CD / SACD players and transports — Gold Note CD-5

The CD-5 is a compact CD player from Gold Note, announced in October 2024 and now discontinued, replaced in the Tuscan company's range by the CD-5.2. It uses an AKM AK4493 DAC and a Stream Unlimited tray loader in the same 200 mm wide case as the 10 Series, and it provides analogue and digital outputs without digital inputs.

Key specs that matter

Conversion uses the AKM AK4493 chip, and the disc mechanism is a tray loader from Stream Unlimited running its SUOS-Hifi platform. Outputs are RCA and XLR at 2 V RMS with 100 ohm output impedance, plus coaxial at 75 ohms and optical digital outputs. No digital inputs are listed. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz within ±0.3 dB, THD is 0.001%, signal to noise ratio is 124 dB and dynamic range is 123 dB. Power consumption is 30 W. The player measures 200 x 80 x 260 mm and weighs 3 kg, with a case of black painted steel and aluminium. A touchscreen and remote control are provided.

Engineering and use context

As a dedicated CD player, the CD-5 plays discs and converts them in its own AK4493 DAC, and its two digital outputs can also pass the disc data to a separate converter. Balanced XLR sockets suit amplifiers with balanced inputs placed some distance away, and the front touchscreen operates the player. Gold Note offers the external PSU-10 EVO supply as an upgrade path. The painted steel and aluminium case differs from the anodised aluminium of the 10 Series models of the same size. Compared with the CD-10, the CD-5 lacks the coaxial and optical inputs and has slightly lower signal to noise and dynamic range figures, and it weighs 1 kg less.

Pairing

Any amplifier with RCA or XLR line inputs can take the output of the CD-5. Gold Note's PA-10 EVO power amplifier or HP-10 headphone amplifier share its compact format. Where a system already has a stand-alone converter, the CD-5 can feed it digitally, and other sources such as a turntable or streamer connect to the amplifier.

Alternatives

The Gold Note CD-10 is the 10 Series CD player in the same case size, adding coaxial and optical digital inputs and reaching higher signal to noise figures.