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  1. #1
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    My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Robert Harley, editor of The Absolute Sound, has very kindly agreed to take me on as a contributing writer, contingent on the quality of a first review I'm writing for the magazine.

    My first review will be the Gold Note PH-10 phono stage. This phono stage is differentiated by being adjustable for 6 different equalization curves, a range of impedance loadings, and also for supporting a high-quality external power supply, the Gold Note PSU-10.



    I'm pleased to say that both the phono stage and external power supply arrived today, Robert just sent me the recently updated Style Guide for Authors, and I'm good to go!

    Stay tuned....

  2. #2
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Cool, what mono carts and mono LPs are you planning to use with the EQ settings that are built-in?
    Avanti Audio

    arc sp-11 or ls27 | arc d130 | vpi classic 2 w/periphery ring w/Si3N4 bearing & sapphire thrust plate & 2x jmw 10.5i | phoenix engineering eagle & road runner | ortofon cadenza bronze, miyajima zero mono | sentec eq11 w/ Sylvania 5751 TMBP & CBS 7318 | auditorium a23 | canton ref 9 dc | 2x m&k v125 | oppo bdp-95 | chord qutest | lumin d1 & sbooster | avanti audio vivace cables

  3. #3
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Congratulations! That's so awesome Stephen.
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  4. #4
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Wow, what an honor!

    Congrats, and if your review of this product is anything like the caliber of your posts, you'll be on their staff in no time.

  5. #5
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by Tubes View Post
    Wow, what an honor!

    Congrats, and if your review of this product is anything like the caliber of your posts, you'll be on their staff in no time.
    Thank you, Steve.

  6. #6
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeCh View Post
    Cool, what mono carts and mono LPs are you planning to use with the EQ settings that are built-in?
    If I use my mono cartridge, it will be a mono Grado Reference Sonata. As for mono recordings, I have a lot of those, but some will be Miles Davis Kind of Blue on Columbia, an original deep-grove Blue Note of Cannonball Adderley's Somethin' Else, some classical guitar music by the Romeros on Mercury Living Presence, Ella Fitzgerald's Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie, Red Garland's Red in Bluesville, Kenny Burrell's Introducing Kenny Burrell on Blue Note, Billie Holiday's Body and Soul on Verve, Horace Silver's Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers on Blue Note, and some others.

  7. #7
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Very cool, Puma Cat. I'm looking forward to reading your article. Based on what I see from you here, I suspect we'll be reading more from you in TAS if you decide to continue.

  8. #8
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Congratulations. I subscribe to the Absolute Sound so give us a heads up when it is published. Out of curiosity, how do you get a manufacturer to send you something for review. There is some gear I would like to ‘review’.
    Bud

    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
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    Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
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    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR for source, Denali 2000 (2) for amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

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  9. #9
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    My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by Puma Cat View Post
    If I use my mono cartridge, it will be a mono Grado Reference Sonata. As for mono recordings, I have a lot of those, but some will be Miles Davis Kind of Blue on Columbia, an original deep-grove Blue Note of Cannonball Adderley's Somethin' Else, some classical guitar music by the Romeros on Mercury Living Presence, Ella Fitzgerald's Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie, Red Garland's Red in Bluesville, Kenny Burrell's Introducing Kenny Burrell on Blue Note, Billie Holiday's Body and Soul on Verve, Horace Silver's Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers on Blue Note, and some others.
    That is fantastic Stephen! Congrats on the assignment!
    Avanti Audio

    arc sp-11 or ls27 | arc d130 | vpi classic 2 w/periphery ring w/Si3N4 bearing & sapphire thrust plate & 2x jmw 10.5i | phoenix engineering eagle & road runner | ortofon cadenza bronze, miyajima zero mono | sentec eq11 w/ Sylvania 5751 TMBP & CBS 7318 | auditorium a23 | canton ref 9 dc | 2x m&k v125 | oppo bdp-95 | chord qutest | lumin d1 & sbooster | avanti audio vivace cables

  10. #10
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by GSOphile View Post
    Very cool, Puma Cat. I'm looking forward to reading your article. Based on what I see from you here, I suspect we'll be reading more from you in TAS if you decide to continue.
    Many thanks! I hope so...

  11. #11
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by BlueFox View Post
    Congratulations. I subscribe to the Absolute Sound so give us a heads up when it is published. Out of curiosity, how do you get a manufacturer to send you something for review. There is some gear I would like to ‘review’.
    That's all handled by the Acquisitions Manager. The editor and I decided what to review and then the Acquistions Manager coordinates with the distributor for a review unit.

    I'll be writing another article about the use of optical fiber for digital streaming front ends.

  12. #12
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Thanks. It is nice to know how things work.
    Bud

    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD
    Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR for source, Denali 2000 (2) for amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson four shelf maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.

  13. #13
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by BlueFox View Post
    Thanks. It is nice to know how things work.
    All I can say is that is how TAS handles it. Other publications may have a different procedure.

