Wow! Hi End Brand Redefines Affordable Audio in Italy!

This high end brand is redefining what is possible in affordable with with their handmade Italian Hifi products. I had to see it to believe it! This is the Story of Gold Note...
For More info on Gold Note go to fidelityimports.com
This press trip was paid for by Fidelity Imports and the associated brands. However, they didn't require nor have any input into the making of this video or my opinions expressed in this video
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[@chrisbeall9098]

a good day is one where you learn something. I live in Italy and today I learned of this company. Thanx!!

[@tharveytucker1]

$1k isn’t affordable for the average listener. But the owner explained it best- affordable in the high end range. I’ll take that. Most products considered high end are far more. So bringing that cost down at the bottom end is a good thing.

[@stevezeidman7224]

Italy rocks, Randy. Beautiful looking components.

[@adsph]

Good to see companies like Gold Note. I never knew some products on the more affordable side existed. Hand made by good people is a great thing. Thanks for sharing Randy.

[@carminedesanto6746]

11:54 I love introducing people to better sound and seeing the expression on their faces 😊

[@stevenhunter3454]

Love it, a proper hifi company sourcing locally,making high quality ,value products in Italy- in style. ❤️

[@jerryjazzbo2845]

Italians do a lot of things so well. Art, fashion, cars, cuisine, decor...and audio (why not?). If you're in Tuscany now, that's one of the friggin' best countryside areas ever. May more companies like Gold Note thrive in the difficult audio market.

[@saverioricchiuto5386]

I wish I could see your wife’s reaction to your videos from Venice, Tuscany, etc. and “…I was working dear!” 😂

[@dingskydongsky]

really ? does he have a wife ?

[@cheapaudioman]

yeah. and a bunch of kids too.

[@peterlundskow4061]

I have heard of them but, great to learn more! What a beautiful trip you had to Italy! Bet you never expected to be doing something like this when you started the channel!

[@cheapaudioman]

not in a million years

[@mannye]

So nice to see a company that's sourcing locally and not giving in to the greed of making everything in China.

[@nc3419]

I have made a commitment to not buy a product domiciled in one country but outsourced to China, as well as elsewhere. I would consider a product made in China if by a Chinese company. Especially at full retail. If heavily discounted, at least 40% or more or used, I might give some consideration. Don't want to add to the success of that government or them building their military. It's tough in Europe as the cost of doing business is often prohibitive but then, the people should act to change things and keep business within their borders. Emotiva while successful, I would consider if built in Taiwan, but not the mainland. Same for other companies, such as Dali. I have the Opticon 1 and like it. Would not have bought it if it were made in China.

[@jorgenavas6704]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@lukerestlessstudios]

This isn’t an option for every company especially when starting out. Plus China has more manufacturing ability today than other nations. Yes I mean high quality manufacturing not just sweat shops.

[@cheapaudioman]

Well the cool thing is that we can vote With our wallets and highlighting gold note as well as many American independents makes my heart happy. There are real companies that are choosing to make things where they want and how they want. So cool to have choices

[@gvr6079]

Shame .... Europe is in the state it is not because of the Chinese but because of the idiots in charge of the EU. Making policies that chase companies away and then blame the Chinese.

[@WireHedd]

I was sold the second he said KISS Dynasty was his big influence. That is a man who speaks truth cuz NOBODY else would admit to that. Awesome video Randy, thanks.

[@LOUDERthanU]

Dynasty? Back in Black? Its my long lost Italian brother🕺🏻

[@cheapaudioman]

Right!?

[@paulantoine1696]

Loved this episode... particularly enjoyed the interview with the CEO Maurizio Aterini. He **gets it** with respect to audio, technology, innovation... and frankly the opportunity and scope for the industry. I do wish everyone approached running their company the way he does, and thinking about his business the way he does. Being a technologist I've been endlessly annoyed by so many new products and their approach, especially anything that involves software. Gold Note seem to understand!

[@scottzahn3298]

I heard a Goldnote IS1000 against a Hegel 390 and was floored how much better it sounded. Never heard of the brand before that, I hope you can review their cheaper integrated amp.

[@cheapaudioman]

definitely happening

[@walterdockins8475]

That integrated is on my wish list!

[@Yeybeth]

😮!!! Very nice editing video 👍 and also your tour is amazing. I enjoyed your video

[@ericlane5949]

That phono stage looks awesome. Dialing in vinyl playback on the fly would be fantabulous!

[@cheapaudioman]

I’m going to get one in for review

[@lokerola]

@@cheapaudioman Looking forward to that review.

