Orchard Audio x Z Reviews Valencia

The Orchard Audio Valencia is a pure balanced headphone power amplifier, co-designed with audio reviewer Z Reviews as the world's first dedicated balanced headphone power amplifier, built to three goals: maximum output power, the lowest possible noise and distortion, and absolute transparency. Valencia adds nothing to the signal and removes nothing. It is purely a power amplifier for headphones. Three-year warranty included.

Type and Technology

Balanced Class AB headphone power amplifier, no volume control. Fully balanced three-stage signal path: input stage with ESD protection and 44k ohm input impedance, gain stage increasing signal by 5x (14dB), output buffer stage with paralleled devices for up to 1.2A maximum output current. Neotech 16AWG UP-OCC copper wiring from circuit board to 4-pin XLR connector. Independent linear regulators per channel, each with 1,000µF of capacitance. Mean Well industrial-grade AC/DC converter. Residual noise below 4.4µV A-weighted. SINAD of 118dB measured performance. Output power up to 17W RMS into 32 ohms, 7.5W into 64 ohms, 3.24W into 150 ohms, 1.62W into 300 ohms, 0.81W into 600 ohms. Speaker outputs on rear (8 ohm loads supported, active simultaneously with headphone jack, do not use both at once). Universal 90-264VAC input for worldwide compatibility. Single 4-pin XLR balanced input on rear. Single 4-pin XLR balanced headphone output on front, plus 4-pin XLR to 4.4mm Pentaconn adapter included. No volume control, requires external preamplifier or DAC with variable output.

Sound Character

Valencia adds nothing. SINAD of 118dB, THD+N below 0.00013% across the midrange, and residual noise of under 4.4µV, a headphone amplifier that is, to all practical measurement purposes, invisible in the signal path. The downstream DAC and preamplifier's character comes through without any amplifier signature. For those who have experienced highly colored amplifiers and want to know what their DAC actually sounds like, Valencia is a revelation.

Build and Finish

Compact at 9.5 x 9.25 x 3 inches, 5 lbs. Ships with US power cord; universal AC input works worldwide. Soft power LED button on angled front fascia. Hard-off switch on rear. 3-year warranty.

Please note: Valencia is strictly a power amplifier with no volume control. An external preamplifier or DAC with variable output is required. Take care with sensitive headphones and IEMs, Valencia's high output power requires appropriate source-level management.

What's in the Box

• Orchard Audio Valencia balanced headphone power amplifier
• 4-pin XLR to 4.4mm Pentaconn adapter
• US power cable
• Documentation

Specifications