Part 2. This seems to be a very nice product, and as a 78 collector all the adjustments and settings is really attractive. We haven't seen the inside or how it's build, but the relays you hear indicates that IC's and SMD in the control section is isolated from the signal path, which leaves the hope for it being discretely build. Since I haven't seen the inside or had the opportunity to listen to this pre-amp there's not much more I can say except that it looks truly promising, but it is undeniably in a price range beyond sanity. But then again so are most modern pre-amps, which I'll get into next, but first of all; Thanks for showing us this baby. When you look inside an older amplifier with build in pre-amp, you'll see a small board with a few discrete components, and a nice short signal path (it can also be a part of the main board in some cases). And the thing is that it just works and sounds great. Then when looking at modern pre-amps most of them up to a certain price point (which in fact can be grotesquely high everything considered) is build with SMD and around the same up amp IC which sounds awful. It goes for both separate pre-amps and those build into turntables (all the way up till we get to serious turntables which of course doesn't have build in pre-amps). Some external pre-amps even include tubes/valves which is nuts since the IC still makes it sound like .... no matter what. Of course there's always the debate about IC's and SMD vs. discrete components, but it's kinda ridiculous since the difference to discrete components is clearly measurable, so I won't go into that. My question on the other hand is; Why doesn't anyone make a cheap discretely build pre-amp? It doesn't cost much to produce, and sold for a fair price they would rule the market from day one. Another matter I would like to mention (though short this time - We can always get into more detail) is that recession is coming, and it will probably hit pretty hard. This will result in people having less money to throw around, and will become more critical about how they spend it. The record business will of course be affected by this, and will be forced to get a grip or go bust. Sales are already starting to drop due to insane prices (for instance due to betting on the wrong things they can't sell and dumping the loss on consumers, while they can't get what they actually want), loads of bad pressings, all sorts of scams with fake limited editions, and the list continues. They are still making quite a profit due to insane prices, but that is going to change. My short advice to everyone is: Hold on to your money because better times will be coming where you'll get more bang for your buck. And remember; Vinyl is not a luxury item as they try to market it - It's just a format like everyone else. That's it. As always a great video Mate. Stay cool and awesome.
I agree on simplicity in design (in fact quality vintage is growing big on me) and the need to lower these crazy prices. I hope thigs will get better and maintain quality designs!
Aesthetics truly are a personal taste. I have a Gold Note DS -10 evo and a couple of Gold Note power amps. In my view, Gold Note’s minimalist aesthetic is a thing of beauty.
This was really fascinating Guido! It was interesting to see the shop use metrics and SOP's to maximize efficiency. No doubt to do more with the space and labour supply afforded to them. I'm sure a lot of people have this perception of Italian manufacturing of being some bespectacled old man hand crafting every piece in a unique fashion with his many years of expertise. This definitely debunks that image! Great work!
This looks like an amazing piece of equipment. Having these type of options makes phono playback more enjoyable, but not necessary. I do have some of the same features on my current model. The Gold note’s ability to match any modern recorded record eq curve is astounding. Mine will do RIAA, COLUMBIA and DECCA, and I also have XLR out and the ohm settings. My older PH8 had a fixed gain at 58db (which was too high for moving magnet and too low for moving Coil lower than .5mv. The phono preamp before, although good quality, it was a Audio Research PH8, the options were very limiting if you are trying to take your listening experience to the next level with a plethora of cartridge options. I currently own a Audio Research Ref 2 and I have a Hana ML coming in today UPS, and I can’t wait. Remember guys, there is always the used market, what is 10,000 today will be 5,000 tomorrow or possibly much less. Excellent video quality and interview. You are moving to the next level in video production. Heck, I got so motivated today that I pulled my Nakamichi RX-505 out of it’s box, hooked up the optional remote control and I have been recording all afternoon and it sounds glorious. Keep the outstanding content coming.
I Like Tape.... Let Me explain. I have been listening to cassette tape since the early 70's. In those days it was common practice to record Your new virgin clean album on to cassette, once to play and once for lending to friends. I guess You could say I was an original Pirate! In My case I guess that I have listened to tape as much if not more as any other format. My story started a few weeks ago with Me fitting a period correct Kenwood cassette player to My 1986 Volvo estate, now I hadn't listened to tape for a few years so I pulled out My Battleship Nakamichi 700 tri tracer gaave her a quick service, and started making some recordings for My car, just like we always did. Anyway on listening back I was surprised at how much I liked the sound, I would say warm but not lacking any detail, to My ears a simply lovely sound. And a quality far above what I was expecting. I think it has to do with My association with that particular sound, a little bit like that album that has good memories of the times when it was played. I guess I'm a Tape Head. Best Wishes all : - ) PS do You need special metal tape heads to play metal tape?, AlsoI have a little tape hiss but only on My right channel, swapping the inputs it moves to the left channel. Just wondering if You had any ideas?
