Orchard Audio’s PecanPi streamer, DAC and headphone amp is at the core of my audio set up. I am not an audiophile but this streamer has elevated my game. It's a great value and allows me to stream high res audio via volumio and get the most out of my Sequerra Pyramid MET 7 speakers and planar headphones. Leo has been super helpful and great to work with.
This PecanPI has brought me a lot of enjoyment.
Thanks for the review. I hope your new headphones arrive soon.
Allan Thornton2025.10.31
Starkrimson Stereo Ultra 2.5-- This amp was purchased to attempt to get the maximum quality out a recently purchase set of Martin Logan ELS (electrostatic) speakers. I had a low end (but powerful) set of class D mono blocks that was supposed to be a short term, temporary solution but . . . I was not satisfied. I finally broke down and spent much more than I had originally planned for a replacement This amp is fantastic (absolutely fantastic) and worth every penny . . . The combination of the ELS and the Starkrimson amp sounds amazingly good. I will be hooking this amp up to a variety speakers around the house and I expect that to be a lot of fun!!!!
It's actually amazing.... it's also very surprising... I really didn't expect this...I mean... it's so good...I realized immediately that this amp reveals a few layers of ever present micro details that were never heard before... I can start listening to my lifetime music collection all over again...😉 So thank you Leo...my sense for the pleasure reached a new level of plateau I would say...
Thank you for the feedback. I am glad you are enjoying the amplifier. Happy Holidays!
Sorin M. Ghisoiu2025.09.22
The Music, Not the Gear: A review of the Orchard Audio Ultra Premium Monoblocks.
After 35 years of listening to music, you develop a deep connection to sound, a language only your ears understand. Over the years, countless systems and pieces of equipment have come and gone, but every so often, something truly special comes along. The Orchard Audio Ultra Premium Monoblocks gave me a feeling that something was profoundly right, and they have reignited my passion for my music collection.
The first thing you notice is a profound sense of clarity. The music doesn’t just play; it emerges from a vault of silence with a purity that is truly remarkable. The subtle details—a quiet breath, the decay of a cymbal, the very texture of a violin's strings—are presented with an astonishing level of detail. The experience moves beyond simple listening and becomes an exploration, a chance to hear the artistry you've always known, but with a new level of intimacy.
This clarity extends to the soundstage and imaging. The amps don't just present sound; they create a holographic space. The stage is expansive, and every instrument has a specific, tangible place within that space. It’s like stepping into the recording studio and being able to walk among the musicians, with their presence perfectly rendered in three dimensions.
And don't let their elegant simplicity fool you. These amps handle demanding speakers with effortless authority. I used them with two pairs known to be a little difficult to drive, and they stayed cool and composed, as if they weren't even working hard. It's a testament to their powerful and stable design.
Perhaps their most unique quality is their neutrality. They don’t impose their own character on the music. Instead, what you feed them is exactly what you get. I’ve paired them with both tube preamps and very precise solid-state DACs, and they always show the true personality of the upstream equipment, like a blank canvas waiting for you to paint the sound you love. For anyone who loves music and wants to hear the most honest, beautiful version of it, these amps are an amazing experience. They simply let the music flow. I honestly couldn’t recommend them enough.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review. I’m truly honored that the Starkrimson Ultra Premium monoblocks could reignite your passion for music. I designed them to disappear sonically, letting the music speak for itself—and your words confirm that vision. Knowing they’ve brought you closer to the art and emotion of sound means everything to me.
Leo Hrechanyk2025.03.04
I rarely give five star reviews, but this is one!
The Starkrimson Mono Ultra Premium LPS - Limited Edition monoblocks perform beyond my greatest expectations! I have been using a Krell FPB 600 amplifier for about 10 years with my Von Schweikert VR8 speakers. These monoblock amps beat the Krell hands down for all performance characteristics including bass!
Just beg Leo to build you a pair and you’ll see!
Thank you for the review. Orchard Audio will have another LPS edition amplifier in the near future.
Bart Zanelli2025.01.02
Orchard Audio equipment is class leading and customer service top notch. I’ve dealt with Leo on both an amp and a streamer and he’s been great. Highly recommend his products
Had to run my tube am for a few days. I was so disappointed by its sounds after running my pair of Orchard Audio amps. Now with my Starkrimson Mono blocks back in place my system is once again a dream. Such clean and controlled power!
