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Gold Note from Florence - the idea behind the EVO-10 series - shine, sound & style from beautiful Italy.

Picture of Carlo F. L.
Carlo F. L.
Foander & CEO of mySoandbook.eu

Gold Note EVO 10 in gold - the compact high-end chain from Florence
Meta description: With the new Gold Note EVO 10 series in gold - DS-10 EVO streamer/DAC, HP-10 headphone amplifier, PH-10 phono stage, and CD-10 CD player - the Florentine luxury workshop builds a complete, modular high-end chain. We summarize technology and international reviews.

Gold Note is not located in some industrial area, but in the Tuscan hills near Florence. The brand has grown with turntables, cartridges, and phono stages - deeply rooted in the analog world - and consistently transfers this 'Italian Sound' ideal to digital sources and amplifiers.

The 10 series is the compact, modular building block of the brand: only 20 cm wide, full metal housing made of aluminum, distinctive ventilation slots, and the round gold logo that resembles a Florentine coat of arms.Gold Note +1

With the current EVO generation and the new devices DS-10 EVO, HP-10, PH-10 and CD-10 – all in a luxurious gold finish available – allows you to build a complete chain:

  • streamer/DAC/preamp & headphone amplifier: DS-10 EVO
  • Pure headphone amplifier / preamp: HP-10
  • Phono stage: PH-10
  • CD player & DAC: CD-10
  • plus optional: PSU-10 EVO Power supply as an upgrade for DS-10 EVO, HP-10, and CD-10 as well as the power amplifier PA-10 EVO.

Especially in Gold the whole thing works like a modern design mini system for people who don't accept compromises in aesthetics or sound.

Design & concept: the Gold Note EVO-10 line in gold

All components of the 10 series share the same format:
200 mm width, 80 mm height, 260 mm depth, CNC housing made of aluminum, with brushed, anodized surface in black, silver, or gold.Gold Note +1

Important design points:

  • gold finish: anodized aluminum in a warm champagne gold tone – clearly more elegant than 'bling', more of a studio tool with a jewelry factor.Gold Note
  • Uniform front layout: large TFT display (DS-10 EVO, HP-10, CD-10), single knob control concept and clearly structured fronts without button overkill.Gold Note+2Gold Note+2
  • Modular & stackable: All devices can be neatly stacked, the optional power supply PSU-10 EVO fits perfectly into the stack.Gold Note +1

This is how Gold Note consciously addresses listeners who no longer want 43 cm towers in the living room but still seek true high-end.

DS-10 EVO – centerpiece as streaming DAC, preamp & headphone amplifier

The DS-10 EVO is the actual nerve center of the EVO-10 chain: Streaming DAC, preamp, and headphone amplifier in a half-rack format.

Technology & equipment

  • DAC chip: AKM AK4493 with up to PCM 32/384andDSD512 via USB.Gold Note +1
  • Streaming: Roon Ready, AirPlay 2.0, Spotify Connect, vTuner, Deezer, MQA, Tidal & Tidal Connect, Qobuz & Qobuz Connect – controlled via the GN Control App (iOS/Android).Gold Note
  • Network: LAN & dual-band Wi-Fi, plus high-definition Bluetooth 5.0.Gold Note
  • Digital inputs: USB-B, USB-A (up to DSD256), Coax, AES/EBU, 2× Toslink.Gold Note
  • Analog section:
    • Switchable Preamp (volume on/off), XLR & RCA outputs.
    • Front-mounted Headphone output (6.3 mm) with double gain/impedance adjustment.Gold Note +1
  • Special Function: 24 adjustable DAC profiles from De-Emphasis, digital filters, and DSD filters – switchable directly on the device (‘What You Hear Is What You Get’).Gold Note +1

With this, the DS-10 EVO can also:

  • as complete streaming preamplifier directly control a power amplifier (e.g., PA-10 EVO) or active speakers,
  • as pure DAC run when you prefer an external preamplifier,
  • as high-quality headphone amplifier serve.

