Hit and Miss
June 30th, 2009 -- by Robert Harley
Source: The Absolute Sound
Products in this article: Goldenote S-1 Signature Integrated Amplifier, Goldenote Koala CD player with tubed output stage
The Italian high-end audio manufacturer Goldenote is based in
Florence, perhaps the world’s most beautiful city as well as the
birthplace of the Renaissance. That beauty and history is reflected in
the company’s S-1 Signature integrated amplifier and Koala CD player
reviewed here; both units exude an aesthetic consonant with their
birthplace.The S-1 Signature is the first step-up in Goldenote’s
extensive line of electronics and the Koala is the company’s
entry-level CD player. Goldenote offers eight integrated amplifiers,
ranging from the $1436 S-1 to the $28,727 Demidoff Diamond. Goldenote
also makes an entire range of products that includes turntables,
tonearms, cartridges, cables, and loudspeakers.Although budget-priced
by Goldenote standards, the S-1 Signature and Koala look anything but.
The units are finished in beautiful high-gloss black faceplates and are
solidly built, weighing 22 and 17 pounds respectively. Both are
minimalist in features, with most of the parts-budget spent on the
audio circuits, and particularly, the power supplies. This is classic
high-end design: No-frills operation and a simple signal path coupled
with innovative circuits and generous power supplies.
S-1 Signature Integrated Amplifier
The $1866 S-1 Signature is a higher-end version of Goldenote’s
entry-level S-1 ($1436). Both units are functionally identical, with
the Signature offering better sound quality. The Signature version
increases the output power to 60Wpc (from 40Wpc) by virtue of a larger
power supply. Other differences include hand-matched output transistors
and upgraded parts throughout.
Five line-level inputs are offered along with an optional phonostage,
which can be added after the initial purchase (it’s an extra $200
whether purchased with the S-1 or retrofitted). The S-1 Signature is
minimalist, clean, and simple to use—only a large volume control and
rotary input-selector switch adorn the high-gloss front panel. A small
round remote control offers volume up/down buttons. The unit is very
nicely made inside, with a dual-mono architecture, high-quality parts,
and a hefty build. The chassis is quite sturdy and the top panel thick.
The entire unit rests on large feet. The power supply is built around
two custom toroidal transformers, one for each channel. A third
transformer powers the housekeeping functions and the motorized volume
control.
The S-1 Signature’s input stage is based on a Goldenote-developed
circuit called “Mirror Amp” which reportedly reduces distortion. This
differential circuit is built around discrete transistors (rather than
op-amps) and operates in pure Class A. The output stage is a single
pair of transistors per channel, with each pair cooled by its own
generous heat sink. The signal path is direct-coupled, with no filters
or protection circuitry. This approach was taken to maximize sound
quality, but you should be aware that without a protection circuit,
shorting the speaker outputs will damage the amplifier. The S-1
Signature looks inside like a high-end preamplifier and power
amplifier, but scaled down in output power.
Koala CD Player
The $2296 Koala is Goldenote’s entry-level CD player. The unit features
a tubed output stage and balanced as well as single-ended analog
outputs. A digital output on an RCA jack allows the Koala to function
as a transport.
The Koala is built around the ubiquitous Philips transport mechanism,
but the motor is driven by Goldenote’s “Electro Power” power supply
that reportedly reduces speed fluctuations to less than 0.0001%. The
Electro Power power supply is said to provide absolutely stable and
clean DC voltages to the player’s analog and digital circuits. The DAC
is the new Burr-Brown PCM1796.
Goldenote makes some claims about its “Zero-Clock” digital filter that
I didn’t fully understand. For example, the company literature suggests
that the “Zero-Clock” is part of a custom digital filter, but I didn’t
see a DSP platform inside the player. I assumed from the name that
“Zero-Clock” is Goldenote’s re-clocking circuit, but the company says
“Zero-Clock” is the filter’s name. Answers to my repeated follow-up
questions didn’t shed any light on exactly how the Koala’s filter is
different, and how “Zero-Clock” works. (The explanation in the
manufacturer comment on page 60 doesn’t clarify the issue, at least for
me.)
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At any rate, the Koala’s power supply features three separate
transformers, generous filtering and regulation, and a separate supply
with its own transformer for the tubed output stage. This stage is
based on one ECC88 dual-triode per channel.
Although nicely built and attractive cosmetically, the Koala has an
ergonomic quirk: The front-panel buttons are tiny points that require
precise finger placement and are uncomfortable under the fingertip.
Listening
Starting with the S-1 Signature driven by my reference sources, I was
taken aback by the sheer musicality of this “entry-level” integrated
amplifier. The S-1 in no way sounded like a sub-$2k integrated. Rather,
it had the resolution, dynamics, and timbral liquidity of mid-priced
separates.
