More
miracles!
Phono Stage Preamp for Moving Magnet Sensitivity Cartridges:
The Era Gold V
The Era Gold V phono stage preamp is for moving magnet, moving iron and high
output moving coil phono cartridges in the range 2mV to 10mV.
"This amazing-sounding product took me by surprise. I continue to
recommend it for high-output moving coil cartridges..." [Michael Fremer,
Analog Corner, Stereophile, September 2007]
It is one of the very few phono stage preamps ever to remain in
Stereophile magazine's class-A recommended section for four years! It
still features as a Stereophile recommended product.
It
was also Hi-Fi News 2005 award winner along with the
Elevator EXP. (click
here for bigger image)
A fixed gain RIAA phono stage preamp, the Era Gold V marked a "sea
change" in phono stage preamp design. The Era Gold V pushed bandwidth wide
open, something phono stage preamps just didn't do! It brought high
stability video frequency technology to vinyl to the surprise of many.
Musical boundaries were broken down to reveal sound-scapes extending well
beyond the listening room! And from normal commercial pressings at that!
It also brought about an understanding about "burn-in" that few hi-fi
enthusiasts had known before. Burn-in was well understood by precision ADC
(analogue to digital) chip technology engineers early in development
history. Common electronic components like resistors had been found to
take as long as six months to settle to the point of maximum accuracy.
Those reviewers patient enough discovered the secret depths of the Era
Gold V phono stage preamp, which after 3 weeks being constantly on,
delivered hitherto unknown levels of vinyl musicality. Unfortunately there
were also impatient reviewers who could have prevented many vinyl lovers
finding this gem, but for...
"OK I'm going to nail my colours to the mast... (and I'm going to do
the same with an arm next review...) Lucio has banned us from saying "best
I've ever heard" "never heard anything as good" etc as it begs the
question "compared to what?" and is often meaningless hype. But here I've
listed the runners and riders, added the caveat "in my system and room"
and finally "to my ears", so here goes. The Era Gold + Elevator EXP is the
best phono combination for MC's I've ever heard - period... "
[Geoff Husband, TNT Audio, July
2002]With the Elevator EXP step-up amplifier for moving coil, the moving
magnet sensitivity Era Gold V, with a patient reviewer, had finally been
recognised. Within 18 months word had reached the USA...
"Given its price and its miraculous - and this agnostic means
miraculous - performance. I recommend the GSP Audio Era Gold Mk.V as
enthusiastically, if not more so, as I've recommended any product I've
reviewed and recommended in all the years I've been doing this." [Michael Fremer, Analog Corner, Stereophile,
January 2004]
More reviews and accolades followed, perhaps too many to list here? But
if you want more let us know at the
owners forum. The "What Hi-Fi" page also shows a snip from their
review.
The Era Gold V, though superseded by the
Reflex M (M2) is still
available due to popular demand.
Specification
Input range: 2mV to 10mV
Output (for input range): 252mV to 1,260mV (1.26V)
Maximum input: 39mV rms
Maximum output: 4.914V rms
Gain: 42dB (126) at 1kHz
Input impedance: 47k Ohms plus 100pf
Output (driving/source) impedance: 910 Ohm
Recommended load impedance: 10k Ohm or greater
Noise at output: -65dB CCIR Q-pk
Distortion: 0.02%
RIAA accuracy: <0.5dB
Channel balance: 0.2dB
Channel separation: 64dB
Size: (approx.) W: 107 x H: 50 x D: 180 (mm) inc. jacks
Prices
£434.00 supplied with PSU1 power supply; £314.25 supplied with "intro"
plug-top power supply. Prices in GBP (pounds sterling) ex VAT/GST
