Class-D poweramps...Orchard, Atma-Sphere, or AGD?

[jeffreybehr]

Now that I have a pair of Eminent Tech. LFT-8Cs which are NOT fussy about poweramps the way my big Sound Labs were, I'm back to choosing a new poweramp pair that does not heat my house as expensively as large, HOT amps do (hello Pass XA60.8s, BHK600s, and A-S MA-1s!).

First, I'm NOT a golden-eared audiofile and often feel more like a tin-eared audiofool, but am a musiclover and a slow-hearing maybe-silver-eared audiofool and have much experience in audiofoolness since I've been playing with this stuff for more than 65 years.. I love the way these '8Cs sound being driven by everything I've tried including PS Audio BHK600s(1).. I also own PS Audio M1200s but they're on loan to a friend so I haven't heard them on the '8Cs, and I own and have just restarted listening to my improved Atma-Sphere 19-tube MA-1s.

While I will spend much time listening thru the incoming Atma-Sphere Class Ds, I'm in the market for a pair of monoamps costing no more than around 10kilobuck$ and have narrowed my search somewhat to three class-D amp that use GaN-FET devices.. Those are the $2600/pair Orchard Starkminson 25 Monos (hereafter 'Orchards'), the $4000-used-and just-purchased-and-on-the-way Atma-Sphere Class Ds (ASDs), and the $12K/pair AGD Duets (Duets).. I owned a pair of ASDs a few years ago but for some reason or reasons I can't remember(2), I sold them.. I seem to be fascinated with the Duets for their dual use of GaNFETs (audio-output stage AND powersupply) and VERY positive reviews, but I'm also openminded enough to try the far-less-expensive Orchards.. All three of these have about the same amount of power, and I don't listen at ear-numbing levels, so all have more than enough power.

Anyone have thoughtful opinions on at least two of these candidates?

(1) but I'll be selling the BHK600s and Atma-Sphere MA-1s soon--JUST TOO MUCH HEAT.
(2) I'm 81YO.

 

[Dthagerty@aol.com]

I listened to the Orchard Starkminson 25 Monos for a week in my system (VAC Master preamp, VAC 200 iQ mono KT88 amps, Magico M3 speakers, totaldac d1-twelve dac, Synergistic Research Galileo SX cables and power conditioner).

I REALLY liked them. Musical, fast, detailed, very good at separating out individual instruments in a complex mix. Black backgrounds, utterly quiet and transparent. As in TRANSPARENT. I know they must have a sound of their own, but I couldn’t say what it is. They sound like the rest of your system. Seriously considering buying them myself. One of the few SS amps that could convince me to give up tubes. The other SS amps I liked this much cost 15-20 times more.

I haven’t listened to the other amps you’re considering.

 

[gleeds]

Even though I have no affiliation, I am a big fan of Ralph Karsten's amplifiers and his engineering chops. I understand his Class D amps are a cut above the rest. No real-world experience here, but if anyone can make a musical-sounding Class D amplifier, my money is on Atmosphere.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Even though I have no affiliation, I am a big fan of Ralph Karsten's amplifiers and his engineering chops. I understand his Class D amps are a cut above the rest. No real-world experience here, but if anyone can make a musical-sounding Class D amplifier, my money is on Atmosphere.

Also AGD, Canor and Gold Note.

 

[AudioHedonist]

Anyone have experience with the Mola Mola Perca or the AGD Duet? The Ossetra—basically the mono Perca stereo amps, but updated—are about to ship, and honestly, they’re looking really tempting!