[@1mctous]

Their PH-10 and PH-5 have already been rave reviewed by Ken Micallef and others. Ken's PH-10 review answered my question about what the "enhanced" EQ does: it allows treble up to 50 KHz if your cartridge can track such high frequencies (CD-4 quad records came to mind with their 38 KHz rear channel subcarriers).

[@riccitone]

What a great feature here. Glad you’re putting some attention their way! Love my GoldNote PA-10 amp. Powerful, dynamic, balanced, beautiful midrange, and a beautiful, compact enclosure. This video was a work of art, Randy👌🏼

[@frankvalls2487]

I just really like your new direction. Really interesting and out of the norm for the corporate world. Optimism is the feel that I take away. Keep the good stuff coming.

[@kujiko88]

While I'll probably never have the kind of money to buy even their cheapest product, I can appreciate what these guys are doing and what they're striving for. Every product looked beautifully made.

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Stunning video and scenery. Thank you for taking us along on your journey, both physically and musically. You're really getting out there! Stay well and safe, brother.

[@rupertherbert594]

glad you had the opportunity to go in such beautiful place,, really surrounded by art, also proud to see how people could do such beautiful things here in Italy. Thanks for the video :)

[@mohammedabdulla85]

bottle of Sassaica just chilling on the CEO's desk, so perfect!

[@ethimself5064]

More eye candy👍I believe my eyes are now drooling. All parts made in Italy and sourced within 2 hours is very impressive

[@theoriginalbamboorollingtip]

The amp case light fixtures were Rad!

[@jipillow1]

You dont have to have the gold leaf turntable, but you want the gold leaf turntable

[@Aubury]

I remain impressed with my Unico hybrid amplifier, a long term love affair. Italian HIFi has so much to commend it.

[@patbarr1351]

Good to hear! I'm still using my tiny Italian made M2 Tech DAC and it's been about 10 years.

[@Jason787]

I so love this vlog style videos over standard face in camera review. Of course just my personal preference.

[@CommanderGinyu]

I own the DS-10 EVO streaming dac and it sounds absolutely phenomenal. All their products I’ve heard from them do far have exceeded expectations

[@ColoGrayWolf]

I am impressed! The passion is clearly present in what they do...A distinctly Italian attitude!

[@craigforeman903]

I'm starting to really love Italy. I found Sonus faber after a search for better speakers the past few months. Now Gold Note. I love the shared passion for art and performance. I would love to get an amp from them if they do have something affordable in the future.

[@HoundStuff]

Very cool, neat to see their space, products, and hear from their people!

[@paulcsaszar5824]

Man those products are drop dead gorgeous especially the speakers.....wow

[@kymvalleygardensdesign5350]

A beautifully shot episode, loving the egg boxes for stopping screws and washers from going on the floor. I might well employ that idea myself. Thats what it is all about lifting the veil.

[@yuckysamson]

Randy! RANDY! RAN, RAN, RAN-MAN. wow. The pull out from the window was bordering on serious filmmaker auteur chops my friend. Careful now.

[@cheapaudioman]

ahhh... thanks. I was pretty proud of that shot. I'm having a lot of fun trying to do new things

[@yuckysamson]

@@cheapaudioman Part of the reason it works is that--and bear in mind, this opens up a larger conversation about the fact that Randy learns, as Arnold would say in T2 regarding cyberdine systems, "at a geometric rrrate...."--is the edit. By now you clearly realize that the edit is, in effect, figuratively and literally, everything. So the cut from your colleague taking the exterior building shot on his cell phone to 'entering' the room from the window via the trucking back works on two levels, or perhaps three; the outside-to-inside transition, looking at a building vs. looking FROM a building back, and the diegetic acknowledgement of the camera as apparatus (via the building ext. moment) to the use of your camera to pull backwards. The shot itself is great, but the context makes it that much better.

[@cheapaudioman]

@@yuckysamson I wish I could say it was on purpose. Maybe subconsciously it was. I do believe the story is in the edit. The only thing that I knew was that it “felt right” I was proud of both of those shots and it made sense to put them where they landed in the final edit. I wasn’t thinking of it that way but man o man if I having fun with making my silly little movies

[@yuckysamson]

@@cheapaudioman "felt right" = "on purpose." The only thing I can say is that perhaps, with time, decisions like these will be better informed (i.e. asking yourself, 'why does this work better'? and having an answer as to how and why) but ultimately you've already shown the instinct to edit with intention to storytell. That's great.

[@thmmikweb]

Very nice!!!! I've had Gold Note IS-1000 deluxe for 5-6 years now! I love this amp, it's roon ready and it has a very good phone stage.

[@martincrisler7728]

Thank you, Randy for sharing this tour with us. This was awesome! All I knew about Gold Note was they made rather expensive high end cartridges. It is really great to find out how passionate they are about all the different items they design and make, how many items are made with affordability in mind!! Thanks again!

