Italian Craft – Big Heart
We have been listening closely these past months, and we can tell you, with confidence: Gold Note’s 10 Series gear is truly something special. Born in Italy, built with craftsmanship and passion, these units don’t just look good on the shelf – they make your music come alive.
If you’re looking to step up your HiFi game, you’ll want to hear what their PH‑10, CD‑10, DS‑10, and IS‑10 can do (with a little help from the PSU‑10 external power supply if you want to push their sonic capabilities even further!).
PH‑10 Phono Stage: Vinyl Magic at Your Fingertips
When we put a PH‑10 into our system, one of the first things you notice is how hands‑on it lets you be – without being frustrating. The Single‑Knob Control, plus the colour display allows you to tweak the EQ curve, cartridge loading, and gain while the record plays. No stopping, flipping a phono stage upside down to adjust dip switches for hours. This is audible adjustment in real time.
Do you want to change from RIAA, Decca‑London or American/CBS‑Columbia EQ curves on the fly? Done. Want to experiment with “enhanced” curve options for more sparkle or air? You can.
CD‑10: Why Letting Go of CDs Might Be Hard
We also got our hands on the CD‑10, and were pleasantly surprised. There’s warmth, presence, and an analogue richness to this CD player’s sound that makes playing our favourites (and discovering new ones) a joy. The transport and DAC are high quality (Stream Unlimited mechanism and a AK4493 DAC chip), which means smooth, reliable playback.
We enjoy that on the back you get both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) outputs, making it easier to match whatever amplifier you’re using. And the internal digital volume control means you could even use this as a preamp of sorts if you wanted. If you choose to add the external power supply, expect a bit more finesse, slightly tighter dynamics and a cleaner sound overall.
DS‑10 Digital Streamer: The Swiss Army Knife of Streaming
If your digital library, streaming apps, or headphone time are important to you, the DS‑10 is likely to impress. We’ve plugged this one in, used it as a streamer, as a DAC, and used the headphone amp, and every role it plays, it does with confidence. It supports all the formats we throw at it, incluing high‑res PCM, DSD, network streaming (AirPlay, Roon Ready, etc.).
What really strikes us is how the sound feels dynamic and engaging. Bass is tight, mids are natural, highs sparkle without becoming harsh. The optional external PSU (again…) brings even better noise floor, more micro detail, more air. Strings, percussion, ambience… you begin to hear more of what was always there but masked.
IS‑10 All‑In‑One: Power Without Fuss
We’ve also spent time with the IS‑10, and this unit feels like the “everything plus power” option. If you want less complexity (fewer boxes, fewer interconnects), this is your friend. It’s got streaming, a DAC, amplifier, preamp – all in one. So you plug in, pick your source, and let it rip. When driving speakers, it delivers around 90 watts per channel into 8 ohm (higher into 4 ohm), which is more than enough for most bookshelf and mid‑sized floorstanding speakers. Headphones? It handles them nicely, with enough gain for harder loads, and still retains the resolution. What impressed us is how the IS‑10 marries warmth and punch. It doesn’t feel sterile, but it also doesn’t sacrifice detail.
PSU‑10/PSU-10 EVO: The Performance Multiplier
Now, you will have noticed that we have mentioned PSU‑10 a few times because it really is a game changer. Whether you use it with the PH‑10, DS‑10, CD‑10 or even IS‑10*, we notice cleaner power, which translates to quieter background, better dynamics, a more three‑dimensional soundstage. In our listening sessions, when we added the PSU, the system truly opened up. More breathing room between instruments. More detail in reverb tails, more punch when needed.
Final Thoughts & Invitation
If you’re stepping into Gold Note’s 10 Series, here’s what we tell you:
- You’ll get gear that’s beautifully made, very flexible, and musically satisfying.
- Starting with any one component is fine — each gives a solid upgrade on its own. But pair them (and possibly add PSU‑10), and they work together like good friends: each lifts the others.
- Your system will reward careful matching (speakers, cables, placement), but even “off the shelf” this gear gives an excellent vibe.
If you’re in Melbourne (or can visit), we would love to invite you into our showroom in Carnegie to listen. Bring something you know well – vinyl, CDs, streaming playlist and we will set it up so you can hear what could be with Gold Note. If you have any questions regarding compatibility, which paths make most sense for your system or budget, whether PSU‑10 is worth stretching for — give us a call on 03 9578 8658 or drop us an email at info@soundgallery.com.au. We’ll walk you through it (no HiFi jargon unless you want it).
Note*: PSU-10 / PSU-10 EVO can only be used across certain models. Please contact us for more information!