JJs. Not much of a difference there.
Update... Reviews: @Ted Torres Jr -- here and here and here @james -- the review is at this link (post #7) @Oliver Meyer -- the review is at this link (post #37) @Jaytor -- the review is at this link (post #66) @gguy -- the review is at this link (post #111) @naru1980 -- the review is at this link (post #147) @okc_craft -- the review is at this link (post #165) @ejk1 -- the review is at this link (post #171) @RonN5 -- the review is at this link (post #192) @barondla -- the review is at this link (post #214) @DennyCrane -- the review is at this link (post #224) @nymarty -- the review is at this link (post #278) @MValentiner --the review is at this link (post #287) @OBLuver -- the review is in the works Upcoming Individuals 1. @jimbones -- amp was received on Jan 13th, currently in evaluation 2. @Nick BZ -- skipping for now at their request 3. @buckdog58 -- amp will ship to this person on January 20th. 4. @Fafan111 5. @Devg 6. @thomaskong 7. @Paul_In_WA 8. @rhing 9. @jcn3
Update... Reviews: @Ted Torres Jr -- here and here and here @james -- the review is at this link (post #7) @Oliver Meyer -- the review is at this link (post #37) @Jaytor -- the review is at this link (post #66) @gguy -- the review is at this link (post #111) @naru1980 -- the review is at this link (post #147) @okc_craft -- the review is at this link (post #165) @ejk1 -- the review is at this link (post #171) @RonN5 -- the review is at this link (post #192) @barondla -- the review is at this link (post #214) @DennyCrane -- the review is at this link (post #224) @nymarty -- the review is at this link (post #278) @MValentiner --the review is at this link (post #287) @OBLuver -- the review is in the works @jimbones -- the review is in the works Upcoming Individuals: 1. @Nick BZ -- skipping for now at their request 2. @buckdog58 -- amp is shipping out to this person today (1/20) 3. @Fafan111 4. @Devg 5. @thomaskong 6. @Paul_In_WA 7. @rhing 8. @jcn3
Update... Reviews: @Ted Torres Jr -- here and here and here @james -- the review is at this link (post #7) @Oliver Meyer -- the review is at this link (post #37) @Jaytor -- the review is at this link (post #66) @gguy -- the review is at this link (post #111) @naru1980 -- the review is at this link (post #147) @okc_craft -- the review is at this link (post #165) @ejk1 -- the review is at this link (post #171) @RonN5 -- the review is at this link (post #192) @barondla -- the review is at this link (post #214) @DennyCrane -- the review is at this link (post #224) @nymarty -- the review is at this link (post #278) @MValentiner --the review is at this link (post #287) @OBLuver -- the review is in the works @jimbones -- the review is in the works Upcoming Individuals: 1. @Nick BZ -- skipping for now at their request 2. @buckdog58 -- amp is shipping out to this person today (1/20) 3. @Devg 4. @thomaskong 5. @Paul_In_WA 6. @rhing 7. @jcn3
Update... Reviews: @Ted Torres Jr -- here and here and here @james -- the review is at this link (post #7) @Oliver Meyer -- the review is at this link (post #37) @Jaytor -- the review is at this link (post #66) @gguy -- the review is at this link (post #111) @naru1980 -- the review is at this link (post #147) @okc_craft -- the review is at this link (post #165) @ejk1 -- the review is at this link (post #171) @RonN5 -- the review is at this link (post #192) @barondla -- the review is at this link (post #214) @DennyCrane -- the review is at this link (post #224) @nymarty -- the review is at this link (post #278) @MValentiner --the review is at this link (post #287) @OBLuver -- the review is in the works @jimbones -- the review is in the works Upcoming Individuals: 1. @Nick BZ -- skipping for now at their request 2. @buckdog58 -- amp should arrive on 1/26 3. @Devg -- amp will be going to this person after #2 4. @thomaskong 5. @Paul_In_WA 6. @rhing 7. @jcn3
Update... Reviews: @Ted Torres Jr -- here and here and here @james -- the review is at this link (post #7) @Oliver Meyer -- the review is at this link (post #37) @Jaytor -- the review is at this link (post #66) @gguy -- the review is at this link (post #111) @naru1980 -- the review is at this link (post #147) @okc_craft -- the review is at this link (post #165) @ejk1 -- the review is at this link (post #171) @RonN5 -- the review is at this link (post #192) @barondla -- the review is at this link (post #214) @DennyCrane -- the review is at this link (post #224) @nymarty -- the review is at this link (post #278) @MValentiner --the review is at this link (post #287) @OBLuver -- the review is in the works @jimbones -- the review is in the works Upcoming Individuals: 1. @Nick BZ -- skipping for now at their request 2. @buckdog58 -- amp should arrive on 1/26 3. @Devg -- amp will be going to this person after #2 4. @thomaskong 5. @Paul_In_WA 6. @rhing 7. @jcn3 8. @Gibsonian
