Gold Note PH-1000

The Gold Note PH-1000 is the most capable and comprehensively specified phono preamplifier Gold Note has ever produced — a reference-level instrument of uncompromising ambition, handcrafted in Florence to a standard of engineering precision that sets a new benchmark for what a phono stage can achieve. Where lesser designs offer a handful of loading options and a single EQ curve, the PH-1000 addresses every conceivable variable in vinyl playback — cartridge matching, equalisation curve selection, gain, capacitance, phase, and channel configuration — within a single, elegantly resolved chassis of extraordinary capability. It is, without qualification, the definitive statement of Gold Note's analogue engineering philosophy.

Independent Interface and Audio Path

The PH-1000's most fundamental engineering achievement is the complete independence of its interface from its audio path. All operational parameters — gain, load, capacitance, EQ curve — are managed through discrete audio-grade components and sealed single switches operating entirely in the analogue domain, while the control interface operates digitally and in complete isolation from the audio signal. The consequence is an ultra-low noise floor — a signal-to-noise ratio of 100 dB — total harmonic distortion below 0.01%, and a dynamic range of 110 dB, with no audio filters anywhere in the signal path. The Single Knob Control system and full-colour display allow every parameter to be adjusted in real time during playback, without interrupting the music — an operational elegance that is as practical as it is technically impressive.

Over 40 Equalisation Curves

The PH-1000's EQ curve library is without equal in any phono stage at any price. Eighteen preset curves — including RIAA, Capitol, Columbia/CBS, Deutsche Grammophon, Decca London USA, Decca London UK, Decca Mono 78rpm, Epic, HMW, Mercury, RCA Victor, Philips, Elektra, L'Oiseau-Lyre and Parlophone — are each available with an Enhanced option inspired by the Neumann Cutting Lathe, delivering superior dynamics and resolution on every recording they were designed to serve. Four additional customisable presets allow manual adjustment of three independent parameters, enabling near-infinite curve configuration for unusual or pre-RIAA recordings that no fixed preset can adequately address. For the collector of vintage vinyl, the PH-1000's EQ capabilities are not a luxury — they are a revelation, restoring natural tonal balance and dynamic authority to recordings that standard RIAA playback cannot recover.

Comprehensive Cartridge Matching

The PH-1000 offers 14 gain levels spanning 40 dB to 65 dB for MM and MC cartridges respectively, 12 load settings from 10 Ω to 100 kΩ for RCA inputs, 8 load settings for the balanced XLR input, and 7 capacitance options for MM cartridges — a degree of cartridge matching flexibility that is simply without parallel in any competing design. Three independent inputs — two RCA and one balanced XLR — accommodate virtually any cartridge and tonearm combination, while the Class A headphone output provides a direct, shortest-path connection from turntable to headphones with no additional amplification required. Stereo/mono switching, phase inversion, L/R channel swap, and a 10 Hz/36 dB subsonic rumble filter complete a level of operational control more commonly encountered in professional studio environments than in domestic audio.

Modular and Upgradeable

The PH-1000 is conceived as a foundation for a system that can grow over time. It is fully compatible with the Gold Note PSU-1250 or PSU-1000 external power supplies — each of which removes the power supply entirely from the audio chassis, further lowering the noise floor and expanding the dynamic envelope — and with the TUBE-1012 or TUBE-1006 valve output stages for those who wish to explore the musical character of thermionic amplification within the PH-1000's signal path. The firmware is updatable via computer, ensuring the PH-1000 remains current as Gold Note's engineering continues to develop. The precision-machined aluminium chassis is available in black, silver, or gold anodised finishes.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The PH-1000 is for the analogue enthusiast who has arrived at the summit of vinyl replay and demands a phono stage equal to the finest cartridges and turntables available. It is the natural partner for the Gold Note Tuscany and the Gold Note Machiavelli MkII, and the definitive electronic centrepiece for a system built around the Gold Note Mediterraneo or the Gold Note Pianosa. For those approaching from outside the Gold Note ecosystem, it is equally at home as a standalone reference phono stage at the heart of any world-class analogue system — and its modular upgrade path ensures it will remain the most capable component in the signal chain regardless of how that system develops over time.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. The PH-1000 is available to hear in our Norwich showroom as part of a full Gold Note analogue demonstration — and if you would prefer to assess it at home, our home evaluation service is available across Norfolk and the wider East Anglia region. When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim — experienced specialists who can advise on this product and your whole system.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.