Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Designed for audiophiles who seek an exceptional listening experience
- Offers studio features, like Harman Curves to optimize the EQ and cross-feed settings to recreate a natural 3D soundstage
- The Gold Note HP-10 made Beyerdynamic DT1770 Pro MKII rise to the next level
Product Considerations
- The product is not for the faint of heart
Takeaway: If one takes listening through headphones seriously, the Gold Note HP-10 Deluxe could be worth buying. It will offer more detail, engagement and emotion—connecting one with the soul of music.
All
HP-10
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz ± 0.3dB
- THD + N: 0.015% @ 1kHz
- SNR: 110dB
- Headphone Power Output: 10W Max
- Power Consumption: Max 25W
- Dimensions: 200mm W | 80mm H | 260mm D
- Weight: 3.5 kg net (4.5 kg boxed)
- Fuse: 3.15 AMP T
- Power Supply: 100-240V, 50/60Hz
The audio path is designed entirely in the analogue domain and through high-quality discrete components. All settings applied in real-time in the analog domain. Combining top-notch audio quality, versatile connectivity, and unique features, the HP-10 is an outstanding amplifier at an unbeatable price.
The HP-10 features a touchscreen display with an intuitive interface that allows for quick adjustments and a super easy user experience. Ideal for all high-end systems, the HP-10 offers incredible options such as 4 Crossfeed modes for a natural 3D soundstage, Harman curve equalisation, variable gain and damping factor, along with a 0/180° phase switch.
The unit is available in three different models – with the additional digital inputs such as the Bluetooth 5.1 HD aptX (HP-10 BT) and a premium DAC with USB-C input (HP-10 Deluxe) to become a fully standalone unit.
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Gold Note distinguishes itself through its holistic "systems thinking" approach, meticulously designing each component to synergistically function within a complete Gold Note audio ecosystem.
- The brand's unique design philosophy, inspired by the Italian Renaissance and the Catenary Curve concept, combines aesthetic beauty with functional vibration control and structural integrity.
- Gold Note's phono stages, such as the PH-5 and PH-1000, offer exceptional cartridge matching capabilities, boasting a wide range of gain, impedance loading, and EQ curve options accessible via an intuitive touchscreen interface.
- They offer upgrades that are usually power supplies or tube output stages, often providing a running change in production.
Select products
T-5
- Positioning: The entry-level turntable in Gold Note's lineup.
- Description: Features a compact and practical design with a 15mm ultra-clear glass platter that minimizes noise and enhances detail extraction. Unlike more advanced models like the Valore 425 Plus, uses a manual speed change system, making it ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize simplicity and portability in smaller spaces.
Valore 425 Plus
- Positioning: A mid-range model offering a balance of performance and affordability.
- Description: Features a 23mm POM platter and a high-torque synchronous motor for stable rotation. Compared to the Giglio, offers a more compact form factor.
Giglio
- Positioning: A high-end turntable with a focus on traditional craftsmanship and modern technology.
- Description: Stands out with its catenary curve-inspired plinth and high-density POM platter, providing exceptional structural rigidity and sound precision. It offers more advanced motor control and vibration reduction compared to the Valore 425 Plus.
Bellagio Conquest
- Positioning: The flagship model, representing the pinnacle of Gold Note's turntable technology.
- Description: With its massive structure and unique thirteen-plinth design, delivers groundbreaking stability and vibration control. It features the longest spindle ever made for a turntable, setting it apart from the Mediterraneo X with its focus on ultimate audio performance and structural innovation.
Our take on the brand
Look inside the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
The design of our turntables in the mid and high range relies on a very unique geometry that’s mathematically defined as the catenary curve, a shape that is found across nature (from spider webs to rope statistics) and firstly described by Galileo Galilei in the 17th century. The curve was first leveraged to design load-bearing structures such as arches and bridges since it offers the best rigidity/mass ratio. For turntables, it's an optimal as it provides really high rigidity with minimal mass giving the turntable great stability and resilience while minimising the amount of mass that could store potential energy (such as vibration). As a side effect, it creates a beautiful shape that elevates the design — this is a very Italian approach, developing creative solutions that serve boh performance and aesthetics.
Another key feature is the electric control of the motor leveraging a built-in power conditioning stage with a triple AC-DC-AC conversion to feed the motor with ultra-clean current, which is crucial as our turntables feature synchronous motors (calibrated on the AC).
Lastly, the design of the bearing/spindle is developed to achieve the strictest of tolerance with higher quality materials, and you won’t find similar designs on any turntables in the same price range since it’s extremely expensive to manufacture — it’s a core feature of our turntables that enables superior sound quality even though it’s completely hidden from the eye.
What's your approach to customer support?