Nice! A lot of people are rediscovering the format and when you use a good deck things increase dramatically. Yes, you do need special heads for metal tapes. If the deck does not recognize it or you can't select it it means it is not designed for metal tapes (quite rare actually, only older decks of the 70's lacked that capability). If you have some noise on a channel that moves swapping channels I am afraid you have a bad capacitor or some problems with the connectors
I'm glad you did it. I remember I've mentioned on one of your reviews (that you should try it), but you've said that it was "too expensive". But if money isn't an issue, it still one of the best around :)
Gosh! I love the idea of changing Phono M.C. impedence loading & Cart' gain on the fly, to instantly hear the diff' better than even short term memory can. I have to leave the u-shaped screwed down lid/sides off my Dynavector P75 Mk3 phono-stage & permanently so, just to save very much un/re-screwing time, as I'm always needing to move it's internal channel's 2 (nano sized) Gain switches with a toothpick, And change it's 2 plug-in load resistors to move between my M.C. Stereo cart' (at 0.16'mv output & 100 or 220'Ohm load resistors for best) & my = used other cart, a true-mono.. (i.e. not a "strapped" stereo") High output (1'mv) M.C. Mono Cart' who's spec's state a 440'Ohm load tho half my mono l.p.s sounds better at 1K to 47'K ...i'm sick of associating music with resistor swapping & fiddly switches inside a phono stage. So, since a 3'rd or more of my L.P.s are mono & esp' since i learnt nothing as cheap makes a Mono L.P. sound better, & with a near to silent background & realistic sound, than a true mono (horiz' / lateral only stylus modulation repro, where vertical stylus movement does not produce just a noise bachground unlike a stereo cart & l.p. which rely on a 45'deg range of vertical movement) ...i'm stucks to sub-£1500 (maybe 2k g.b.£) phono upgrades. I'm sure i'd love this phone stage & it's brill' user-features, i can only aspire to own for now.
Where im from there is just no hifi stores anywhere near to me so i always buy stuff just by looking online or eatchjng reviews... every few years whdn i travel to major citys i try to stop into hifi stores but it never works out. Gold note has always interested me.. i think the gear is some of the most beaitiful on the market and has been on my short... this tour was fun thankyou
Thx for this video! I use a PH10 & PSU10 with my Rega Planar 10. Very satisfying, though perhaps a bit overkill considering my listening tastes. I love their half width size. The only features I would like but missing are a comparable quality built in A/D converter (+ software) and a built in headphone amp. I think the headphone amp should be standard, and an A/D converter should be offered as an optional, additional cost upgrade.
I love the manufacturing tour, very fascinating. LEAN method is used in other plants as weel, I visited a Sony professional factory recently and see many similarities. I have one criticism on the marketing dept of Goldnote. You buy a 6000+ phono pre-amp and the only name they come up with is Lite? That really does not give credit to this high end piece of equipment! Great video, keep up the good work!
There is a conspiracy going on here. I just discovered Gold Note and there is a dealer a few blocks from my house. Now this video. I think I have to check them out.
hey, Guido, I thoroughly enjoyed thie video. Big fan of factory tours. Very off topic, however, I just wondered if you had any experience of Zingali speakers, from Italy, of course. I have had a pair for 17 years and love them but they rarely get any publicity.
I remember listening to a pair of big Zingali in the late 90s at Milan’s audio show. Don’t remember the rest of the chain but I experienced the best holographic imaging. Great products.
@@volpedo2000 There is a local dealer in Glasgow, but they are virtually never reviewed. Beautifully made speakers, they excel at acoustic music and jazz. I have just moved on, after nearly 20 years, to Wharfedale Elysian 4 speakers. They are much more versatile and sound great regardless of genre, but my Zingalis kept upgraditis at bay for a long time.
Great video. I'm the proud owner of the PS-10 Plus Streaming DAC and PSU-10 Evo power supply. Wonderful products. Question after watching the factory tour. Where can I get/buy one of those Gold Note sweatshirts? I really want one! 🙂
Ciao Guido ,bel video che vedd come protagonista un marchio di prim'ordine...mi sono permesso il ph 10 perché uso 2 giradischi ed è una bomba uso sia con mc hana ml che mm nagaoka 200.....adesso parlando di alimentazione separata è così drastica??? Cordiali saluti F.
Hi, love your videos! Hope you get better. Just check the audio at 29:22. There is a voice saying "impedance" 😂. A simple editing should make the trick.
Sorry to say that both of them are really nothing yo right home about. A standalone phono preamp really does male a difference. Hey good question though!
All that red on the graphs! Italians, not the most efficient aye 😆 I didn’t realize there were so many different types of vinyl equalization out there either!
At 4:08 does that bloke soldering like the fumes of flux that much. Lol, someone tell him to get stronger glasses or better still a magnifier, its not healthy!
Guido - I have the PH-10 with the matching Gold Note power supply, for these units GN suggests distance and having the power unit to the left as you face the front. Agree you shouldn’t have to do this at this price point, but maybe give it a try. BTW I love the PH-10 - only thing I don’t like is the lack of a dedicated mono setting. I have a dedicated stereo and mono turntables (love mono jazz) Have you ever tried a step up transformer? This is my next move
Hmmm…. I like the design of Goldnote‘s turntables very much but the whole production process of all of their products looks in that video not very professional 🤷
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