DS-10 EVO in the international test mirror

The DS-10 (or DS-10 EVO) has already been tested by a long list of magazines:

  • HiFi+ praises the musical, rhythmic play that is precise but never sterile – with ‘spot-on’ tonal balance.hi-fi+
  • Darko.Audio describes the DS-10 as ‘open, detailed, light and airy’ with tight bass and a big stage – ideal for rock music as well.Darko.Audio
  • Ljudochbild (Scandinavia) highlights the dynamic, open play and versatility as a DAC and streamer.
  • SoundNews attests that the DS-10 PLUS with PSU-10 EVO has a natural, slightly ‘mid-forward’ tuned sound that offers long-term listening pleasure.Soundnews.net+1
  • Jeff’s Place / Positive Feedback reports that the combination DS-10 EVO + PSU-10 EVO opens a ‘new world of music listening’, especially with high-resolution DSD streams.Jeff’s Place
  • Fairaudio emphasizes with the DS-10 Evo Line the possibility to finely adjust the sound via filters and De-Emphasis to personal taste.Fairaudio+1

Sound character (summarized):

  • very neutral but not sterile tuning
  • large, clearly defined stage
  • tight, controlled bass
  • vivid dynamics that present rock/electronic as compellingly as acoustic music

For many mySoundbook readers, the DS-10 EVO in gold is likely an ideal entry into the world of high-quality streaming setups.

HP-10 – Dual-Mono Class-A headphone amplifier & preamplifier

The HP-10 is Gold Note's new headphone hub in the 10 series – a Dual-Mono Class-A amplifier with a completely symmetrical design.Gold Note

equipment

  • Four headphone outputs: 6.3 mm & 3.5 mm unbalanced, 4.4 mm Pentaconn & 4-pin XLR balanced.Gold Note
  • Analog inputs: XLR & RCA.
  • Output section with fixed or variable outputs – so the HP-10 can also be used as a preamplifier use.highfidelity.pl
  • Variants: HP-10 (analog), HP-10 BT with ESS-DAC & Bluetooth, HP-10 Deluxe with AK4493-DAC & USB-C – all optionally upgradable with PSU-10 EVO.

Sound & Tests

  • HiFi+ describes the HP-10 Deluxe as an extraordinarily flexible amp with immense control and power – and emphasizes that the optional PSU-10 EVO further opens and refines the sound.hi-fi++1
  • AreaDVD emphasizes in the test of HP-10 Deluxe + PSU-10 EVO the higher contour and attack dynamics (e.g. piano) with external power supply – without losing the basic character of the amp.AREA DVD

Typical for the HP-10 is:

  • extreme low background noise,
  • a lot power and headroom also for demanding planar magnetics,
  • a rather colored, full-bodied midrange, which makes voices and acoustic instruments appear three-dimensional.

In the Gold stack, the HP-10 fits perfectly next to the DS-10 EVO and CD-10 visually and easily turns mySoundbook listeners into passionate headphone users.

PH-10 – the flexible phono stage with a large EQ toolbox

Even though the PH-10 has been in the program for a while, it fits perfectly into the EVO-10 chain: the same case size, identical design, and in gold a true analog icon.

technical concept

  • switchable EQ curves: RIAA, Decca-London, American Columbia – ideal for collectors of old records that were not always cut to RIAA standards.LB Tech Reviews + 2 hi-fi + 2
  • Gain & Last front adjustable – no fiddling at the back.The Audiophile Man
  • Optional external power supply PSU-10 (not EVO) with four transformers and dual choke filter to effectively suppress noise from the grid.6moons

Test summary

  • ToneAudio talks about a perfect balance of tonality, dynamics, and resolution – at a relatively moderate price.ToneAudio MAGAZINE
  • The Audiophile Man praises the PH-10 as an excellently sounding phono stage with 'real added value' in features.The Audiophile Man
  • TechReViews calls it one of the most flexible and best-sounding RIAA stages, that they have tested – easy to use and upgradable in the long run.LB Tech ReViews
  • The Absolute Soand highlights the detail resolution in the bass and the precise imaging.theabsolutesoand.com

Anyone who owns a Gold Note turntable (or generally a high-quality drive) finds the PH-10 the right analog interface to the rest of the EVO-10 electronics.

CD-10 – modern CD player and DAC in the 10 series format

With the CD-10 Gold Note fills the gap for everyone who doesn't want to give up their CD collection.

