92%
Orchard Audio VALENCIA
Balanced Headphone and Power Amplifier
Valencia was designed with three clear purposes…
- Be the world’s first dedicated balanced headphone power amplifier.
- Be one of the world’s cleanest measuring headphone amplifiers.
- Be one of the most powerful headphone amplifiers available today.
Z Reviews
Valencia boasts a refined class AB design that accurately and effortlessly pushes any modern headphone from 16Ω to 600Ω, inside an absolutely pitch-black noise envelope. We minimized components and eliminated all complications to the signal path. You won’t find a gain selector, secondary inputs, or volume control on Valencia. It is purely a power amp.
Measuring a SINAD of 118db, Valencia is the pinnacle of a modern transparent amplifier. Never before has a headphone amplification system been designed to traverse with so little interference. Audiophiles often ask if an amplifier is warm, sibilant, or adds weight and depth to the sound.
Valencia adds nothing.
No noise.
No distortion.
No limitations.
A power amp for headphones introduces some new challenges for audio enthusiasts. Using a power amp means that the user must control the volume via pre-amp or other means. Your choice of DAC, pre-amp – be it solid-state Class-A – or a tube, will greatly affect the sound of your headphones when running off of Valencia. Having 15 watts (@32Ω) of extremely clean power puts responsibility on the listener. Control of the input voltage is necessary to prevent possible damage to both a headphone and the listener’s hearing. With care, Valencia can run even the most sensitive IEMs with a completely black background if the source gear shares a near-zero noise floor.
Valencia features a single set of Balanced XLR inputs on the rear and a single 4-pin XLR output on the front. Every unit includes a 4-pin XLR to 4.4mm Pentaconn adapter.
RCA to XLR Converter
Single-ended headphone connections (e.g., 1/4″ / 6.35mm) are not supported by Valencia.
Additionally, a complete set of speaker-style banana taps is located on the rear of the unit. These can be used for high-efficiency speakers (>=95db/w), as Valencia supports an 8Ω load with a ~7-watt output, maintaining the same pitch black background that headphones enjoy. NOTE: These taps are active at the same time as the headphone jack so it is NOT recommended to use both simultaneously!
A soft off-white LED power button is located on the angled front fascia and a hard-off power supply switch is located above the 90 to 264 Volt AC input on the rear, making Valencia worldwide compliant directly out of the box.
CAUTION: Valencia is strictly a power amplifier; the user must provide external volume control.
Features
Fully balanced design
- Exceedingly low noise and distortion
- Neotech OCC wiring for 4-Pin XLR
- Independent linear regulators for each channel
- Gain: 14dB
- Signal to Noise Ratio: >134dB (a-weighted)
- Input Impedance: 44 kΩ
Power (RMS):
- 0.81W into 600 Ω
- 1.62W into 300 Ω
- 3.24W into 150 Ω
- 7.56W into 64 Ω
- 9.68W into 50 Ω
- 15.12W into 32 Ω
- 9.66W into 16 Ω
- 4.83W into 8 Ω
- Universal AC Input
- Works from 90 to 264VAC
- Size (L x W x H): 9.5″ (24.15cm) x 9.25″ (23.5cm) x 3″ (7.62cm)
- Weight: 5lbs (2.3kg)
What’s in the Box?
1 x Valencia
- 1 x 4-Pin XLR to 4.4mm adapter
1 x 6ft US power cable
- While the device only ships with a US power cord it is compatible worldwide (see features above).
Instructions
Three (3) year warranty included.
Customs Disclaimers (for non-U.S. customers):
Any customs fees are the customer’s responsibility.
We won’t under-value merchandise or mark the item as a gift on customs forms. Doing that is against U.S. and international laws.
Dealers selling Orchard Audio near you
Orchard Audio VALENCIA — Balanced power for demanding headphones
The VALENCIA is a purpose-built balanced Class AB power amplifier that stands out for its transparent, ultra-low noise performance and generous headroom. Measurements and reporting from Finn de Kroon and Ian White highlight very high SINAD/SNR figures and up to ~15–17 W into 32 Ω, giving it the muscle to drive modern dynamics and many planars. The minimalist, sandblasted-aluminum design and a simplified signal path reflect careful engineering, while a single balanced XLR input, front 4-pin XLR headphone output (adapter included) and speaker banana taps keep connectivity focused. VALENCIA is best suited to users who pair it with a preamp or streamer for volume control and who want a transparent, high-power desktop amp that prioritizes fidelity over onboard features and single-ended convenience.
Pros
- Exceptionally low noise and high measured transparency, making it ideal for revealing and quiet listening.
- Substantial power/headroom (up to ~15–17 W into 32 Ω) that can effortlessly drive a wide range of modern dynamic and planar headphones.
- Well-engineered, minimalist build with a simplified signal path and quality component choices that support neutral, detailed reproduction.
&
Cons
- No onboard volume, gain selector or secondary inputs—Valencia is a pure power amp and requires an external preamp or streamer for level control.
- Balanced-only headphone output and no single-ended jacks limit direct compatibility with many sources and legacy headphone cables.
Sound Quality
92/100
Both reviews emphasize strong Class AB output and exceptional driving capability (15–17 W into 32 ohms, with a full table of RMS outputs at multiple impedances), with Best of High End calling it a "significant leap forward" in headphone amplification. The amp's generous power/headroom and reviewers' notes about effortless control of modern headphones justify a very high dynamics score, though users must manage input levels carefully to avoid overstressing headphones.
Noise Floor
91/100
Reviewers describe an "incredibly low noise profile," "pitch-black background," and claim it is among the cleanest measuring headphone amps; Best of High End specifically says it can "effortlessly power even the most sensitive IEMs." Those consistent remarks and the high measured SINAD/SNR place the Valencia in the black-background tier suitable for sensitive IEMs and quiet listening.
Headphone Compatibility
90/100
Specifications and reviews show broad capability across 16–600 ohm headphones with detailed power numbers (e.g., ~15 W into 32 Ω and usable outputs down to 0.81 W into 600 Ω), and reviewers explicitly state it will drive modern dynamic and planar headphones. Compatibility is slightly tempered by the balanced-only interface and absence of gain settings or volume control (it is a pure power amp), which reduces stand-alone flexibility for some setups.
Build Quality
92/100
Reviewers note meticulous engineering, a simplified signal path, quality control details (soft off-white LED, hard-off rear mains switch) and robust desktop dimensions/weight, reflecting careful industrial and electrical design. The construction and layout are presented as deliberate and high-quality in both write-ups.
Features Connectivity
90/100
Valencia intentionally keeps features minimal as a pure power amplifier: a single rear balanced XLR input and a front 4-pin XLR headphone output (with a 4-pin-to-4.4mm adapter included), plus speaker-style banana taps for high-efficiency speakers. The lack of single-ended jacks, no volume/gain controls, and no built-in DAC or digital inputs limits versatility but the balanced-only, high-power design and included adapter keep the features score solid for its intended role.
Value for Money
86/100
Ecoustics lists discounted pre-order pricing at $1,599.95 (MSRP $1,999.95), but neither review explicitly frames the product as a bargain or overpriced. Given the excellent measured performance and price positioning in the high-end headphone-amp market, a neutral-to-positive baseline score is appropriate in the absence of explicit reviewer value judgments.
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