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.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
mimesis reference
reviews
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
Description
Driven by Class A Output Stage Drivers, this preamplifier is a maestro of minimalism, employed to guarantee the lowest Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and Intermodulation Distortion (IMD). The result? A harmonious soundscape that resonates with authenticity and captures the very essence of the music. The Mimesis Reference defies convention with its mastery over Ultra-Low Transient Intermodulation Distortion (TIM). Every delicate transition, every crescendo, is imbued with a purity that embraces the essence of true fidelity.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
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:
- Goldmund leverages proprietary software, including "Proteus" and "Leonardo," to mathematically model and design speakers, minimizing human intervention and enabling digital room correction without microphones.
- The brand often integrates digital signal processing (DSP), DACs, and amplification directly into their speaker designs to minimize distortion and maximize sound coherence.
- Goldmund cabinets utilize thick aluminum alloy panels sourced from the aerospace industry with mechanical grounding to control resonances and dissipate vibrational energy.
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Rhea Wireless Speakers
- Positioning: A mid-range wireless speaker in Goldmund's lineup, offering a balance of performance and convenience.
- Description: Features Proteus LS technology and Leonardo Time Correction algorithm, providing precise audio reproduction. Offers more power than the Tethys with built-in amplification, making it suitable for users who want a wireless setup without sacrificing sound quality.
Samadhi Loudspeaker
- Positioning: A premium wireless speaker, offering advanced features and high power output.
- Description: Uses Proteus LS modeling and Leonardo 2 time correction, ensuring minimal phase distortion and high sound realism. Surpasses Rhea in power with 700 W per speaker.
Tethys Passive Speaker
- Positioning: A high-end passive speaker in Goldmund's lineup, showcasing advanced engineering and design.
- Description: Unlike the wireless models like Rhea and Samadhi, requires external amplification, making it ideal for audiophiles who prefer customizing their audio setup. Its handcrafted design and state-of-the-art components deliver superior build quality and sound fidelity.
Gaia Speaker Collection
- Positioning: A flagship model in Goldmund's lineup, representing the pinnacle of their speaker technology.
- Description: Features a unique design with multiple drivers and Telos amplification, delivering powerful and accurate sound. It offers a more complex setup compared to Samadhi, with a focus on creating a natural and immersive soundstage.
Apologue Wireless Speaker
- Positioning: A legendary model, celebrated for its iconic design and historical significance in Goldmund's lineup.
- Description: The Anniversary edition includes advanced DSP technology for perfect amplitude and phase response, setting it apart from other models like Gaia and Samadhi. Its wireless capability and sculptural design make it a statement piece for those who appreciate both art and high-fidelity sound.
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Avg. Product Price
$100,001+
Used For Sale
23
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
207
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
30
Founding Year
1978
Our take on the brand
Goldmund is a Swiss hifi brand known for its "mechanical grounding" technology, which reduces vibrations through heavy, precisely engineered components, and its proprietary Telos amplifier technology that significantly reduces intermodulation distortion. The brand appeals to audiophiles who prioritize pure sound reproduction, focusing on musical realism through minimalist design and high bandwidth circuitss.
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Dan D'Agostino
Relentless
149500
/
Released
2021
The new Relentless Preamplifier is the ultimate in preamplifier design. The preamplifier plays a critical role in musical playback; the point in the reproduction stage when the music signal is particularly susceptible to compromise through noise and distortion. The use of three separate chassis in the design of the Relentless Preamplifier—a dedicated audio chassis for each channel separated by a power supply/control section—addresses these challenges and brings other benefits as well.
Dan D'Agostino is an ultra-premium hifi brand distinguished by its unique copper heat sinks with holes and distinctive circular green-lit VU meters that give their amplifiers a steampunk aesthetic. Their amplifiers feature proprietary "Super Rail" technology that maintains high voltage for front-end transistors, while their three-chassis Relentless Preamplifier uses 30-pin interlocking connectors to eliminate wiring anomalies.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Over-engineered, hugely heavy, and XLR-balanced-only design aimed at clients who accept balanced-only systems
- 'Dual Zone' functionality provides two playback zones with independent sources for each
- The two mono preamp chassis form a sandwich with the power supply/control section in between, communicating through interlocking gold-plated 30-pin aerospace connectors, eschewing cabling between the three sections
- The heavily shielded power supply is housed in its own chassis, which is intended to sit between the boxes housing the two audio channels, incorporating internal line conditioning circuitry
- Volume control knobs are very smooth, and the volume control has no sweet spot
Product Considerations
- XLR-balanced-only design might require adapters for RCA-only devices
- The remote control was initially a 'huge, weighty affair', though a new version was almost ready at the time of review
Takeaway: The D'Agostino Relentless Preamplifier is an extremely well-engineered, high-end product intended for those wanting the best possible audio quality and are unconcerned about cost. It offers unique features such as dual-zone functionality and a sophisticated multi-chassis design.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Dan D'Agostino is an ultra-premium hifi brand distinguished by its unique copper heat sinks with holes and distinctive circular green-lit VU meters that give their amplifiers a steampunk aesthetic. Their amplifiers feature proprietary "Super Rail" technology that maintains high voltage for front-end transistors, while their three-chassis Relentless Preamplifier uses 30-pin interlocking connectors to eliminate wiring anomalies.
Product Page
Product Page
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The 3010 offers a wealth of controls, including six pairs of outputs which can be separately attenuated, and a 'blend' function to change stereo to mono
- Notes start and stop precisely, but in a refined manner, and grace notes appear fleetingly before disappearing
- Startlingly pure reproduction, especially noticeable on smaller-scale recordings
- Captures the ringing peal of the organ in the nether regions with great power, and distinguishes tonal fidelity
- Music 'rips without any compression', and sorts out complex musical passages
Product Considerations
- If you prefer the sound of tubes, the Boulder 3010 will not give you a sumptuous tonal balance or holographic soundstage associated with tubes, because it seeks fidelity to the source
Takeaway: The 3010 offers precision and clarity in music reproduction, making it a highly addictive listening experience. The 3010's control and accuracy allow the music to breathe freely.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Boulder is among the elite tier of hifi amplifier brands. Based in Colorado, they are recognized for their exceptionally low-noise and high-power Class A and Class AB amplifiers. They are frequently cited as "dream systems" by audiophiles and reviewers.
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