Before I get to the way the mono’s sound in my system, let me say that Leo is wonderful to deal with. The amps are amazing. They are replacing a Naim Supernait 3 which I like very much but the Starkrimmson Mono Premium outperforms it in every way. Detail, bass, imaging and musicality. In my 45 years in this hobby these amps are the most dramatic upgrade I have experienced. Very highly recommended.
Thank you for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that the Starkrimson Mono Premium is exceeding your expectations. It's always rewarding to know that our products can bring such a significant improvement to your listening experience. Enjoy the music!
stuart brady2024.08.01
I've just taken delivery of the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra DMC 2.5 Power Amp.
I was looking for a quality power amp to pair with my Trafomatic Evolution Line one tube pre-amplifier. I was expecting clean and dynamic power from the Starkrimson, and you certainly get that! However, the surprise for me was the finesse and control with which the sound is delivered. As mentioned by others, the control of the bass is truly exceptional. I have Tekton Perfect set speakers (12" driver version) which I have been using with low power tube amps. At 96 db efficiency these are easy to drive but still have 300 W power handling. You would expect the 250W into 8 ohms to be overkill, but it really isn't. It provides a level of control that my existing amps can't match. (Line magnetic 518IA and Enleum Amp 23r). Great as both of those amps are, they can't replicate the bass control that the Starkrimson showcases. However, that's not the whole story. The frequency response across the board is also exceptional. I've heard the "straight wire with gain" analogy and agree to a point. However, the surprise for me was that a number of older recordings I have, that can get into slightly sibilant territory, sound absolutely stellar on this amp. It doesn't round things off at all, but what I'm hearing just sounds more natural and pleasant. I'm not sure if it's just highlighting the virtues of my preamp. The Trafomatic evolution line one is the entry level pre-amp in their line, but it's a wonderfully simple and well-built amp. All I can say is that the match up with the Starkrimson is sublime. I was on the fence with class D amps, but after a fairly short listening session (that ended up being 6 hrs) I am sold!
Service from Leo was exceptional, and he was really helpful getting the amp to New Zealand and helping to navigate our wonderful import controls.
I can't recommend this amp highly enough. It's superb and a steal at the price.
Thank you very much for your feedback. I am glad the amp exceeded your expectations and you are very happy with the service. Enjoy the music!
Drew Pflueger2024.06.10
I'm so impressed with the huge improvement that The Orchard Audio PecanPi + DAC/Music Streamer has made in my audio system. The detail in sound is immensely improved. I am hearing detail in music that I never realized before, wow. Also, getting support at Orchard Audio was no problem. Leo answered and walked me through a few set-up questions. 5 Stars!!
Wow, so happy to hear the PecanPi+ brought your music to life! Thanks for the 5 stars!
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Suwat T2024.05.17
Leo is always easy to work with, honest and straight forward. I've owned his Pecanpi DAC/Streamer in the past and currently demoing his monoblocks. If you want to support a stellar independent American audio company, Orchard Audio is the spot!
I'm thrilled you've had positive experiences with our products! Your support means the world to us. If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out. Thank you for choosing Orchard Audio!
Mike Hanson2024.05.09
Exceptionally impressive products and excellent support! Highly recommended!!!!
Thank you very much for your feedback. I always strive for 5-star service and support.
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Robert Audet2023.07.18
If Leo was a DAC, he'd be top of the line for sure. Few years back when I first heard of Orchard Audio, checked their initial product which was right up their with this new trend of SBCs out of the UK which made robotic learning for kids the new hype, as well as low cost, high quality devices for men and their guilty pleasure, the SOUND.
What made it very interesting is that in the world of RaspberryPi, HifiBerry and so many others, you had this company who's owner and creator was a rock star among us men. Everyone was talking about Leo this and Leo that. The product reviews, although always among the most recommended, still came after all the praise for Leo.
Yesterday I got my Orchard-Audio PecanPi Streamer from a private vendor. The unit was 2nd hand, it arrived in a box with nothing else but a note: Enjoy the music.
Of course nothing worked as I had hoped it would and I was left with no other choice but to contact the company for HELP!
I got on a chat line with someone at the company and that person soon discovered that we were both talking different languages and where could not even described my new purchase correctly. Well lucky for me, that person did not give up on me, he tried one thing, and then another, and this went on until we hit a key word that brought us together on the same page, with a sudden clear understanding of what I had to do. 45min. that's all it took after that for me to get my new PecanPi Streamer connected, with a new SD card in and a fresh configuration.
