Gold Note HP-10

[MightyDha]

Damn, I would love one of those....

A few years back I demoed the DS 10 for a week or so. I was looking for a DAC and loved (still do, actually) my PH 10, so the DS 10 was high up on my list. I really wanted to love that unit but the DAC part of it and I never really clicked, so I went with the Yggy.

I did enjoy the DS 10's headphone amp a lot though, at least with the LCD2. I have been looking at solid state amps to complement my tube amp but was not considering anything above 1000$. I might make an exception for the Gold Note....

I'm curious to know what you didn't like about the DS-10's dac as I've not heard it before. I've read and heard online that it's considered a reference dac for many users. The HP-10 Deluxe dac should appease your curiosity as it is tailored towards headphones users. It's feature set is just too good to miss out on. You could just get the HP-10 (non deluxe) and use the Yggy as the dac.

 

[Pharmaboy]

I'm curious to know what you didn't like about the DS-10's dac as I've not heard it before. I've read and heard online that it's considered a reference dac for many users. The HP-10 Deluxe dac should appease your curiosity as it is tailored towards headphones users. It's feature set is just too good to miss out on. You could just get the HP-10 (non deluxe) and use the Yggy as the dac.

This question is going to be quite subjective, maybe difficult to answer. But there's something I have to know.

Background: I love powerful SS amps that sound somewhat warm (not super-sweet, just somewhat) & spacious. My gold standard is the Violectric V281/V280, with the Wells Milo being a touch more neutral but still in the same sonic ballpark. The SS amps I like don't have hyper-detailed, "forensic" sound (which usually strikes me as bright & edgy).

Is the HP-10 in the sonic neighborhood of other SS amps I like? Or can it be adjusted to be in that neighborhood?

FYI, my main use for this unit would be as a system preamp with headphone listening on occasion. The rest of the desktop system in question has been voiced per my preferences: Harbeth 30.1 mains, Bel Canto 600M monoblocks, MHDT Labs NOS DAC and Vio V281 preamp

 

[skraggy1981]

I'm curious to know what you didn't like about the DS-10's dac as I've not heard it before. I've read and heard online that it's considered a reference dac for many users. The HP-10 Deluxe dac should appease your curiosity as it is tailored towards headphones users. It's feature set is just too good to miss out on. You could just get the HP-10 (non deluxe) and use the Yggy as the dac.

It wasn't so much that I disliked the DS 10 but that I enjoyed the Gungnir I had at the time more. I really wanted to love and buy this thing but I just never had that 'oh yeah' moment.

Maybe it's all in my head but I've yet to listen to a D/S dac that excites me. The Gungnir was actually the first time I really enjoyed digital audio.

 

[MightyDha]

This question is going to be quite subjective, maybe difficult to answer. But there's something I have to know.

Background: I love powerful SS amps that sound somewhat warm (not super-sweet, just somewhat) & spacious. My gold standard is the Violectric V281/V280, with the Wells Milo being a touch more neutral but still in the same sonic ballpark. The SS amps I like don't have hyper-detailed, "forensic" sound (which usually strikes me as bright & edgy).

Is the HP-10 in the sonic neighborhood of other SS amps I like? Or can it be adjusted to be in that neighborhood?

FYI, my main use for this unit would be as a system preamp with headphone listening on occasion. The rest of the desktop system in question has been voiced per my preferences: Harbeth 30.1 mains, Bel Canto 600M monoblocks, MHDT Labs NOS DAC and Vio V281 preamp

I wouldn't call this amp bright/cold, it has a neutral/warmish sound signature yet retains all detail. I used to drive my headphones off an old Topping stack which I found quite sharp and cold sounding. The HP-10 still retains all the same details without being sharp. If you want to make the HP-10 colder sounding then you'll need to enable the super flat option which just retains the sound signature of the headphones you're using, whether it be bright, neutral, or warm.

