Gold Note PSU-5

The Gold Note PSU-5 is a dedicated external power supply for the Gold Note PH-5 phono stage — a component of genuine engineering substance that transforms the PH-5's performance by removing the power supply entirely from the phono stage chassis and replacing it with a dual-transformer linear supply of exceptional cleanliness and authority. It is not an accessory in any casual sense of the word: the PSU-5 is the completion of the PH-5 design, the component that allows the phono stage to operate in conditions of near-ideal electrical isolation, and the single most effective upgrade available to any PH-5 owner who has not yet made this step.

Dual-Transformer Linear Power Supply

The PSU-5's central engineering achievement is its dual-transformer circuit — a topology that provides the PH-5 with two entirely independent power rails of extraordinary cleanliness, each generated by a dedicated transformer wound and specified for audio-grade linear supply duty. Where a single-transformer design must share its power generation capacity across multiple rails — introducing the possibility of inter-rail contamination and dynamic compression under load — the PSU-5's dual-transformer architecture guarantees that each rail receives its full power allocation independently and without compromise. The result is a power supply of extraordinary stability and dynamic headroom, one that allows the PH-5's phono circuitry to operate at its full potential regardless of programme material or cartridge demand.

Dual-Choke Inductive Filter

The PSU-5's dual-choke inductive filter — developed with a dedicated transformer that provides complete shielding of the PH-5 — is Gold Note's most effective weapon against mains-borne interference. Where conventional capacitive filtering attenuates noise passively and imperfectly, the PSU-5's inductive filter actively rejects AC noise from the mains supply with a thoroughness that capacitive designs cannot approach — delivering an output of extraordinary quietness to the PH-5's power input. The line noise rejection figure of greater than 80 dB and common mode noise rejection of greater than 80 dB are the measurable consequences of this engineering approach — and their sonic consequence is a noise floor of exceptional blackness against which every musical detail, however finely graded, is rendered with complete clarity and presence.

Three-Rail Audio-Grade Power Supply

The PSU-5 provides three independent audio-grade power rails to the PH-5 — each regulated by an ultra-low noise voltage regulator of the highest specification, and each delivering a maximum output voltage variation of just 0.05%. With a full power response time of less than 2.5 microseconds and a dynamic power capability of greater than 50W, the PSU-5 responds to the instantaneous current demands of the PH-5's circuitry with a speed and authority that an internal power supply of comparable cost could never achieve — enabling greater dynamic expression, finer retrieval of low-level musical detail, and a soundstage of improved depth, width, and three-dimensional realism.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The PSU-5 is for every Gold Note PH-5 owner who wants to hear what their phono stage is genuinely capable of — and who understands that the quality of the power supply is not a secondary consideration in analogue audio but a primary one. It pairs naturally within the Gold Note ecosystem alongside the Gold Note Mediterraneo, the Gold Note Pianosa, and any of Gold Note's cartridge range — from the Gold Note Vasari to the Gold Note Tuscany. For those ready to explore a more comprehensive phono stage solution, the Gold Note PH-10 represents the next significant step within the Gold Note range.

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. We can demonstrate the PSU-5 paired with the PH-5 in our Norwich showroom, so you can hear precisely what this external power supply contributes to the performance of the phono stage in a properly configured system. 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.