Features

  • High-precision CD mechanism from Stream Unlimited (Austria), specially developed for high-end applications.Gold Note
  • DAC section again with AKM AK4493, frequency response 20 Hz–20 kHz, THD 0.001%, SNR 128 dB.Gold Note +1
  • Gapless Playback, Red Book CD, CD-R and CD-RW.Gold Note
  • Digital inputs and outputs (Coax & Toslink): The CD-10 works also as an external DAC.Gold Note
  • Analog outputs: XLR and RCA.
  • Control via touchscreen, rotary knob, and remote control.Gold Note
  • Optional upgradeable with PSU-10 EVO for even lower noise levels and more detail resolution.Future Shop Ltd. +1

Sound & classification

Press releases and initial reviews describe the CD-10 as:

  • extreme calm, stable stage,
  • fine micro-dynamics and very good depiction of quiet details,
  • organic, non-analytical play style with typical 'Italian Sound'.

Especially in gold, the CD-10 visually fits perfectly with the DS-10 EVO - together they form an elegant digital hub for streaming and silver discs.

PSU-10 EVO & PA-10 EVO - the logical extension

Even if you haven't explicitly mentioned them, two components complete the EVO-10 experience:

  • PSU-10 EVO: Quad power supply with extremely low-noise regulators, >80 dB mains hum suppression, and special dual-choke filtering. Designed to audibly enhance DS-10 EVO, DS-10 EVO Line, HP-10, and CD-10.
  • PA-10 EVO: compact power amplifier with 2×140 W at 8 Ω (stereo) or 250 W at 8 Ω (mono), optionally high or low damping factor - visually and technically perfectly matched to DS-10 EVO.Gold Note +1

Especially in the context of mySoundbook, it makes sense to consider these components: A complete gold chain of DS-10 EVO, HP-10, PH-10, CD-10, PSU-10 EVO, and PA-10 EVO covers streamer, CD, vinyl, headphones, and speakers in a uniform look.

Conclusion: EVO 10 in gold - compact luxury chain for streaming, CD & vinyl

With the EVO-10 series in gold Gold Note delivers exactly what many discerning listeners are looking for:

  • compact dimensions, living room suitable design
  • continuous metal processing 'Made in Italy'
  • consistent modular architecture with upgrade options (PSU-10 EVO, PA-10 EVO)
  • a sound signature that international magazines describe as neutral, detailed, dynamic, but always musical. describe.hi-fi++2LB Tech ReViews+2

For your platform mySoandbook you can position the new Gold Note EVO 10 gold line very well as:

  • complete, 'real' high-end toolkit position,
  • ideal for listeners who want to upgrade from mid-class without cluttering the room with 19-inch behemoths,
  • and as an example of how streaming, CD, and vinyl will come together sonically on equal footing by 2025.

Gold Note DS-10 EVO - streaming DAC / preamplifier / headphone amplifier

Device type

  • Network Streamer, D/A Converter, Line Preamp (switchable), Headphone AmplifierGold Note +1

DAC & Resolution

  • DAC chip: AKM AK4493
  • PCM: up to 32 Bit / 384 kHz (partially up to 768 kHz depending on source)
  • DSD: up to DSD256 (Streaming) and DSD512 over USB

Streaming & Network

  • Streaming Services: Roon Ready, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Tidal & Tidal Connect, Qobuz, Deezer, vTuner, MQA Support
  • Network: LAN (RJ45), WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Dualband
  • Bluetooth: High-Definition Bluetooth 5.0 (44.1 kHz/16 Bit)
  • Supported File Formats (Network): including WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, MP3, OGG, DSF, DFF (DSD)

Inputs & Outputs

Measurements

  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.1 dB)
  • THD: 0.001 % max.
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 125 dB
  • Dynamic Range: 120 dB
  • Output impedance: 50 Ω

Dimensions & Weight

  • 200 × 80 × 260 mm (W × H × D)
  • Weight: 4 kg net (5 kg packaged)

Gold Note HP-10 – Class-A Dual-Mono Headphone Amplifier & Preamp

(Data primarily for HP-10 / HP-10 Deluxe, the amplifier section is identical across all variants.)Gold Note+2hi-fi++2

Device Type & Variants

  • Class-A Dual-Mono Headphone Amplifier with Preamp Function
  • Variants: HP-10 (analog), HP-10 BT (with Bluetooth/DAC), HP-10 Deluxe (with AKM-DAC)Gold Note+2highfidelity.pl+2

Power & Measurements

  • Output Power: up to 10 W per channel (at 32 Ω, Deluxe version)
  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.3 dB)Gold Note +1
  • THD+N: < 0.015% @ 1 kHz
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 110 dBGold Note +1

