Still using PH10
New Gold Note PH 10
I had posted a question a while ago about hearing from anyone with experience comparing the Gold Note PH 10 vs. the Bryston BP2 or Clear Audio Smart V2 phono preamps. I never heard anything back about this subject, so I decided to just simply purchase a new PH 10 and compare it against my Clear Audio preamp.
First impressions: As much as I love my Clear Audio Smart V2 and in particular its sound stage and imaging qualities, I have to say that the PH 10 was considerably better at detail and picking out the instruments, especially the low and mid range ones. The Clear Audio seemed to be a little better at the upper end imaging and the sound stage. But keep in mind this was with the PH 10 new right out of the box.
I was told the PH 10 needs at least 50 hours of run in time to open up, so I used it for two nights and left it on for several days. After allowing it to settle in and enjoying a lot of music, I still thought the Clear Audio had a leg up on it in the sound stage/imaging department. So I decided to listen to a well known record to me with excellent recording and a lot of dynamic range on the PH 10, then switch the wires over to the Clear Audio (which I had not heard in several days by this time), and replay the record. YIKES!!! it was like a blanket was draped over my speakers. I had become so gradually accustomed to the new PH 10 that I had not noticed the slight changes going on with the break in. When the Clear Audio was swapped back into the system (it took me about a minute to do this), it was night and day the differences.
The PH 10 was by far a much more detailed, pronounced signature with a superior sound stage and the imaging was hands down better. I am using it with the Audio Technica AT20ss vintage MM cartridge which has an extraordinary frequency range of 5-50K hz, so I was able to take advantage of the Enhanced RIAA curve the PH 10 has. It is pretty outstanding. Make sure you break things in! I love this phono preamp.
First impressions: As much as I love my Clear Audio Smart V2 and in particular its sound stage and imaging qualities, I have to say that the PH 10 was considerably better at detail and picking out the instruments, especially the low and mid range ones. The Clear Audio seemed to be a little better at the upper end imaging and the sound stage. But keep in mind this was with the PH 10 new right out of the box.
I was told the PH 10 needs at least 50 hours of run in time to open up, so I used it for two nights and left it on for several days. After allowing it to settle in and enjoying a lot of music, I still thought the Clear Audio had a leg up on it in the sound stage/imaging department. So I decided to listen to a well known record to me with excellent recording and a lot of dynamic range on the PH 10, then switch the wires over to the Clear Audio (which I had not heard in several days by this time), and replay the record. YIKES!!! it was like a blanket was draped over my speakers. I had become so gradually accustomed to the new PH 10 that I had not noticed the slight changes going on with the break in. When the Clear Audio was swapped back into the system (it took me about a minute to do this), it was night and day the differences.
The PH 10 was by far a much more detailed, pronounced signature with a superior sound stage and the imaging was hands down better. I am using it with the Audio Technica AT20ss vintage MM cartridge which has an extraordinary frequency range of 5-50K hz, so I was able to take advantage of the Enhanced RIAA curve the PH 10 has. It is pretty outstanding. Make sure you break things in! I love this phono preamp.