[@rosswarren436]

Wow, I only knew them as turntable cartridge makers (their Vasari series). Never had a clue they had all this other cool stuff. Neat.

[@LS-ti6jo]

My dealer turned me on to Gold Note during Covid when I got back into playing records. Now I have a Rega P10 table fronted by a Gold Note PH10 + PSU10 power supply. Highly Satisfying. Thanks tp you I now know of their CD-10 and will check it out.

[@bentleygt3716]

BEAUTIFUL looking equipment, and a great place too. thanks for the tour.

[@raddad10]

Love to video as it always fun to dream. BTW, who is this Neil that you speak of who can upgrade the Sony SSCS5 crossovers . Thanks again

[@adamcanterbury]

Love your content Randy...😊 keep doing you cause your followers love what you do

[@peterowings7233]

Fantastic infomercial!

[@cheapaudioman]

Glad you think so!

[@farrd14]

Italian guy had a Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido sitting on the shelf behind him...speaking of hi-end😅

[@paulbugoni2846]

Grande vino!

[@kaminobatto]

I love such videos, I learned something new watching this as I've never heard of these guys before. Their motto at 12:08, and while it means "The Italian Sound" kinda reminds me of Toto Cutugno's "L'italiano" when he says "sono un italiano" and it's quite appropriate in the context of this video when you consider "lasciatemi cantare" as well, especially with Gold Note being an Italian audio company and all. I don't know if any of this makes sense to anyone else :D

[@jonjoubert4734]

Well done Randy. I am glad that you were able to get outa Dodge and be there in person. Very nice video...one of your best.

[@jamesatkins8344]

Nice to see things being done for all the right reasons

[@Solicitor1957]

Lovely. Great story. Italian style is something else….

[@Ian-wh8ut]

That was way unexpected and totally awsome! CAM upping the game.I do wish it was longer tho.

[@mikemunro811]

The GOLD NOTE logo looks very GOLDENEYE 😎

[@vulgarninja9]

My kitchen remodel will include a pair of Cornwall IV's and a hot tub.

[@marchuvfulz]

The problem small firms traditionally have is with maintaining high quality while scaling production. This is much harder to do than it sounds, and pressure to hold prices down, to "build to a price point," invariably introduces compromises. Nice vid, and good luck to Gold Note.

[@hamidrezahabibi8111]

I knew you’re going to Gold Note one day. It’s your thing. 👍🤜

[@terryhu57]

The trip of a lifetime

[@bengleason508]

I hope you are back safe and sound.

[@derekpaisley620]

Love the vlog. Great editing 👌

[@montycaps8235]

Great job!!! I absolutely love the Gold Note products and their approach. Been a fan for years and now happy to say I own a Giglio table with the B7 arm , the PH10 with power supply and have a back up Donatello Gold cart as a back up. When shopping for a table I had gone through a few different brands but they won by a huge margin for me and my ears. They seem to work on making something musical first then fill in the blanks suck as details and all the other audiophile buzz words. A lot of tables and products are hell bent on detail first then hoping it still has a soul left (cough, cough Clearaudio. Haha. ) my journey for an all Gold Note setup continues. Cheers !!

[@harrisarp3841]

Bravo Randy!!!Since you are in Italy come to Greece too!!!

[@cheapaudioman]

would love to

[@harrisarp3841]

Would love to show you around if you come.

[@computerfreakch8912]

With all the good said, this place looks more like a showroom than like a factory

[@cheapaudioman]

You haven’t been to as many audio companies as I have. Most are some offices with jack snd crap being made there

[@justasimplefox]

Will there be a streamer only (without dac)?

[@bengleason508]

I love their black boxes.

[@Alamo-cz5xc]

Good video Randy

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Need to keep doing on location videos - if you can even around home. I love the dynamics of these shots. it's great. =)

[@timbacchus]

Thank you so much for this

[@scottbaylor6215]

Looks awesome.

[@saedamad]

Wow ! ! it amazing....

[@jakedavila4468]

Nice change on different products and presentations

[@bingdong8571]

A free trip to italy! Im not buying a single word of what ur saying but im also not hating.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Very interesting company. I would love to hear some of their gear.

[@bruceevans3746]

Love the extra effort you put in to provide something unique for your viewers! Not only is this video good for us, hoping it’s good for you too, which is good for us! Way to separate yourself from the pack.

[@jim010109]

That was cool! Is thier stuff even available in the US?