Connections

  • Analog Inputs:
    • 1× RCA (unbalanced, up to 5 Vrms)
    • 1× XLR (balanced, up to 8 Vrms)
  • Headphone Outputs (Front):
    • 1× 6.3 mm jack
    • 1× 3.5 mm jack
    • 1× 4.4 mm Pentaconn (balanced)
    • 1× 4-pin XLR (balanced)
  • Preamp outputs: variable line-out (RCA/XLR, depending on version)

Special features

  • 4-stage crossfeed (L/R mix)
  • Selectable sound curves: Harman curve, super flat
  • Adjustable damping factor (high/low)
  • Phase inversion 0°/180°
  • Touchscreen display & IR remote controlGold Note+2hifi12a.de+2
  • HP-10 Deluxe: integrated DAC (AKM AK4493) & Bluetooth 5.1 aptX HDGold Note +1

Dimensions & Weight

  • 200 × 80 × 260 mm (W × H × D)
  • Weight: approx. 3.5 kg
  • Colors: black, silver, gold (anodized aluminum, brushed)

Gold Note PH-10 – phono preamp (MM/MC)

Device type

  • Fully analog phono preamp for MM and MC systems with TFT color display and single-knob control (SKC)Gold Note+2hi-fi++2

Inputs & system compatibility

  • 2× independent stereo RCA phono inputs (two turntables or tonearms can be connected in parallel)
  • MM/MC switching per input
  • Input sensitivity: approx. 0.1 mV (MC) to 7 mV (MM)

Load & gain

  • 9 selectable load values: 10 Ω, 22 Ω, 47 Ω, 100 Ω, 220 Ω, 470 Ω, 1 kΩ, 22 kΩ, 47 kΩ
  • Gain: 45 dB (MM), 65 dB (MC) plus 4 levels (–3/0/+3/+6 dB)

EQ curves

  • EQ: RIAA, Decca-London, American-Columbia
  • Each with 'Enhanced' variant – a total of 6 curves, switchable on the front panel

Outputs & filters

  • Line-out:
    • 1× RCA (2 V)
    • 1× XLR (4 V)
  • Output impedance: 50 Ω
  • Subsonic filter: 10 Hz, 6th order (36 dB/octave)

Measurements

  • Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (extended up to approx. 50 kHz), ±0.3 dB
  • Dynamic range: approx. 105 dB
  • S/N (external): approx. –89 dB
  • Distortion: < 0.05 %

Dimensions & Weight

  • 200 × 80 × 260 mm (W × H × D)
  • Weight: approx. 4 kg
  • Colors: black, silver, gold

Optional power supply

  • External PSU-10 (not EVO), dual choke design with 4 transformers, for sonic enhancement of the PH-10

Gold Note CD-10 – CD player & DAC (EVO-10 series)

Device type

  • High-quality CD player with integrated D/A converter, designed for compact high-end systemsGold Note +1

Digital technology

  • DAC chip: AKM AK4493
  • Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz @ ±0.3 dB
  • THD: 0.001 % max.
  • Signal-to-noise ratio: 128 dB
  • Dynamic range: 127 dB

Drive & Formats

Inputs & Outputs

  • Digital Inputs:
    • 1× coaxial S/PDIF (24 Bit/192 kHz)
    • 1× optical Toslink (24 Bit/192 kHz)
  • Analog outputs:
    • 1× RCA Stereo (2 Vrms)
    • 1× XLR Stereo (2 Vrms)
  • Digital outputs:
    • 1× coaxial S/PDIF (24 Bit/192 kHz)
    • 1× optical Toslink (24 Bit/192 kHz)
  • Output impedance: 100 Ω

Operation & Power Supply

  • Digital volume control, switchable (Fixed/Variable)
  • Control via touchscreen, rotary knob, and multifunction remote control
  • Power consumption: approx. 30 W
  • Mains voltage: 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz, fuse 2 A T

Dimensions & Weight

  • 200 × 80 × 260 mm (W × H × D)
  • Weight: 4 kg net (5 kg packaged)
  • Price depending on version approx. 1900,- to 2000 Euros in champagne

For more info, please inquire with the Germany distribution: https://besserdistribution.com/Product/goldnote/ds-10-evo-dac/

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