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Era Gold V Moving Magnet Phono Stage

Era Gold V MM Phono Stage

Although losing its flagship status to our Reflex M, the Era Gold V MM phono stage is still a miraculous and important milestone in MM phono stage development. Different pieces of legislation over the intervening years threatened it with extinction, but we went to great lengths to preserve its most precious attribute — that of being able to convey the depth of emotion in the music.

Designed for moving magnet, moving iron and high output moving coil cartridges, the Era Gold V MM phono stage was our very first "ultra-linear" design. In 2002, partnered with our Elevator EXP moving coil step-up amplifier, it was the best moving coil phono stage TNT reviewer, Geoff Husband, had ever heard.

[click an image to see all the slides]

Features

  • Fast-Active preamp and equalisation technology
  • Early Ultra-Linear technique
  • Inherent reduced vinyl click and pop characteristic
  • Rock steady sound stage
  • Truly 3D performance
  • Converts to Moving Coil with the addition of the Elevator EXP
  • Choice of power supply: PSU1 (recommended) or "green" switched mode

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

User Reviews

Excerpts taken from the Owners Club Forum:

"I chose the Era Gold V with SMPS as my first GSP product, the dealer was over 800 miles away but did offer 14 days money back. From the time I connected it up and played a few records there was never a chance that it was going back. I was using a Denon DL-110 on a modified P2/Tecnoarm and the Era Gold was better than the Dynavector P-75 I had a brief loan of... The PSU1 will certainly improve the EGV but it is still very good without.

tg

"I used to have a Headline and Stageline, both of which have been replaced by GSP's Solo UL (d.i.y. upgraded) and Era Gold V respectively. To my ears these GSP products are far better and more enjoyable/musical... I have to say that since buying the Era Gold V phono stage and upgrading my Pink Triangle t/t with a Roksan Nima arm, fed mostly through the Solo, cd listening has gone onto the back burner somewhat with vinyl centre stage - it's like listening to a whole new record collection!

oldagetraveller

"IMO, to my taste, in my system, I have a favorite and it's the: Era Gold V. I feel the EGV sound is more focussed, clearer and more realistic. I know it's not what the general consensus is, but hey it's me and MY system

Cyreg

"...I got an old turntable, got hold of a Pro-ject phono se amp, dug out my old vinyl and started to read of the superior sound of vinyl over digital. As much as I was open to believing this, I just was not getting this experience. So set off down the track of upgrade. First, new turntable, then new cartridge. But whilst a small improvement, still not up to my cd setup. Then came the Era Gold V. I won't try and go into detail about my experience, but will say that was the link that has now made me truthfully realise how vinyl listening is on an entirely different level to none hi res digital.

eleydesign

Media Reviews

"OK I'm going to nail my colours to the mast... 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]

"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]

"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]

Price

Era Gold V moving magnet phono stage supplied with "green" switched-mode power supply £377.10 (including 20% UK VAT)

Era Gold V moving magnet phono stage supplied with "PSU1" uni-polar power supply £520.80 (including 20% UK VAT)

Price does not include shipping.