Gold Note PH-10 black

The Gold Note PH-10 is an innovative phono stage that is redefining expectations for audio performance. Designed and manufactured by Gold Note, a company based near Florence, Italy, this product is renowned for its sleek design, ease of use, and outstanding features.

At first glance, the Gold Note PH-10 attracts attention with its bold, modern design. Striking a balance between Italian elegance and technological ruggedness, the PH-10 is a half-width component, making it easy to place in any space. Available in three colors—silver, gold, and black—its enclosure is made from a single piece of aluminum, providing a rigid structure that dampens vibrations for the PCB inside. The stylish diagonal vents adorning the top, sides, and bottom of the PH-10 give it the look of an Italian sports car, while the Gold Note logo is stamped on the top and repeated on a small gold medallion on the front panel of each component.

One of the PH-10’s most notable features is its innovative control system and 2.8-inch color TFT display. All phono stage functions—such as cartridge type (moving magnet or moving coil), equalization, gain, and loading—can be set quickly and easily via its single-knob control (SKC) and color display. EQ selection can be performed on the fly while the music is playing, allowing for record-specific adjustments. The PH-10 offers three different equalization curves: RIAA, America-CBS-Columbia, and Decca-London. In addition, each can be configured in “enhanced” mode, providing a slight lift at the top end of the EQ response. Moreover, the PH-10 offers nine loading settings (10, 22, 47, 100, 220, 470, 1000, 22k, and 47k ohms), which can be selected on the fly to enable optimal matching with a wide variety of cartridges quickly and easily.

The rear panel of the PH-10 features a power switch and a full complement of inputs: an IEC power inlet, two sets of unbalanced RCA inputs with dedicated ground posts, a socket for the PSU-10 power umbilical, a mini-USB firmware port, and what is likely a service or test port. Outputs include a set of balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA.

In terms of setup, the PH-10 is extremely easy to install. The half-width chassis fits easily on a shelf or on top of a rack or cabinet. If you use the optional external PSU-10 power supply, Gold Note recommends placing the PSU-10 to the left of the PH-10 to facilitate connection of the DC power umbilical and minimize noise between the two components. Once you’ve turned on the main power switch on the back, the PH-10 goes into standby mode until the control knob is pressed. If you hold this knob down for three seconds, the PH-10 switches to active mode and powers up the control display. Once the display is visible, the control knob is used to make selections for input (Phono 1 or Phono 2), cartridge type, EQ curve, gain, input and loading, etc.

• Intuitive Control and Sophisticated Display: The Gold Note PH-10 features a 2.8-inch color TFT display and a single-knob control system (SKC). This makes the unit easy to use while allowing precise, real-time adjustments.
• Equalization Customization: The PH-10 offers three different EQ curves (RIAA, America-CBS-Columbia, and Decca-London), as well as an “enhanced” mode. This lets you tailor the sonic response for each record, delivering a personalized listening experience.
• Elegant and Robust Design: The PH-10’s aluminum chassis and stylish diagonal vents deliver an attractive aesthetic and protection against vibrations, contributing to the unit’s sound quality.
• Impedance and Gain Settings: The PH-10 provides nine loading options and four different gain settings. This allows optimization for a wide range of cartridges, ensuring peak performance.
• Ease of Installation: Thanks to its compact design and straightforward setup, the PH-10 can be integrated into a variety of systems without hassle. It also offers easy firmware updates via a mini-USB port, ensuring the unit stays current with the latest improvements and features.

Technical Specifications

Main Features

• MM (moving magnet) and MC (moving coil) phono preamplifier
• 3 equalization curves (RIAA, Decca London, American Columbia)

Audio Performance

• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Subsonic filter: 10 Hz / 36 dB per octave
• Total harmonic distortion: < 0.05% at 1 kHz
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 89 dB
• Dynamic range: 105 dB

Inputs / Outputs

• Input sensitivity: 0.1 mV MC to 10.0 mV MM
• Input impedance: 9 options [10 Ω, 22 Ω, 47 Ω, 100 Ω, 220 Ω, 470 Ω, 1,000 Ω, 22 kΩ, 47 kΩ]
• Gain: 45 dB MM to 65 dB MC with 4 options [0 dB, ±3 dB, +6 dB]
• MM capacitance: 220 pF

Connectivity

• Analog inputs: 2 independent stereo RCA pairs MM / MC
• Audio outputs:
  • 1 unbalanced RCA pair
  • 1 balanced XLR pair

Physical Characteristics

• Dimensions (W × H × D): 200 × 80 × 260 mm
• Weight: 3 kg

Power Supply

• Super linear power supply 10 W
• Standby consumption: < 0.5 W
• Fuse: 0.5 A slow-blow