We have a dedicated inbox for customer support [email protected] that is monitored 24/7 and a response time of around 24h. Customer should always contact Gold Note directly, our customer support will then manage their enquiry appropriately and put them in touch with the relevant contacts (such as our local distributor) if needed.
We used to rely primarily on our local partners in the past to provide quick support, however we have recently moved to a more centralised approach since we wish to establish a direct contact with our customers and ensure they get all the information directly from the source.
Today we can in fact guarantee fast response time and - since we are the manufacturer - more precise information to determine whether the product needs a simple firmware update, a hardware fix or a replacement.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
Since we manufacture all sorts of sources — from turntable to streamers — we usually to suggest a mix of genres and it’s really hard to narrow it down to just three tracks:
For classical, we love "Dance of the Tumblers" from the Snow Maiden by the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Eiji Oue (Reference Recordings,1998).
For electronic, our go to is "The Expert" by Yello (Polydor, 2021).
For jazz and vocals, it’s hard to pick between Cassandra Wilson’s "Strange Fruit" (Blue Note, 1995) and "Blues in My Heart” by Fiona Boyes (Reference Recordings, 2020).
What other products pair best with yours?
As a system manufacturer, we design our products to be part of a Gold Note system and therefore that’s the highest degree of synergy you can reach. The idea of designing full systems is generally frowned upon as the main objection inevitably is: if you design all sorts of products, how can you beat a specialist that only makes amplifiers?
The answer is somewhat counterintuitive and I believe it’s not fully understood by the public yet so I’ll briefly summarise it here — engineering audio systems is fundamentally to design ways to manage signals, whether digital or analogue. The knowledge compounds by researching all areas of signal transmission and amplification, and can then be used to improve on designing electronics, loudspeakers or tonearms.
For example: researching and designing a cable leads to gaining insights that can then be deployed when designing PCBs; R&D on phono stages where dealing with low voltage signals and ultra-low noise components will inform the design of amplifiers. This positive loop goes on affecting all areas and increasing the knowhow of the team, leading to better products.
Used
Gold Note
What if you spend more?
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Product Strengths
- Offers a comprehensive and flexible specification, functioning as a headphone amplifier and streaming preamp
- Produces superb sound quality, described as clear, pure, detailed, dynamic, and musical, without being overly analytical, regardless of genre or recording quality
- Features a well-made, elegant, and attractive design with a beautiful screen for album art and a satisfying volume control
- Supports a comprehensive range of streaming services and digital formats including AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz, Bluetooth, UPnP, and Internet Radio, and is Roon Ready
- Intuitive and stable app, especially for those who know what they want to listen to
Product Considerations
- The price is high relative to other headphone amplifiers/DACs on the market
- The front display is not a touchscreen
- Some might prefer a more analytical sound presentation
- The HDMI ARC connection is absent
- The Naim app lacks polish compared to dedicated music apps
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Cambridge Audio Evo 150 and NAD M10—the Uniti Atom Headphone Edition is specifically focused on headphone use
- As a headphone amp, it is every bit as good as the Chord Hugo TT2
- Naim puts less of itself into the performance as opposed to McIntosh MHA200
Takeaway: The Uniti Atom Headphone Edition is a great self-contained system for headphone listening, with an easy-to-use interface and a beautiful design. It is a quality product that can be a centerpiece for your home audio.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Ultimate achievement in OTL technology. Perfect match with dynamic headphones and most planars. Features XLR and RCA headphone outputs with smooth, neutral and dynamic sound thanks to UPOCC wiring, premium components, and point to point design.
Product Strengths
- Delivers a smooth, embracing, and euphonic tone, making it enjoyable to listen to for extended periods without fatigue
- Offers excellent detail and ambiance reproduction, resulting in a sublime and neutral sound that pairs beautifully with high-impedance headphones
- Provides a wide and airy sound with neutral tuning, combined with a rich and smooth texture
- The midrange is powerful, vivid, and lively, offering a unique and analog timbre for engaging listening experiences
- Produces a wide, three-dimensional soundstage and lifelike, holographic imaging for an immersive listening experience
Product Considerations
- Lacks power for driving very demanding headphones
- Generates a considerable amount of heat, requiring placement in a well-ventilated area
- Has some coloration in the low-end, which may not appeal to all listeners
- The on/off switch is located on the back panel, which might be inconvenient in some setups
- May not be 'tubey' enough for some users seeking stronger tube coloration
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Feliks Audio Envy: It 'hits' differently and is a more budget-friendly option for high-impedance headphone owners
- Vs SMSL SH-X: Both amps generate a lot of heat, but it offers more realistic staging and imaging
- Vs HIFIMAN Prelude: It offers a neutral, dynamic, and colorful sound, while Prelude is smooth, lush, warm, and bassy
- Vs Violectric HPA V340: It provides tube richness, a wider soundstage, and better instrument separation compared to the brighter and harder sound of HPA V340
- Vs Feliks Audio Euforia (original): The Evo delivers more color, contrast, dynamic range, and resolution with better control and lower distortion, especially with hard-to-drive headphones
Takeaway: The Euforia Evo is a tube amplifier that gives music a smooth, rich, and detailed sound. It is great for those who want to experience high-quality audio and enjoy listening to their headphones.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Versatile amplifier that breathes life into a wide range of headphones
- The purity of the sound creates a very natural tonality and a very organic experience in general
- Incredible depth, note separation, and holography, with a soundstage that envelops the listener
- Connectivity options...
