I am often asked for recommendations on speaker cables, XLR cables, RCA cables, and so on. Hence I created this blog post with my most frequent recommendations below. RCA Cables Most commonly an RCA cable with male connectors on both ends is used. Here are some...

This blog post describes the changes to Rev 2.5 of the Starkrimson Stereo Ultra, which also includes the DMC model. Rev 2.5 of the amplifier has a built-in RCA to XLR converter. The amplifier can now be used with both RCA and XLR sources. The below image shows the...

Please watch the video below to see how to accomplish digital room correction (DRC) in your setup with the PecanPi Streamer or the PecanPi+ Streamer. https://www.youtube.com/embed/EfUzOstTPCs Please note this DRC will not apply to the SPDIF input, I will do another...

Version 2.0 of the Starkrimson Stereo Ultra is all about power. Orchard Audio had a custom power supply developed to specifically work with our Starkrimson Ultra gallium nitride (GaN) amplifier modules. These new SMPS1K2 -SKU power supplies are...

Both DACs use Orchard Audio’s proprietary filtering topology and class AB headphone output buffers. Both DACs also have S/PDIF inputs and utilize an ultra-low jitter clock to effectively eliminate jitter.The major difference between the two boards is the DAC chip that...

The 2023 Florida Audio Expo was my first “real” show. It was a great experience for me on multiple fronts. Setup The below image shows the setup of the Orchard Audio room. There were two systems:1. PecanPi Streamer –> Starkrimson Stereo...

A Rev 1.0 Starkrimson Stereo Ultra ($2900 configuration) amplifier is currently touring the US. Everybody is welcome to join in.Update:As of 04/01/2023, the tour amplifier is Rev 1.0 Starkrimson Stereo Ultra dual mono with capacitor upgrade ($3500...

I am proud to announce that we will present at the 2022 Speakerfest in Phoenix, AZ. Orchard Audio will have three (3) audio demo setups at the event.Setup 1:Floor standing speakers (ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52), driven by the Starkrimson® Stereo Ultra amplifier...

Many people talk about speaker placement, and I agree this is very important. However, amplifier placement is also important. Why? It affects the damping factor at the speaker’s terminals. Why is damping factor important? The damping factor of an amplifier tells you...

Product specifications often list the signal-to-noise ratio, sometimes written as “SNR” or “S/N,” but what does it mean? While the math behind SNR is technical, the concept is not, and this value can impact a system’s overall sound quality. SNR compares the level of a...