Gold Note HP5.2
High-end headphone amplifier with dual mono design, featuring an integrated DAC and real-time analogue adjustments (Crossfeed, phase, damping).
Description
The HP5.2 by Gold Note is an amplifier dedicated to headphone listening, designed to deliver an analogue signal with minimal alteration. It also incorporates a SABRE ES9023 digital-to-analogue converter, allowing it to be fed directly from a digital source without going through an external DAC. A bypass function also allows it to be inserted into an existing chain featuring a preamplifier, without modifying the wiring.
Its frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz at ± 0.3 dB reflects consistent reproduction across the entire audible spectrum. The total harmonic distortion and noise measured at 0.015% at 1 kHz, combined with a signal-to-noise ratio of 105 dB, indicates a clean signal with a low noise floor, a sensitive point on headphone amplifiers where the slightest hiss becomes audible through headphones. Several adjustments are applied directly in the analogue domain: Crossfeed, which reconstructs the sound stage by blending the left and right channels across the full spectrum or by frequency bands; equalisation based on the Harman curve; a switchable damping factor; and 0°/180° phase inversion.
This type of amplifier is aimed at a user who already has a hi-fi chain structured around a source and, potentially, a preamplifier, and who wishes to integrate high-level headphone listening without degrading the rest of the setup. The presence of the bypass function makes it a relevant choice for those wanting to switch between headphone listening and speaker listening via the same preamplifier, provided that the source and preamplifier use the same type of connection, RCA or XLR, for the switching to work correctly.
Technical specifications
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20 kHz ± 0.3 dB |
| Total harmonic distortion (THD) + Noise | 0.015% at 1 kHz |
| Signal to noise ratio (SNR) | 105 dB |
| D/A converter | SABRE ES9023 |
| Binaural mixing (Crossfeed) | Adjustable (full spectrum or bass/mid/treble) |
| Analogue equalisation | Harman curve, super-linear |
| Damping factor | Adjustable (high/low) |
| Phase | Adjustable (0°/180°) |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 200 × 80 × 260 mm |
| Weight | 3 kg |
What to check before buying used
When buying used, it is advisable to check that all four headphone outputs work correctly, as well as the smoothness of the analogue controls (Crossfeed, phase, damping factor), which may reveal wear on a potentiometer or switch after several years of use. It is also worth testing the bypass function with a source and preamplifier using an identical connection (RCA or XLR) to ensure it switches correctly, as well as checking the behaviour of the integrated SABRE ES9023 converter if the unit is intended to be used with a digital input.
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