Product Considerations
- It runs hot and needs space to breathe, as it is a class A amplifier
- Its hefty size (10kg) might be too much for a small desk
- Hifiman Susvara users might want to look for another amplifier
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Pass Labs HPA-1 has an unmistakably organic feel, while Bliss leans more towards a very clean and pure neutral presentation
- Holo Bliss brought a new level of energy and control to the music, while refining the details and presenting them in a purer, more organic way
- Compared to Felix Audio Euphoria Anniversary Edition, a little of that black background is lost, and more of a sunset feel is gained, with more of a lush midrange akin to the characteristics of the Tube
Takeaway: The Holo Audio Bliss is a versatile and powerful amplifier that delivers an exceptional listening experience, with a focus on purity, holography, and natural tonality, making music vibrant and captivating. With its top-notch build quality, it's designed to be the heart of any high-end audio setup.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The Yamaha HA-L7A is a headphone amplifier that brings your favorite content to life by combining premium hi-fi audio technologies with advancements in AV receiver sound field technology. Yamaha's exclusive floating and balanced power amplifier technology, optimized for the headphone listening experience Superior sound quality thanks to the ES9038PRO from ESS Technology 2 toroidal transformers for remarkably spatial sound SOUNDFIELD mode for an even more intense experience with all content Pure Direct mode for unrestricted enjoyment of the subtle nuances in music Elegant design yet extremely low-vibration construction 5 solid metal feet for exceptional stability, decoupling and suppression of any vibration OLED display with excellent readability
Product Strengths
- Unique design, with transformers isolated to prevent power supply interference, while maintaining a desktop-friendly size
- Aims to provide a balanced and natural sound with a wide dynamic range, particularly evident in Pure Direct mode
- Measures excellently, with a very low noise floor, excellent crosstalk, and wide dynamic range, making it very precise and rich in detail
- Can also function as a DAC/preamp with analog inputs and pre-outs, allowing the user to assemble a high-end head-fi system with one device
- Offers great connectivity options, including balanced (4.4mm and XLR) and unbalanced (6.3mm) headphone jacks, as well as a comprehensive selection of rear inputs like analog, digital, coaxial, and USB
Product Considerations
- The design may not appeal to everyone, described as more 'functional' than flashy
- High-sensitivity IEMs may have audible noise
- There is no balanced input
- There is clumsy placement of buttons for variable/fixed line output
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The unit's sound field technology is compared to that used in Yamaha's AV receivers
Takeaway: The HA-L7A is a uniquely designed headphone amplifier packed with features and connectivity that can deliver high-quality audio. If you want to drive power-hungry headphones and desire Yamaha's sound signature, the HA-L7A could be a good choice.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers a vividly detailed and balanced sound, handling complicated mixes with skill
- Able to extract a lot of information from digital audio files with apparent ease
- A volume lock prevents accidental volume adjustments when the device is in a pocket or bag
- Extensive specification including Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless compatibility and multiple inputs/outputs for versatile connectivity
Product Considerations
- Some reviewers feel the device is not very pocket-friendly due to its size and sharp edges, making it better suited as a transportable—rather than a truly portable—device
- The gain is set too high, making precise volume control difficult, especially with sensitive IEMs
- Using IEMatch adds output impedance, which can negatively affect the tonal balance and dynamics of some IEMs
- The length of the included USB-C cable is short, making it difficult to position the device on a desk
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the iDSD Diablo 1, the Diablo 2 offers slight sonic improvements and better build quality, but at a higher price
- Compared to the iDSD Signature, the iDSD Signature is considered by some to offer a better result for less money, with a more realistic instrument and vocal timbre, larger soundstage, and customizable features like crossfeed and bass boost
- Compared to the FiiO Q7, the iDSD Diablo 2 has a vivid sound, where the FiiO Q7 has a smooth and wide sound
Takeaway: The iDSD Diablo 2 is a powerful and versatile DAC/amp that enhances headphone listening with its detailed sound and extensive features. It is a good choice for users who want a high-quality audio experience on the go or at their desk.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Compact size compared to competitors, allowing for easy integration into desktop setups
- The OOR outputs 8 watts of power at 60 ohms and 1.6 watts at 300 ohms, making it one of the most powerful headphone amplifiers ever made
- Low gain setting is silent with sensitive IEMs
- Employs a fully discrete class AB amplifier; there are no op-amps used