Update... Reviews: @Ted Torres Jr -- here and here and here @james -- the review is at this link (post #7) @Oliver Meyer -- the review is at this link (post #37) @Jaytor -- the review is at this link (post #66) @gguy -- the review is at this link (post #111) @naru1980 -- the review is at this link (post #147) @okc_craft -- the review is at this link (post #165) @ejk1 -- the review is at this link (post #171) @RonN5 -- the review is at this link (post #192) @barondla -- the review is at this link (post #214) @DennyCrane -- the review is at this link (post #224) @nymarty -- the review is at this link (post #278) @MValentiner --the review is at this link (post #287) @OBLuver -- the review is in the works @jimbones -- the review is in the works Upcoming Individuals: 1. @Nick BZ -- skipping for now at their request 2. @buckdog58 -- amp should arrive on 1/26 3. @Devg -- skipping for now at their request 4. @thomaskong -- I have reach out to this person regarding their availability. 5. @Paul_In_WA 6. @rhing 7. @jcn3 8. @Gibsonian
I had the privilege of being n the Starkrimson Tour and spent a week with this amp and it is a fine performer. I had 4 amps in house: The Peachtree GaN400, the Benchmark AHB2, the NAD M33 and the Starkrimson. In the com parison the NAD and Starkrimson were the finalists. There really was no bad amp in the group, they were all fine performers. The NAD was exceptionally clear and transparent. The Orchard had a bit more warmth to it. A bit smoother, not quite as much snap to it. I found it to be a bit more relaxed. The NAD was a bit more lively with it's "snap" but you have to be careful as it could end up being too much. I highly recommend the Orchard Starkrimson especially for someone coming from a tube amp.
Update... Reviews: @Ted Torres Jr -- here and here and here @james -- the review is at this link (post #7) @Oliver Meyer -- the review is at this link (post #37) @Jaytor -- the review is at this link (post #66) @gguy -- the review is at this link (post #111) @naru1980 -- the review is at this link (post #147) @okc_craft -- the review is at this link (post #165) @ejk1 -- the review is at this link (post #171) @RonN5 -- the review is at this link (post #192) @barondla -- the review is at this link (post #214) @DennyCrane -- the review is at this link (post #224) @nymarty -- the review is at this link (post #278) @MValentiner --the review is at this link (post #287) @jimbones -- the review is at this link (post #360) @OBLuver -- the review is in the works Upcoming Individuals: 1. @Nick BZ -- skipping for now at their request 2. @buckdog58 -- amp should arrive on 1/26 3. @Devg -- skipping for now at their request 4. @thomaskong -- I have reached out to this person regarding their availability. 5. @Paul_In_WA 6. @rhing 7. @jcn3 8. @Gibsonian
Update... Reviews: @Ted Torres Jr -- here and here and here @james -- the review is at this link (post #7) @Oliver Meyer -- the review is at this link (post #37) @Jaytor -- the review is at this link (post #66) @gguy -- the review is at this link (post #111) @naru1980 -- the review is at this link (post #147) @okc_craft -- the review is at this link (post #165) @ejk1 -- the review is at this link (post #171) @RonN5 -- the review is at this link (post #192) @barondla -- the review is at this link (post #214) @DennyCrane -- the review is at this link (post #224) @nymarty -- the review is at this link (post #278) @MValentiner --the review is at this link (post #287) @jimbones -- the review is at this link (post #360) @OBLuver -- the review is in the works Upcoming Individuals: 1. @Nick BZ -- skipping for now at their request 2. @buckdog58 -- amp should arrive on 1/26 3. @Devg -- skipping for now at their request 4. @thomaskong -- I have reached out to this person regarding their availability. 5. @Paul_In_WA 6. @rhing 7. @jcn3 8. @Gibsonian 9. @CarmineRed
Update... Reviews: @Ted Torres Jr -- here and here and here @james -- the review is at this link (post #7) @Oliver Meyer -- the review is at this link (post #37) @Jaytor -- the review is at this link (post #66) @gguy -- the review is at this link (post #111) @naru1980 -- the review is at this link (post #147) @okc_craft -- the review is at this link (post #165) @ejk1 -- the review is at this link (post #171) @RonN5 -- the review is at this link (post #192) @barondla -- the review is at this link (post #214) @DennyCrane -- the review is at this link (post #224) @nymarty -- the review is at this link (post #278) @MValentiner --the review is at this link (post #287) @jimbones -- the review is at this link (post #360) @OBLuver -- the review is in the works @buckdog58 -- the review is in the works Upcoming Individuals: 1. @Nick BZ -- skipping for now at their request 2. @Devg -- skipping for now at their request 3. @thomaskong -- amp will ship to this person on 2/6 or 2/7 4. @Paul_In_WA 5. @rhing 6. @jcn3 7. @Gibsonian 8. @CarmineRed
I got it today. Somehow my Freya+ does not work, I need to use balanced output of Accuphase F25 crossover for frequency above 290 hz and up. As I contact Schitt, I will find out what to do with my Freya+. It is too early too give definite opinion after one hour. The initial impression is that it sounds very detailed and clear but not too hot.