That was the moment when music started playing, not any kind of music, but for me at least, the MUSIC that I as a man have been evolving to. I have now reached plenitude and am now ready to die if I must, but before, please let me listen to that music a little while longer. Oh!, did I mention that the poor sole at the end of the chat, the one who walked me through Dante's Inferno, well, yeah it was indeed...Leo.
Leo thanks for the MUSIC and for being you.
Robert Audet
You are very welcome. I am glad you are enjoying the music. I always strive for great customer service.
I am glad that I have earned 5 stars, and I hope to see you as a future customer.
Regards;
Leo
Robert A Rust2023.07.01
Leo, after our discussion at the Florida International Audio Fest, I am so glad that you built a three channel amplifier, the Duo/Trio. Just having a single power cord to get your amplification over three mono amps with power supplies and power cords is a great help. More importantly, it goes extremely well with my tube amplifier used for my front speakers. I think the GanFet class D works well for the other three speakers because it matches closely to the power rating of the tube amp, adds clarity to the center channel, and balances the frequency in the rear speakers, without competing with the front speaker pair. I also think that the use of the RCA to XLR converters are important to use instead of XLR to RCA cables. The increase of 6 dB improves the sound and allows the Duo/Trio to work optimally. Why buy an amplifier and then not use it to its full capacity? Anyone who wants to purchase this three channel amp, or any other of your amps, should seriously consider adding these converters to their system. To this point, I like the converters so much that I am ordering a third for my tube amplifier to insure that I am getting a fully balanced performance.
Great job all around, thank you for taking the plunge. I hope this amplifier helps all of those people looking to upgrade their amplifiers using an Audio Video Receiver or processor, including those with tube front channels.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback! We're thrilled to hear that the Duo/Trio amplifier has been a great addition to your audio setup and that you're enjoying the convenience of having just a single power cord. We're also glad to hear that the GanFet class D works well for your speakers and provides the desired clarity and balance. We appreciate your recommendation of using the RCA to XLR converters for optimal performance. If you have any further questions or need assistance with anything, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. Thank you again for your support and we hope our amplifier continues to enhance your audio experience.
Best regards,
Leo
Ronald Hale2023.06.16
Leo is awesome! He is the owner. Very quick shipping! Great product! And great customer service. I have asked way too many questions. And he always answers the same day.
Thank you for your kind words, Ronald! I am so glad to hear that I was able to provide you with great customer service and a great product. We appreciate your business!
Dominic Rushe2023.04.25
TL/DR: Sounds amazing. Extraordinary customer service. Highly recommended.
I have wanted to add a streamer to my hifi for a while - Rega Brio, KEF LS50s, CD and record player. But which one and what sort? Roon? Sonos? Bluetooth? WiFi? I went down the rabbit hole of reviews and forums.
I am not a technophobe by any means but a lot of the info I found was too technical and confusing. I just wanted a plug and play streamer for Tidal and was thinking of getting an Audiolab 600N. I didn’t want to spend too much as the tech seems to be advancing.
Then I read a John Darko piece about Raspberry Pi streamers and thought that seemed like an elegant solution but one that was too much of a DIY project for me to do by myself. More Googling and I found Orchard Audio.
Here’s a dude (Leo) in New Jersey with “decades of engineering expertise” at big companies making reasonably priced streamers that get great reviews. What’s not to like?
I bought the PecanPi, it arrived really quickly. It’s small, sturdy and has a solid, homemade feel that I love. I couldn’t wait to try it out.
I chose the Volumio option after discussion with Leo. Plugged it in and nothing. Ugh. I rebooted everything (all very IT Crowd). Nothing. So I emailed Leo. Ten minutes later he had emailed me back. Problem was fixed (turned out it was just some glitch in my internet) but it was clear to me that Leo was on the case if I had issues.
So now it is up and running and it’s phenomenal. Hifi descriptions of sound are as impossible as wine reviews, it’s so subjective, one man’s blackberry and slate is another’s blueberry and tar. But for me the PecanPi (in my smallish NY apartment) is big, detailed, has a great, intimate, 3D feel and sounds as good playing Satie as it does the Oh Sees.
Very happy customer. Thank you!
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