  14. #14
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Congrats Stephen! Looking forward to this first and subsequent reviews.
    _______________

    Mike

    Amplification: MBL 6010D, MBL 9008A Monos
    Analog: Kuzma R, Kuzma 4Point (11”), MSL Ultra Eminent EX
    Phono Pre: Pass XP-27
    Digital: Esoteric N01XD Esoteric K05
    Speakers: MBL 101E MKII
    Subwoofers: REL Carbon Specials
    Conditioner: Shunyata Triton 3
    Power Cables: Shunyata Sigma 1 & 2, Alpha 2, Delta and Venom
    ICs and SCs: Wireworld Platinum 8
    Rack: Artesania Exoteryc

  15. #15
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Congrats Stephen.
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

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  16. #16
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Hey Stephen, I’m really excited for you and know your passion will deliver excellent results!

    Gold Note products are all in-house Italian designed and crafted and appears to be a solid company and the Phono you are reviewing with the optional LPS is an excellent piece, especially for the price!

    Look forward to seeing what unfolds as the cat claws forward!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Source Analog: Kuzma Stabi R w/4point 11 arm | Kuzma 50 Cartridge
    Source Digital: Aurender N10 | Brinkmann Nyquist MK II
    Amplification: Dan D’Agostino Momentum HD and M400’s | Boulder 508
    Speakers: Wilson Alexias
    Cabling: Nordost Leif, Norse, V2 and Odin
    Power and Isolation: Audio-Ultra Home & Room Power Foundation Performance Package with StromTank S1000 | HRS









  17. #17
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Very interested in the results of the pH 10's performance between RIAA mono vs RIAA stereo. I own the Sentec EQ-11 which also has selectable curves. I bought the Sentec to use mostly for mono playback with the Miyajima Zero. What surprised me is the great performance of the Sentec's RIAA curve when running a stereo cartridge such as my Ortofon Cadenza Bronze and playing stereo LPs.

    Looking forward to reading your review. My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage
    Avanti Audio

    arc sp-11 or ls27 | arc d130 | vpi classic 2 w/periphery ring w/Si3N4 bearing & sapphire thrust plate & 2x jmw 10.5i | phoenix engineering eagle & road runner | ortofon cadenza bronze, miyajima zero mono | sentec eq11 w/ Sylvania 5751 TMBP & CBS 7318 | auditorium a23 | canton ref 9 dc | 2x m&k v125 | oppo bdp-95 | chord qutest | lumin d1 & sbooster | avanti audio vivace cables

  18. #18
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Congratulations and best wishes for continued success.

  19. #19
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by Ritmo View Post
    Congrats Stephen! Looking forward to this first and subsequent reviews.
    Thanks, Mike. Best regards, buddy.

  20. #20
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike View Post
    Congrats Stephen.
    Many thanks, Mike. Cheers.

  21. #21
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by UltraFast69 View Post
    Hey Stephen, I’m really excited for you and know your passion will deliver excellent results!

    Gold Note products are all in-house Italian designed and crafted and appears to be a solid company and the Phono you are reviewing with the optional LPS is an excellent piece, especially for the price!

    Look forward to seeing what unfolds as the cat claws forward!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Ha! "Rawrrrr!" (hahaha! trying to emulate those old Mercury Cougar TV ads. LOL....)

    Thanks, Ed

  22. #22
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Thank you, Dizzie.

  23. #23
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    just add me to the cheering section
    Aurender ACS10 w/Audioquest Diamond USB, Esoteric N05xd
    Mark Levinson #526, 534 & JBL 4367's
    Clearaudio Performance DC w/Maestro cart
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    Parasound P6, MBL 8006b, Artisan speakers/subwoofer

  24. #24
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr Peabody View Post
    just add me to the cheering section
    Thank you.

  25. #25
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by Puma Cat View Post
    Ha! "Rawrrrr!" (hahaha! trying to emulate those old Mercury Cougar TV ads. LOL....)

    Thanks, Ed
    LOL....

    https://youtu.be/YeY8F9RcC84

  26. #26
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    well done Stephen!!
    Source: Technics SP10mk3 - Thales Simplicity II, TW Raven AC-3 - Graham Phantom, SME 3012-R, Exclusive P3,,Linn LP12 - Naim ARO
    Cartridges: Lyra Atlas Lambda SL, Lyra Etna SL, Lyra Delos, Dynavector XV-1s,Technics EPC100mk4, Ortofon A90, GM Royal, GM Classic, Denon ESC'd 103R, DL-S1, Audio Technica AT25, OC9II, Linn ESC'd Troika
    Phono Stage: Phasemation EA-1200, Accuphase C-37,TW Acustik phono
    EQ: ​DEQX HDP-4
    Preamp: D'Agostino HD, conrad johnson GAT,
    Amps: conrad johnson teflon premier 8a's, D'Agostino Momentum S250
    Speakers: Wilson Maxx3

  27. #27
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    Re: My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

    Quote Originally Posted by Puma Cat View Post
    Love it!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Source Analog: Kuzma Stabi R w/4point 11 arm | Kuzma 50 Cartridge
    Source Digital: Aurender N10 | Brinkmann Nyquist MK II
    Amplification: Dan D’Agostino Momentum HD and M400’s | Boulder 508
    Speakers: Wilson Alexias
    Cabling: Nordost Leif, Norse, V2 and Odin
    Power and Isolation: Audio-Ultra Home & Room Power Foundation Performance Package with StromTank S1000 | HRS









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My first assignment for The Absolute Sound: Gold Note PH-10 phono stage

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