At one point the amp was going around with RCA to XLR adapters, @thomaskong are those still traveling with it? You can use those but note performance will be degraded compared to a true XLR output device.
Undoubtedly, TK was referring to his issue in getting the Schitt Freya + preamp working. Got to have tubes OR the tube buffers in place for XLR balanced outputs to work! Ted
Margules | SF-220 30TH I picked up this tube pre after being impressed with it during Pacific Audiofest held at Seattle last July. It is fitted with four Telefuken ECC 83(12au7x) tubes and one vintage Amperex 5692. It is in the chain after Dave(fitted with Farad3 LPS) and Mscaler. Source is Aurender N30. I also have RCA vt 231 at input and Amperex at buffer in Freya+. As I have more than 70 different kinds of vintage 6sn7 and variants, I will not have enough time to find the best one in a week.
I will bring Starkrimson D to my friend's house on Saturday. He had auditioned Atma D recently which impressed him. Currently he has Dartzeel and the Audion Black Shadow to drive Pap trio 15. His quote in other forum "I have had the Atmasphere running for a couple weeks. They have only been out of the system a couple times for a day or 2. I have played them back to back with my 12 year old Dartzeel NHB108 model 1 with SCNP network. First thing is to say, they are very close in sound. Its not easy to tell them apart. What I do feel I notice is the Atmasphere is more clean and has a tad bit tighter bass. The Dartzeel seems to have just a touch more background noise and plays a little smoother. The Dartzeel may have a hair more richness, but that may also be the perceived background noise." I will find out how Stark sounds compared with Dartzeel. My friend also can give opinion on comparison between Atma and Stark D from his recent memory.
Reviews: @Ted Torres Jr -- here and here and here @james -- the review is at this link (post #7) @Oliver Meyer -- the review is at this link (post #37) @Jaytor -- the review is at this link (post #66) @gguy -- the review is at this link (post #111) @naru1980 -- the review is at this link (post #147) @okc_craft -- the review is at this link (post #165) @ejk1 -- the review is at this link (post #171) @RonN5 -- the review is at this link (post #192) @barondla -- the review is at this link (post #214) @DennyCrane -- the review is at this link (post #224) @nymarty -- the review is at this link (post #278) @MValentiner --the review is at this link (post #287) @jimbones -- the review is at this link (post #360) @OBLuver -- the review is in the works @buckdog58 -- the review is in the works Upcoming Individuals: 1. @Nick BZ -- skipping for now at their request 2. @Devg -- skipping for now at their request 3. @thomaskong -- currently in their possession 4. @Paul_In_WA -- The amp is going to this person next around 2/17 5. @rhing 6. @jcn3 7. @Gibsonian 8. @CarmineRed Joining the Tour: For anybody else who is looking to join the tour please send me a message through the contact us form on the website. Tour Rules: Participants are responsible for the cost of shipping to the next person. Participants have to write their thoughts in this forum thread after trying out the amp. Participants get to try the amplifier for 7-day
The Benchmark was not engaging. AHB2 was clear and transparent but the Starkrimson had a bit of warmth to it. AHB2 was dead neutral. The Starkrimson was engaging as it ended up in my top 2.
I dropped at my friend's hous Friday with Schitt Freya+ and Starkrimson. Alas, I did not bring balanced cable and he does not have any. It is 70 minute's drive thus I just enjoyed his system of Pap trio driven by Dartzeel. Kindly, he let me borrow his Dartzeel to compare with Starkrimson at my home. He came to my house on Saturday to compare between Starkrimson, Dartzeel 108 and Line Magnetic 508 fitted with vintage tubes. His conclusion is my Line Magnetic 508 is beyond both Starkrimson, Dartzeel 108 in overall musicality. He found Starkrimson sound thin compared with Dartzeel 108 although very transparent with lot of details. When he came, one of tube in Schitt Freya+ got dead, thus I had to use SS balanced buffer. He is of the opinion that Atma D matches Dartzeel but Starkrimson is not on the same level as Dartzeel 108/ After he left, I replaced dead tube in Schitt Freya+ and with that Starkrimson sounds much more musical I sent this link to my friend. He also agreed that it got much better. I have few more days to listen to Starkrimson but regard it as good value. Unfortunately, I can not give opinion between Starkrimson and Atma D.