[@MultiRalvarado]

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing that. Never heard about that brand, probably because of the price 😊. But i liked the idea of affordable equipments, usually share something (design, components) from the high end line on the low cost gear. Love the assembly line, very clean and organized, Very typical of manufacturing in Europe.👍🏻

[@MakubexGB]

Looks like an awesome place to work at. I do wonder how far the "hand made" part goes. Like does it just mean hand assembled or do they go as far hand soldering all the components on the PCBs and even manually create some of those components?

[@DigitalDonAV]

Great Video Brother!

[@Theupgradeguy]

Nice introduction and profile video of a company.

[@NeilBlanchard]

I have heard of Gold Note - but I thought it was a Japanese company - thank you for the correct info. They certainly do make gorgeous stuff! I'm sure it sounds good, too.

[@mattrismatt]

Where can I look into the HP-10 headphone amplifier?

[@martinmerino3272]

Hope you get to review that phono stage! Looks amazing.

[@cheapaudioman]

I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen

[@crimlarksSteve]

Very cool!

[@rabit818]

I love Italian shoes and Italian cars working or not. Italian audio needs to be explored

[@johnnyholm1493]

That wine farm, is that located around Florence? If so i've benen Therese at at wedding a few years ago.🙂

[@jma4038]

Their warehouse entrance looks like a Golds Gym hah!

[@ronenbuium7699]

To see more and more devices with EQ, it's a very good news! For example, I can get that Harman Curve (Target Frequency Response) that produces the “best possible sound” for headphones.! Thanks...

[@Knhifi]

So, besides making products in Italy in a factory with an indoor pool, hiw do their products distinguish from other hifi products? Any new technologies?

[@AudiophileJunkie]

Nice job!

[@uclaxab]

love your videos Randy; works of art. Are you planning to visit Sonus Faber?

[@lordhonest72]

At least you’ll know what good coffee tastes like now

[@archonblaze]

Those half width chassis in the gold finish look phenomenal. If they sound as good as they look…. Non China build quality like this for 2-3k USD pricing is unheard of these days so hats off to them. I want to check out the DS-10 EVO streaming dac/pre

[@flynow5614]

Once again great video. Try and do a video with John Grado. Stand up guy and Iv,e owned his products for 40 years.

[@contemporaryhomeaudio]

The answer to the question at 6:00 minutes is Rega.

[@cheapaudioman]

great catch. I also thing Project is also making stuff out of their European facility.

[@nicksundby]

As a Brit I can confirm that Italy is better

[@gibcoprobe66]

Glad I bought my PH-5 before that vid came out

[@1mctous]

They'll soon be like Kitsune with a months-long waiting list for their LCR Mk. V phono stage.

[@MrKarlengel]

I went to look for Franco Battiato. Elegant and delightful Italian pop. A sort of Italian Thomas Dolby.

[@francescotenti193]

Randy, in Italy you have to listen to Lucio Dalla and Fabio Concato, you won't regret it!

[@duckofdeath3266]

DSP in headphone amps \o/ I like my Topping EX5, but flat sound _is_ kind of flat sounding. Where the only option to get some oomph is to raise the volume way above what's good for the ears. I will definitively look into this brand, once I get out of the cheap audio bracket. 😅

[@rblack77]

@cheapaudioman- I think from a comment that you made once that you may be in the Dallas area. Is that correct and if so, will you be at CanJam in November? I really enjoy and benefit from your content and would love to say hi if you’re gonna be there.

[@cheapaudioman]

for sure if it's not during Capital Audio Fest

[@steveh545]

randy, were you staring at the watch behind the CEO when he was talking? lol

[@theaudiofool5475]

Some twenty years ago there was an Italian brand named Blue Note, did this company came from that? Or did they have to change the name because of the Blue Note record lable? I remember some Blue Note speakers I have heard several times at Audio Selectief in Sneek in the Netherlands. These were exceptional sounding floorstanders for only €3000,-

[@cheapaudioman]

Yes. Blue note and then black not and then they got rolled into gold note. All the same place though

[@ahmeteren4561]

Absolutely garbage products! I bought their phono combo ph-10 with the dedicated psu-10 separate power supply for 2900€. Not even after a year ph-10 blew my wilson audio watt puppy 5 tweeter with a micro peak! I tried to return to after sales assistance for a repair. After weeks of trying to reach the company I was directed to one of their authorized repair services who simply denied even to see the product saying that the company is full of these boxes which they don’t even know what to do with… if you want pay a nice logo, a well sculptured box, go ahead and buy their junk. But be aware, they are not well engineered, and when they go bad, just forget about the guarantee, assistance which is inexistent… by the way i I live in Turin , ITALY.

[@alastairmackay4589]

A workplace with a pool. I’m in!

[@gblan]

I love the look and concept of this "affordable" gear but alas I'm more in the used Emotiva category. Meh, gets the job done I suppose.