Slim, thank you for your detailed explanation of the whest phono product line. When you first used the numeric designation 40, I thought you had simply mistyped “30”, because I was unaware of the latest update. I can understand that if you have dual mono chassis’ as in the upper end of the whest product line, you would not necessarily need to have a power supply on a separate chassis, which would give you at least three or up to four chassis’ to contend with. If you recall, the Einstein phono stages work that way, and I don’t know how people find the shelf space for the balanced version.
Uber, I would say that you may well be happy, that is happier, with the outboard power supply on your gold note. I can conceive that would make a big difference. In fact I wondered whether slim was using the outboard power supply with his Gold Note.On the other hand, if there is something fundamentally about the sound quality that bugs you, that may not be cured by the outboard supply, and in that case you would be better off moving on.
Now that I know that the gold note has 220 pF of capacitance at its input, different peoples impression of the SQ could well be related to how that person’s cartridge reacts to the capacitance.
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Lewm
Just to clarify.
I would say I am and have been very happy with my ph10 but you know how audio is, always truly something might be better synergy.
Reading this thread latest posts and having heard only good about Whest just got me thinking.
Would be nice to have both to compare but that is not likely to happen.
I have to say the ph10 sounds really sweet with the Nagaoka mp150 on the Notts TT, I prefer that combo right now to either of the higher dollar MC carts I have to hand, Scheu SL and Ortofon Cadenza Black.
Just loathe to potential waste a grand as would never recover that for sure. |
Uber, I think that ("wasting" a grand) every time I buy something audio-related, because I already have SOOOO much stuff here. (For example, I just spent slightly upwards of a grand on yet another vintage phono cartridge, when I already have 3-4 potentially superb NOS cartridges still to be auditioned.) Then the feeling goes away until next time. I try to tell myself I will sell something in order to make up the difference, but I am too lazy ever to carry through on that thought.
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Good points Lewm!
I just have this mental block on 1k for a PS, just seems a lot.
Maybe I just need my mindset in order and try it.
But then there are still the Whest......
It never ends.... |
The Gold Note PSU does not improved the bass, the rest of this phono stage is beautiful, except for the lack of deep bass response. But almost any phono stage i have heard does not reproduce the bass as good as my WLM phono stage. Each phono stage i have purchaced over the years gave me all required settings "on the fly" for any cartridge (MM or MC), but each time i’m using WLM i hear what i’m missing in low register. At the moment WLM is a champ in bass. My Miyabi MCA (LOMC) is the most organic and the most interesting MC cartridge i have owned, it’s definitely on the warmer side, the imaging is holographic and the silky deep bass is oustanding with WLM phono stage. Maybe this is all i need. I decieed to pass on the caps upgrade, i did not realised how big is the size of each cap until i got them by post (almost like a beer can) so i returned them. But i have replaced all load resistors on my WLM, those naked foil vishay load resistors from texas components are oustanding. At the moment nothing can beat the Miyabi MCA on Lustre GST-801 connected to WLM Phonata Reference. P.S. thinking about Miyabi i remember 47 Labs current injection phono stage 4712 (input impedance is ZERO Ohms), i’d like to try it with my Miyabi. I think @pani owned 47 Labs Cube. Actually my Miyabi MCA was made by Takeda-San prior to Miyabi 47. |
Ideally, the input impedance for a "current driven" phono stage would indeed be zero ohms, but that is impossible to achieve in the real world (because the signal voltage would be completely lost to ground). As a result, most present at least a 2-ohm impedance. Some tube versions present 10-12 ohms. I've been curious to try one. Do you guys notice how every year or two there is a new fad in phono stage design? First it was LCR. Then it was LR (very rare examples). Lately it's been "current drive".
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When I had my PH10, I spoke with a local dealer about potentially ordering the external power supply for it. He told me that it didn't make much difference in the performance and suggested that I not spend the money. He also said that the Gold Note units he has sold do seem to have issues with noise; not all of them, but some.
My unit was noisy to me, but that could well have just been how it matched in with my system and may not have been the case with another system. I didn't realize how much noise it had until I installed the Whest Three SE, which is super quiet.
Two nights ago my brother came in for a visit. He is a video producer/engineer and is pretty astute. He was here a few months ago when I had the PH10 and we spent a few days of listening to a large and varied selection of music. I told him about the new Whest and he was anxious to listen to it. After one high dynamic range record, he just shook his head, smiled and said hands down, absolutely no comparison the whest just blows the PH10 out of the water... he was amazed at how unbelievable the system sounded.
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My thoughts really on wasting 1k on a PS.
However I do have to say my unit is deathly quiet in my system so I have zero complaints there at all.
May just save my pennies and look for a used Whest to see what all the fuss is about......
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@slimpikins5 if I was the dealer you were referring to yes originally I told customers that the PSU-10 at $1100 retail was a LOT of $$$ and IMO was not worth the asking price, better to spend on more records, again IMHO. We have now sold 9 of these power supplies (at well below 1k) and every customer thinks they are worth the price.
As regards of noisy PH-10's we only had one customer that had an issue with noise, it was an early PH-10. We sent it back to Italy and they updated some op amps and the customer is now a happy camper and then bought the matching PSU-10.
(Dealer disclaimer)
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So the Ph10 use opamps and if so have anybody tried opamp rolling, I just recently put some Burson opamps on a Roksan reference phono stage with a significant overall improvment.
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The Gold Note PSU-10 is not $1100 if you know where to buy it, directly from Italy (for non EU buyers) it’s just $740 (660 Euro) brand new and last summer it was even cheaper ! This is how i bought mine and i do not think it was a waste of money. This is obsious an improvement for fair price for such a nice power supply. But i would never buy it for $1k, again i paid about $700 including shipping from Italy for a brand new PSU-10 in the box.