Product Considerations
- Simultaneous use of the balanced and single-ended preamp outputs with the main headphone output is an inconvenience
- The unit gets quite warm after a few hours of use—recommending a well-ventilated area
- Powering on the unit requires going from balanced to single-ended
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Benchmark HPA4, OOR felt considerably more alive, fleshed out, and natural sounding
- Vs Flux Volot, the reviewers felt that the OOR was more visceral sounding
- Compared to Fluxlab Acoustics, the OOR is a warmer and more soul-infusing amplifier and it never wants to be linear or flat
- Vs Flux Lab Acoustics Volod, it was easily bigger sounding, easily more impressive sounding, just more layered
Takeaway: The Ferrum OOR is a powerful amplifier in a small package, and it is built with great attention to detail. It has an engaging sound with a touch of warmth.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Wonderfully enjoyable and transparent sound, described as smooth, resolving, and engaging, enhancing music without coloration
- Open design makes it easy to swap out the tubes
- It opens the soundstage in depth and width, increasing the ability to hear the placement of instruments, and micro details and spatial cues become more accessible
- Versatile, the Velo works well with different headphones (low/high impedance, dynamic/planar)
Product Considerations
- Not particularly powerful, the Velo might require more volume dial rotation compared to other amps to reach desired listening levels
- Bass might sound a little too rounded and lacking texture compared to some setups
- Lacks balanced XLR features
- The included switching power supply is not at the same performance level as the upgraded linear power supply
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Linear Tube Audio MZ3: The MZ3 is more resolving and detailed, while the Velo is richer and smoother, the MZ3 is more technically engaging, but the Velo is more emotionally engaging
- Vs Burson Soloist 3X-GT: The Soloist 3X-GT has more power and greater resolution/clarity with a balanced cable, but the Velo is more intimate and relaxing
- Vs Oliver Sayes Type 26 DHT preamplifier: The Velo strikes a nice middle ground between the overly 'emotional' tube stage and the 'straight' sounding TVC mode
- Vs Eddie Current Zana Deux SE OTL: Unlike the Zana Deux, it doesn't go too far in warmth to the point of sounding mushy
Takeaway: The Velo is a versatile tube amplifier that provides a wonderful and enjoyable listening experience by being transparent and smooth. It's designed for music lovers who value emotional engagement with their music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Compact form factor with a massive choice of connections and functions, including 4 headphone outputs: 4-pin XLR balanced, 4.4mm balanced jack, 6.35mm, and 3.5mm
- Very clean, neutral sound with a lot of dynamics, slam, and punch
- Plenty of power to drive any pair of headphones with ease
- Very detailed and resolving sound, exacting and precise about its reproduction, revealing of the DAC plugged into it
- Well-designed and built with durable feel
Product Considerations
- The input selector does not remember the previous setting
- Higher noise floor compared to competitors, making it less suitable for extremely sensitive headphones and most IEMs
- The pre-out and the headphone out work at the same time, so be careful
- The LED, even though it's only white, is not super bright, but its brightness cannot be changed
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Mytek Liberty THX is more exacting, detailed, resolving, and more neutral than HeadAmp GSX Mini, and the GSX Mini rounds things a little bit more and has a slightly bit more of warmth to things
- Mytek Liberty THX is better than the Topping A90, music is more alive and better articulated, more detailed, and the background is blacker
- With HE1000v2, Mytek Liberty THX is exceptionally clear and tight-sounding—imaging is probably the best it sounds
Takeaway: The Mytek Liberty THX AAA HPA is a powerful and compact headphone amplifier delivering very clean, neutral, and detailed sound suitable for a wide range of headphones. It could be a reference-grade, exacting amplifier.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Thick, warm sound with tangible and flowery colors.
- A good compromise between analytical/spontaneous sound and musicality/richness of colors.
- Very plastic, nicely rounded, and quite natural midrange.
- Strong, clean, and legible bass, with good color differentiation.
- Detailed trebles without being metallic or overly sibilant.
Product Considerations
- Density and approximation of sound are not conducive to high resolution.
- No particularly refined presentation of the gradation of dynamics.
- Can make recordings sound more uniform, reducing differentiation between well-recorded and less well-recorded discs.
- A remote control (available as an option) seems indispensable, especially if it were to work as a preamplifier.
Takeaway: The Converto Mk2 is a successful device that offers an intense and musical presentation, bringing emotion and tangibility to the sound. It is great for listeners who appreciate a warm, engaging audio experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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