Gold Note CD-5.2
Gold Note CD-5.2
Gold Note CD-5.2
Gold Note CD-5.2
Gold Note CD-5.2
Gold Note CD-5.2
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CD-5.2

£1,250 inc VAT

The CD-5.2 is a ground-up evolution of Gold Note’s acclaimed CD-5, redesigned around the same engineering priorities that define the entire Series 5.2 platform: lower noise, greater stability and improved usability. At its core is the high-precision Stream Unlimited SUOS-Hifi tray-loading mechanism paired with an AKM AK4493 DAC, delivering a level of digital retrieval and conversion that comfortably exceeds what the compact chassis might suggest.

The addition of an integrated volume control — new for the 5.2 generation — means the CD-5.2 can drive a power amplifier or active loudspeakers directly, without a preamplifier in the chain. With both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analogue outputs, digital outputs for use as a transport, and an upgrade path via the optional PSX-5.2 external power supply, this is a CD player designed for systems where disc playback is taken seriously.

Gold Note CD-5.2 Gold Note CD-5.2 Gold Note CD-5.2 Gold Note CD-5.2

Compact but mighty

 
In any audio system, the quality of the source sets the ceiling for everything that follows. A CD player that reads the disc accurately, converts the data cleanly and delivers the analogue signal with minimal interference gives every downstream component the best possible material to work with. The CD-5.2 is built around that principle.
The transport mechanism is a tray-loading unit manufactured by Stream Unlimited (SUOS-Hifi), the Austrian specialist whose mechanisms are found in CD players at considerably higher price points. It reads standard Red Book CDs as well as CD-R and CD-RW discs, with gapless playback ensuring that continuous recordings — live albums, classical works, concept records — are reproduced without the brief silences that lesser transports can introduce between tracks. Speed fluctuation is specified at 0.0001%, reflecting the mechanical precision of the drive system.

Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by an AKM AK4493, a well-regarded DAC chip that provides the foundation for a clean, detailed and dynamically responsive analogue output. The audio path is laid out on a multi-layer PCB using carefully selected audio-grade components, with the signal routed through sealed single relays to keep the path as short and interference-free as possible. The measured results reflect this attention to detail: total harmonic distortion of 0.001%, a signal-to-noise ratio of 124 dB and a dynamic response of 123 dB — figures that place the CD-5.2 well above its price class.

The new black anodised sandblasted aluminium chassis follows the Series 5.2 design language and is chosen for its low interaction with magnetic fields. In a CD player, where the transport mechanism itself is a source of vibration and the DAC circuitry is sensitive to electrical interference, this matters. The chassis provides a more stable mechanical and electrical environment, contributing to lower background noise and improved fine-detail retrieval.

An upgraded internal power supply delivers greater control and dynamic stability than the original CD-5. Power supply quality has a direct and audible effect on the composure and authority of a CD player’s output, particularly during dynamically complex passages. For those who want to go further, the optional PSX-5.2 external inductive power supply provides a dedicated, isolated supply that further extends dynamic range and lowers the noise floor.

One of the most significant additions to the CD-5.2 is the integrated volume control. This allows the unit to be connected directly to a power amplifier or a pair of active loudspeakers, bypassing a preamplifier entirely. The result is an ultra-short signal chain — disc to DAC to amplification — with fewer components and fewer potential points of degradation. For listeners building a compact, high-quality system around CD playback, this is a genuinely practical feature that the original CD-5 did not offer.

The touchscreen display on the front panel provides clear, immediate access to transport controls and settings, complemented by the included multifunctional remote control. Analogue outputs are provided in both unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR formats, each delivering a 2 Vrms signal. For use as a standalone transport with an external DAC, coaxial S/PDIF (75 Ω) and optical TOS-Link digital outputs are also included.

The CD-5.2 shares the compact 200 mm-wide form factor of the wider Series 5.2 range, making it straightforward to integrate into existing systems or to build a matched Gold Note stack alongside the PH-5.2, HP-5.2 and PSX-5.2. It is a CD player that takes the format seriously — engineered not as a nostalgic concession to physical media, but as a high-performance source component in its own right.

Specification

CD Player
TypeCD transport with integrated D/A converter
D/A ConverterAKM AK4493
MechanismTray loader by Stream Unlimited (SUOS-Hifi)
Disc CompatibilityCD, CD-R, CD-RW (Red Book)
Gapless PlaybackSupported
Speed Fluctuation0.0001%
Audio Performance
Frequency Response20 Hz – 20 kHz ± 0.3 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)0.001% max
Signal-to-Noise Ratio124 dB
Dynamic Response123 dB
Volume ControlYes — for direct connection to power amplifiers or active loudspeakers
Outputs
Analogue Outputs1× unbalanced RCA (2 Vrms)
1× balanced XLR (2 Vrms)
Digital Outputs1× coaxial S/PDIF (75 Ω)
1× TOS-Link optical
Output Impedance100 Ω
Power
Power Supply100–240 V, 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption30 W
Fuse2A T
Dimensions & Weight
Dimensions200 W × 80 H × 260 D mm
Weight3 kg (net)
4 kg (boxed)
Additional
FinishBlack anodised sandblasted aluminium
Remote ControlMultifunctional remote included
UpgradesPSX-5.2 external inductive power supply

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