TUBE-1012
Twelve-Valve Class A Totem-Pole Tube Output Stage for 1000-Series
Descripción ⌄
GoldNote Tube-1012 — tube output stage upgrade module for 1000-series products. Valve output stage with twelve 6n1p Class A tubes in a proprietary Totem-Pole configuration for ultra-wide bandwidth and ultra-low distortion. Accepts Gold Note Tube input and standard RCA/XLR line input simultaneously with front-panel source selection. THD+N 0.0028% at 1kHz, SNR >100dB, output impedance <600Ω; 430×135×370mm, 16kg.
Technical background
GoldNote power amplifiers use proprietary Optical BIAS control — monitoring output transistor bias continuously via infrared sensors rather than mechanical trimmers — for drift-free long-term stability across all operating temperatures. Selectable damping factor (250 or 25) adapts bass control to different speaker types. The P-1000 mkII preamplifier adds three independent linear power supplies filtered by military-derived noise-cancelling coils, and a 100-step ALPS optical encoder volume control with 0.5dB resolution.
Design story
GoldNote's amplifier development has always prioritised long-term real-world stability. The Optical BIAS system — developed after observing that conventional bias trimmers drift with temperature and age — continuously corrects output transistor operating point using infrared sensors. The P-1000 mkII chassis is machined from a single aluminium billet, with three fully independent power supplies filtered by coils derived from helicopter avionics noise-cancellation technology, making it the most mechanically and electrically isolated preamplifier in the GoldNote range.
Best for
DS-1000 Evo or CD-1000 mkII owners wanting to add a tube output stage for analog warmth; audiophiles who want the benefits of tubes without a full valve amplifier chain DS-1000 Evo or CD-1000 mkII owners wanting to add a valve output stage for analogue warmth; audiophiles wanting tube benefits without a full valve amplifier chain 1000-series tube upgrade: DS-1000 Evo + Tube-1012 + P-1000 mkII + PA-1175 mkII + XS-85 — the full Italian reference system
Awards & press
⭐ N/A N/A
Características ⌄
- Class A valve output stage with 12× 6n1p tubes in six independent audio stages per channel — THD+N 0.0028% @ 1 kHz, SNR >100 dB, adds warmth and realism
- Six independent audio stages per tube in the Totem-Pole configuration deliver ultra-wide bandwidth response unavailable from conventional tube topologies
- Compatible with Gold Note CD players, DACs and preamplifiers; dual input supports simultaneous connection of Gold Note and third-party sources
- 12× 6n1p tubes in Totem-Pole Class A configuration — six independent audio stages per channel
- THD+N 0.0028% at 1kHz, SNR >100dB — tube warmth without compromising digital source resolution
- Dual input: Gold Note Tube input + standard RCA/XLR line input — accepts GoldNote and third-party sources simultaneously