Gold Note PH-5 Phono Stage – Quick Look
All Image Credit: Gold Note
The Italian Gold Note PH-5 is a new generation phono stage that has been designed to provide a similar quality and performance to the PH-10 and PH-1000, but at a more affordable price. It comes with a single RCA input and supports either MM or MC cartridges, offering six EQ curves (RIAA, Decca London and American Columbia, with Enhanced option), load and gain adjustments and a large front panel touch display that give access to these and other parameters in real time while playing music.
The new phono circuit design integrates all components onto a single PCB using using discrete audio-grade components and sealed single switches. The signal path is optimized to shorten copper foil distances and minimize any possible interference. Every setting selected through the touchscreen is applied to the audio signal by switching its path through the use of relays.
Rear panel connectivity includes; unbalanced RCA stereo inputs, balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA stereo outputs and AC and DC power connections. The small USB socket is for future firmware upgrades.
A dedicated external power supply is also available that Gold Note claims; “allows the phono stage to achieve its fullest potential, reaching an even higher degree of musical realism, better dynamics, and greater three-dimensionality sound”. For now you would need to use the PSU-10 costing $1,199.00 as the matching PSU hasn’t been released yet.
PH-5 Technical Specifications:
- EQ: 3 curves (RIAA, Decca London, American Columbia) with Enhanced option
- Subsonic filter: 10Hz/36dB octave
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz ± 0.3Db Enhanced 20Hz – 50kHz ± 0.3dB
- THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): <0.05% @ 1kHz
- Signal to noise ratio: 89dB
- Dynamic response: 105dB
- Analog inputs: RCA stereo MM/MC
- Input sensitivity: 0.1mV MC up to 10.0mV MM
- Input impedance: 9 options (10Ω, 22Ω, 47Ω, 100Ω, 220Ω, 470Ω, 1KΩ, 22kΩ, 47kΩ)
- Gain: MM= 40dB, MC= 60dB with 4 options (0dB, + 3dB, ± 6dB)
- MM capacitance: 220pf
- Audio outputs: RCA unbalanced, XLR balanced
- Output Impedance: 50Ω
- Power supply: 100-120V or 220-240V, 50/60Hz
- Power consumption: 10W
- Standby consumption: < 0,5W
- Dimensions: 200W | 80H | 260D mm
- Weight: 1.2 Kg
MSRP:
- US: $999.00
- EU: 890.00€
For more information visit the Gold Note USA web site.
Check out my quick look at the Gold Note PH-1000.
Read my review of the Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL phono amplifier here.