The S-1 Signature was extremely lively sounding (and I don’t mean
bright). The amplifier had a natural sense of rhythmic flow coupled
with an effortlessness on musical peaks. This was true over a wide
variety of music, from blues to orchestral. Even when fed the
extraordinarily wide dynamic range of Reference Recordings HRx
176.4kHz/24-bit files decoded by the Berkeley Alpha DAC, the S-1
Signature was up to the challenge, reproducing huge orchestral climaxes
with utter grace and ease. In addition to correctly reproducing music’s
dynamic structure, the S-1 didn’t collapse the soundstage during loud
and complex passages. The S-1 Signature had a big, forceful (though not
forced), and authoritative sound. This was remarkable performance for
an amplifier of this power rating and price.
The S-1 Signature’s dynamic prowess was complemented by the unit’s
excellent bass definition, pitch resolution, weight, extension, and
tremendous sense of heft. The bottom end was full and rich without
sounding thick, plummy, or overly ripe. Kick drum had powerful impact,
and bass guitar was rendered with an extremely satisfying “purring”
quality. Moreover, the S-1 resolved small tonal and dynamic shadings in
the bass in a way that made other entry-level integrated amplifiers
sound a bit muddled. The great Abraham Laboriel’s bass lines on the
Victor Feldman LP Secret of the Andes were rendered with a razor-sharp
precision that highlighted his musical contribution to this disc.
The presentation also had a wonderful transparency and clarity in the
midband and treble. The sound was open and clean, with no opacity to
diminish the sense of “seeing” through the soundstage. Similarly, this
transparency contributed to the S-1 Signature’s excellent portrayal of
timbre; tone colors were vibrant and deeply saturated in a way that
made the presentation musically vivid without being sonically vivid.
The S-1 Signature didn’t overlay timbres with a synthetic pall—a common
characteristic of entry-level integrated amplifiers. In addition,
instrumental textures were pure and free from grain and upper-midrange
glare.
With the Koala driving the S-1 Signature or at the front of my
reference system it was apparent that these two Goldenote products
shared some qualities but deviated on others. The Koala had a fairly
large soundstage with good delineation between instrumental images. The
CD player also had a sense of presence fostered by a somewhat forward
overall perspective. This perspective, however, tended to highlight the
midrange the way some tubed electronics do, with reduced resolution at
the frequency extremes. The extreme bottom end (the realm of organ
pedal tones and kick drum) didn’t have the extension or dynamic impact
that would reveal the S-1 Signature’s outstanding performance in this
area. The midbass was a bit ripe and plummy rather than taut and
defined; you’d never know the S-1’s potential for rendering dynamics
with such vibrant musical energy if you heard that integrated amplifier
driven only by the Koala. Similarly, the top octave sounded a little
closed in—that sense of air riding on top of cymbals was diminished.
Concomitantly, the upper-midrange was a little bright, forward, and had
a glare and hardness, particularly during loud passages. Instruments
rich in upper-order harmonics such as saxophone and violin took on a
bit of a steely character.
Conclusion
The Goldenote S-1 Signature integrated amplifier is a real find; it
delivers a truly compelling musical experience at a reasonable price.
Although not inexpensive for an “entry-level” integrated, the S-1
Signature nonetheless competes sonically with higher-priced integrated
amplifiers, as well as with the benchmark in the category, the $1625
Naim Nait 5i. The S-1 Signature has an extremely compelling combination
of dynamic expression, purity of timbre, transparency, and resolution
without sounding analytical. Moreover, it sounds more powerful than its
60Wpc rating by virtue of its large power supply and generous
heat-sinking.
The Koala is, in my view, a less successful product. It has a different
set of sonic characteristics than the S-1, with less clarity and
transparency, a softer presentation of dynamics, and less liquidity in
its rendering of instrumental textures.
Although I can think of several CD players at or below the Koala’s
price that I would rather own (the $1599 Cambridge 840C comes to mind),
I’m hard pressed to name an integrated amplifier under $2000 I’d rather
listen to on a daily basis.
SPECS
Goldenote S-1 Signature integrated amplifier
Power output: 60Wpc
Inputs: Five line inputs on RCA jacks, one phono input (optional)
Dimensions: 17.3" x 3.5" x 13.8"
Weight: 22 lbs.
Goldenote Koala CD player with tubed output stage
Outputs: Unbalanced on RCA jacks, balanced on XLR jacks; digital out on RCA jack
Digital-to-analog conversion: 20-bit Burr-Brown
Dimensions: 17.3" x 3.9" x 13.4"
Weight: 17.6 lbs.
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