The amp is already very spacious however if you would like a more spatial sound with extra warmth then crossfeed 2 will be your best friend. If you want to take the warmth away slightly then enable both crossfeed 2 and damping factor to low or enable super flat mode. Alternatively, you can select crossfeed 1 if you want to retain more of the amps sound signature with the extra spatial sound.

It wasn't so much that I disliked the DS 10 but that I enjoyed the Gungnir I had at the time more. I really wanted to love and buy this thing but I just never had that 'oh yeah' moment.

Maybe it's all in my head but I've yet to listen to a D/S dac that excites me. The Gungnir was actually the first time I really enjoyed digital audio.

Maybe give the HP-10 Deluxe a listen, you will be far from disappointed.

 

[skraggy1981]

Maybe give the HP-10 Deluxe a listen, you will be far from disappointed.

I don't doubt that at all.

I'll have some time to consider it, I just handed over HP 10 Deluxe money to my dentist, still got two wisdom teeth to go and also a foot surgery coming up, so the HP 10 might take a while until I can buy one in good conscience. Good thing I love my HP8 / Atrium combo so much...

I'm curious how well it works with planars, I think this could be a great match for sth. like the ZMF Caldera or Meze Empyrean.

 

[MightyDha]

I don't doubt that at all.

I'll have some time to consider it, I just handed over HP 10 Deluxe money to my dentist, still got two wisdom teeth to go and also a foot surgery coming up, so the HP 10 might take a while until I can buy one in good conscience. Good thing I love my HP8 / Atrium combo so much...

I'm curious how well it works with planars, I think this could be a great match for sth. like the ZMF Caldera or Meze Empyrean.

Instead just get the HP-10 Deluxe and a pair of pliers...

As far as planars go, I have the Arya Sealth and they sounds fantastic on the HP-10. Gold Note also sent me a list of headphones to best tailor them for the HP-10's feature set. The headphones you've mentioned are all on this list.
https://www.goldnote.it/download/media/products/HP-10/HP-10_Headphones_settings.pdf

 

[JohanE]

Damn I'm SO tempted to get myself one of these as I really love my DS-10 Plus. Going to have to demo one at home.

 

[MightyDha]

Damn I'm SO tempted to get myself one of these as I really love my DS-10 Plus. Going to have to demo one at home.

It honestly is a gamechanger! It's the perfect all-in-one in my eyes. I remember reading up about the DS-10 Plus and that many users have this in their chain as a reference/endgame dac.

The Dac and overall sound the HP-10 Deluxe reveals is just spectacular! Crisp, airy, and weighty.

 

[xenithon]

I’m using T+A HA200 in the past, now move to LTA Z10e Amp with Goldnote DS1000.
I just hear HP-10 in short time and very surprice this is at 2000$ price range. You can upgrade PSU 10 for better sound also.
At my point of view, using HP-10 + 01 streamer is about 70-80% quality as my current setup, but at very reasonable price
For Dac + amp separatedly we have to prepare more 1 power cord and interconnect cable.

I’m currently in the market for an all in one, to use with my Solitaire P and Elite. The HA200 is on the shortlist but is very expensive. Would be very interested to hear your thoughts on how the HP-10 Deluxe compares.

The other option on my list is the Questyle Master Eighteen.

 

[ducanh712]

I’m currently in the market for an all in one, to use with my Solitaire P Aba’s Elite. The HA200 is on the shortlist but is very expensive. Would be very interested to hear your thoughts on how the HP-10 Deluxe compares.

The other option on my list is the Questyle Master Eighteen.

I didn't do an A/B comparison because I sold the HA200 a long time ago
but my impression of the HA200 is very good, especially with the Sol P.
But price is an issue
The HP-10 can satisfy us in terms of sound without worrying too much about the wallet.

 

[xenithon]

I didn't do an A/B comparison because I sold the HA200 a long time ago
but my impression of the HA200 is very good, especially with the Sol P.
But price is an issue
The HP-10 can satisfy us in terms of sound without worrying too much about the wallet.

