Gold Note DS-5.2 Streaming DAC – Quick Look

All Image Credit Gold Note

Gold Note of Italy have released the new DS-5.2 streaming DAC. At 200mm wide and weighing in at 4Kg, it can be considered to be a compact version of the DS-10 EVO. It is housed in a black anodised aluminium case with a 3″ colour touchscreen that displays cover art. For enhanced performance the DS-5.2 supports the PSX-5.2 external power supply.

Internally, Gold Note specifies a single AKM AK4493 converter wired into a fully balanced architecture. Quoted total harmonic distortion is 0.001%, with a 125dB signal-to-noise ratio and 120dB of dynamic range. Audio formats include; PCM up to32bit/384kHz AIFF (.aif, .aiff, .aifc), ALAC WAV (.wav), packed/unpacked FLAC, MP3, DSD256: DSF, DFF, Apple Lossless, OGG and  Monkey’s audio.

On the network side, the DS-5.2 supports; TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect (including Lossless), Apple AirPlay 2 and is Roon Ready. Wired or wireless LAN handles files up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256, and a USB-A port reads the same resolutions off a FAT32 or NTFS drive of up to 32GB, browsed with Gold Note’s own GN Control app. Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX HD is also available.

The analogue outputs can run as fixed or variable level, with the DAC driving the 1 x stereo RCA and XLR at a fixed 2VRMS, or a separate pre-amplifier stage adds selectable and variable RCA/ XLR outputs also driving the 6.3mm headphone front panel jack via a 2-watt headphone amplifier. Stereo analogue input is available on a single pair of line level RCA’s.

Wireless streaming is provided by a Bluetooth 5.2 aptX HD transmitter with wired digital connectivity to include; 1 x RCA coaxial and 1 x TOSLINK input (24-bit/192KHz), 1 x HDMI eARC socket for TV integration, 1 x USB-C (16-bit/48KHz) and 1 x RJ45 Ethernet.

Specifications:

• DAC: AKM AK4493
• FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz-20kHz +/-0.1dB
• THD: 0.001% max
• SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO: 125dB
• DYNAMIC RANGE: 120DB
• OUTPUT IMPEDENCE: 100Ω
• PREAMP STAGE VOLUME CONTROL: enabled/disabled
• NETWORK CONNECTIVITY LAN/WLAN (WiFi): 10/433Mbps 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual Band Bluetooth 5.2, aptX HD 24bit
• HIGH RESOLUTION STREAMING: Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, MQA, Spotify Connect, Airplay 2, Roon Ready, Spotify Lossless, Deezer, vTuner
• SUPPORTED AUDIO FORMATS (NETWORK): Up to PCM 32bit/384kHz AIFF (.aif, .aiff, .aifc), ALAC WAV (.wav), packed/unpacked FLAC, MP3, DSD256: DSF, DFF, Apple Lossless, OGG Monkey’s
• SUPPORTED MEDIA SERVERS: All UPnP, DLNA, Roon
• DIGITAL INPUTS: 1 x RCA coaxial PCM up to 24bit/192kHz, 1 x TOS-optical PCM up to 24bit/192kHz, 1 x HDMI eARC 24bit/192kHz (Support HDMI CEC), 1 x USB-A port DSD256 and PCM up to 32bit/ 384kHz, formatted in FAT32/NTFS (32Gb max for pen drives), 1 x USB-C asynchronous PCM up to 16bit/48kHz, 1 x Network (LAN/WLAN) DSD256 and PCM up to 32bit/384kHz, 1 x Bluetooth 5.2 aptX- HD 24bit
• DIGITAL OUTPUTS: 1 x RCA coaxial PCM up to 24bit/192kHz, 1 x Bluetooth 5.2, aptX- HD 24bit
• ANALOGUE INPUT: 1 x Stereo RCA (input impedance 10kΩ)
• AUDIO OUTPUTSDAC: 1 x stereo RCA unbalanced 2Vrms, 1 x stereo XLR balanced 2Vrms
• PREAMP: 1 x stereo RCA unbalanced1 x stereo XLR balanced, 1 x headphone (6,3mm jack)
• POWER SUPPLY: 100-240V / 50-60Hz
• POWER CONSUMPTION: 35W
• DIMENSIONS: 200 W x 80 H x 260 D mm
• WEIGHT: 4Kg

Pricing:

• UK: £1,290.00
• US: $1,290.00
• EU: €1,290.00

For more information visit the Gold Note web site.

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