The Gold Note is not noisy at all, even without external power supply.
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@lewm and @slimpikins5I actually have their original phone stage - the ps.02
It's good to know that other people have heard the same things I did when I bought mine - perhaps more so than now with the later models.
It's a crying shame that Whest don't do a multi-input/multi EQ stage. I did a review about 15 years ago and compared it to several other stages around £2000 and it bettered the competition which included the Tom Evans Groove. All said and done I prefer my Vendetta SCP2a - it's just more compelling and - dare i say it - chocolatey |
@lohanimal
The PS.02 from what I have read is a really nice entry level unit from Whest. It is probably similar to the Whest Three only it has a one box approach vs. the dual chassis design of the Three. I know that with each step up in the Whest line, you get a corresponding increase in detail and response. The Three is definitely a step up from the PS.02, but when you get into the realm of a late version PS.30 RDT SE or even higher, such as the PS.40 RDT, things really take on another level of incredible detail, response and amazing realism. If you ever have the opportunity and stumble upon one of these preamps, you should bring it in to try against what you are currently using. |
@slimpikin - you're confused with the Whest 0.20 and the whest two. Mine is their first 2 box phono stage. The two is actually a lower model. James Henriot is a very nice guy - very very knowledgable. Part of the reason you never see reviews is due to the Stereophile debacle when Micheal Fremer said the Ps 0.2 bettered his Manley Steelhead and had shades of the Boulder about it - realising that his mates at Manley had their noses put out of joint he made a disparaging review comparing it to a Graham Slee. Trust me i've heard the Manley, and the Graham Slee in question - his original review was the truth. The Whest is exceptionally fast and 3d in sound with real solidity. It comes about by an all discrete circuit - it's not an IC design like the Tom Evans Groove which was an exhausting listen in my system. My only gripe with the Whest is that it doesn't have a version/option for multiple inputs.
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I'm still with Gold Note PH-10 with PSU-10
Any more users of Gold Note here ? |
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Ah lohanimal, thanks for the update. I am not familiar with your particular Whest, so I assumed it was the single chassis version.
I must say that I have spent quite a bit of time reading the customer reviews on the Whest Audio site and that has been enlightening. There are hundreds of reviews in which each the buyer compares whatever version Whest they have purchased against another phono stage they have been using. It's interesting to read how each person gives defined opinion on the differences. |
Does anyone have experience pairing the PH-10 with a Rega Apheta 3 cart? If so, what settings did you find to be the best? Or is it a situation where you want / need to adjust setting based on each recording? |
No matter what cartridge you're using with Gold Note phono stage, i don't think people change loading for each record, this is crazy!
What you can change is RIAA for certain pressings, this is Gold Note exclusive.
Why do you want someone else to tell you "what is the best" settings, it's a personal thing, system dependent. Most cartridges (MC) are great with 47k Ohm loading (unloading), you can try this. |
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lalitk,
I have now been living with my second Whest, the PS 30 RDT SE 2019 with many of the PS 40 RDT upgrades modified into it for over a year. I would strongly suggest that you look at the Whest line, whether it is an upper level unit like mine or a more mid range preamp such as the Whest Three or Two. In my opinion, there is no contest against the PH10. That is my input and I hope it helps. My Whest Three I had prior the PS30 was a wonderful piece and that would be a great choice if spending a lot more is not an option.
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@slimpikins5,
Thanks for your feedback. I will check them out shortly. |
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@chakster,
Knock Knock!
I am considering the PH-10/PSU-10. You have to hear it, try it. This phono stage is the most versatile for two tonearms with whatever cartridges. It is also one of the most beautiful piece of audio gear (nice design). I'm still using mine. |
Granted, typical Italian design and they do a very nice job as always (have you sliced your fingers yet on the overly sharp vent cuts on the case? I did every-time I handled it). But the performance doesn't really come close to the either of the Whest units I have/had. I sold my Whest Three Signature and now have my wonderful custom 'trimmed' PS 30 RDT SE 2019. I will say that I do like the case work on the Whest too, it's not as fancy as the PH10, but it is a very understated pleasing piece. |
My fingers are fine:) There are better phono stages for much higher price, but very few can offer two MM/MC input for two tonearms connected at the same time to one phono stage. Gold Note is a complicated design. On the other hand the 47 Labs Phono Cube is very simple current-injection phono stage designed for low impedance MC only, this is real killer, no adjustments. Also superb design. |
Who else here concur with my sentiments....there just way too many darn phono brands to consider or own in one’s lifetime 😊
I stumbled upon another bespoke brand earlier today.....LFD from UK. Gene Rubin spoke very highly of them. |
That is exactly why I deferred to my friend John who has owned countless phono stages, its his hobby to rotate in/out of various designs.
He was the one who chimed in with me early on about the PH 10 which he owns. We exchanged thoughts on it and his observations were in line with mine, it was just OK, not great. Nice mid range audio, but the low end and upper end lacked and the sound staging was very so so. He pushed me to Whest phono stages as he told me the Titan Pro was the finest phono stage he had ever experienced, hands down. I was not going to pay upwards of $13K for one, so I got into the mid range units which are very similar to the Titan and that was enough for me. Now I am thinking that I just have to have a Titan Pro before I lose my hearing just so that I can say that I had one (much like flying a P-51, I do plan on that at some point before I cannot fly any longer and I am kicking myself for having turned down the opportunity once before due to the cost of the fuel at the time). :) |
Anyone here have any experience with E.A.T. E-Glo S or E-Glo Petit phono stages?
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