PH-5
AnalogPlanet Gruvy Award 2023 + Hifi Pig 5 Hearts 2025 — Touchscreen Phono Stage
Descripción ⌄
GoldNote PH-5 entry MM/MC phono stage — 6 EQ curves. Compact MM/MC phono stage with TFT touchscreen colour display and three selectable EQ curves with adjustable gain, load and capacitance. Delivers SNR 89dB from an elegant 200×80×260mm aluminium chassis weighing 2kg. Optionally paired with the PSU-5 external power supply for enhanced vinyl reproduction.
Technical background
GoldNote phono stages use a fully discrete Class A topology with separate regulated DC rails for each amplification stage, eliminating inter-stage interference. The proprietary Single Knob Control (SKC) stores cartridge loading, gain and capacitance settings in non-volatile memory — one knob, colour TFT display, instant recall. RIAA equalisation uses precision film resistors and polypropylene capacitors. The PH-1000 extends this to 36 historical EQ curves and 14 gain levels — the most configurable phono stage ever made, per Stereophile.
Design story
The PH-10 was GoldNote's first phono stage with a TFT colour display and Single Knob Control, a user-experience philosophy that became the signature of the entire range. The PH-1000 takes this to its logical extreme — 36 EQ curves, 14 gain levels, adjustable loading — earning Michael Fremer's verdict in Stereophile: 'by a considerable margin the most sophisticated, most configurable phono preamplifier that any audio manufacturer has ever produced.'
Best for
Entry-to-mid phono stage buyers wanting a Gruvy Award-winning touchscreen phono stage; GoldNote Valore 425 Plus or T-5 owners upgrading their vinyl chain Entry-to-mid phono stage buyers wanting a Gruvy Award-winning touchscreen unit; GoldNote T-5 or Valore 425 Plus owners upgrading their vinyl chain Entry phono system: PH-5 + PSU-5 + Vasari Shibata or Donatello Red + T-5 or Valore 425 Plus + IS-10 + A3 Evo II
Awards & press
⭐ AnalogPlanet Gruvy Award 2023; Hifi Pig 5 Hearts 2025 "The Gold Note PH-5 is flat-sounding, coherent, neutral, and transparent — a fine piece of gear that manages to pull emotion and character from a myriad of vinyl recordings." — Michael Fremer, Analog Planet, July 2023
Características ⌄
- Touchscreen phono stage with dual cartridge memory (MM + MC), selectable RIAA / Decca / Columbia EQ curves — SNR 89 dB, THD <0.05%, gain 40–60 dB
- Stores two independent cartridge configurations in memory for instant switching between MM and MC setups without manual adjustment
- Compact 200×80×260mm chassis upgradeable with the PSU-5 linear power supply for enhanced dynamics and lower noise floor
- AnalogPlanet Gruvy Award 2023 + Hifi Pig 5 Hearts 2025 — multiple award wins at its price
- Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet 2023: 'flat-sounding, coherent, neutral, and transparent — a fine piece of gear'
- Stores two cartridge configurations in memory — instant MM/MC switching without manual adjustment