Thanks so much. Appreciate the feedback. The one other thing I’ve been meaning to ask - how is the detail retrieval and refinement of the HP-10? I don’t have the option to demo before buying, and the only concern I have is the use of the older AK4493 chip.

 

[ducanh712]

Thanks so much. Appreciate the feedback. The one other thing I’ve been meaning to ask - how is the detail retrieval and refinement of the HP-10? I don’t have the option to demo before buying, and the only concern I have is the use of the older AK4493 chip.

Detail retrieval very good
Sound clear and balanced sound
Refinement, as my listening impression, can not compete with HA200 and my LTA Z10e (with DS1000 Evo DAC)

 

[Vozbujdenie]

Does anyone know,where to buy it in usa? The music room doesn't sell it anymore

 

[MightyDha]

Thanks so much. Appreciate the feedback. The one other thing I’ve been meaning to ask - how is the detail retrieval and refinement of the HP-10? I don’t have the option to demo before buying, and the only concern I have is the use of the older AK4493 chip.

Do not worry too much about the chip itself. It's all about implementation. If the best dac chip in the world is assembled with poor implementation it will sound like hot garbage. There are quite a few reviewers out there who use Gold Note as their reference dac which says a lot. I have an old Topping dac with the same chip yet the Gold Note blows it out the park. It's more airy, weighty, and precise. I blind bought the HP-10 Deluxe and smiled instantly during the first listen. When it comes to desktop headphone listening this is all you'll ever need. It effortlessly drives even the most demanding headphones.

Detail retrieval very good
Sound clear and balanced sound
Refinement, as my listening impression, can not compete with HA200 and my LTA Z10e (with DS1000 Evo DAC)

Isn't the LTA a tube amp? I guess it all just comes down to taste and preference.

Does anyone know,where to buy it in usa? The music room doesn't sell it anymore

I'm sure if you contact the Gold Note team they can help you source one through a distributor in the US. They were very helpful when I sourced one here in the UK.

 

[Sword of Damocles]

I measured the frequency response with the different settings, so you can predict, how they might affect a specific headphone model.

The Harman options increase the ear gain area. For example, L peaks a bit earlier than M, while H mainly boosts the presence region. Activating all of the settings or using them as pairs seems to work a bit differently.

Super Flat is just an upper treble boost, which starts to kick in at 8 kHz. Can be useful with Crossfeed settings, which all increase the bass.

Crossfeed of course does other magic as well, but this is the FR change at bass frequencies. Option 1 seems to be the safest and it works almost with every headphone in my collection. For some headphones, the 5 dB bass boost with settings 2-4 starts to be a bit much, but you can always balance that with other settings (Harman & Super Flat)

Fiio FT5 is one of the headphones that really benefits from both Crossfeed 1 and Harman settings. This way it becomes well balanced. Same should happen with Meze Audio Empyrean and T+A Solitaire P, for example, as those are missing some of the ear gain compared to Harman target, but are otherwise quite linear.

I am borrowing the HP-10 Deluxe for a review, but I might buy the base model afterwards (I already own too many DACs). This thing sounds super nice! Compared to Ferrum Audio OOR as an amp only, HP-10 sounds more open and transparent. It also separates treble detail more easily, but isn't sharp or clinical at all. OOR sounds slightly fuller and smoother, but you lose some of the separation. The amp makes you focus on the vocalist and lower mids, while treble stays quite relaxed in the background. I like this, but HP-10 feels more high-end with its neutral and more separated presentation. Everything just sounds more lively compared to a slightly softer OOR. And when I activate the higher damping factor, HP-10 becomes even more dynamic. However, this setting alone increases the volume around 5 dB, so you have to lower it before making any comparisons to the lower damping factor.

By the way, HP-10 works well with Hifiman HE-6 and Mod House Audio Tungsten (Single sided), so you shouldn't need another amp for those.