Born from the same philosophy that shaped the acclaimed DS 10 EVO, the Gold Note DS 5.2 streaming DAC is not a simplified derivative but a more compact, accessible and immediate interpretation of that concept. Its purpose is clear: delivering true hi end performance, control and musical integrity in a form that integrates naturally into modern systems and living spaces.

At the heart of the project lies a precise conviction: a digital source should do more than reproduce a file correctly. It must reveal the truth of the recording – its identity, intention and original coherence. The Gold Note DS 5.2 streaming DAC exists for this very purpose.

In today’s digital landscape, attention often gravitates toward DAC chips, numbers and technical acronyms. For Gold Note digital audio is not about spectacular effects, artificial hyper detail or instantly impressive sonic colouring. It is about understanding the recording itself. The DS 5.2 was not created to sound “more impressive.” It was created to remove everything that stands between the recording and the listener.

To achieve this, the project began with a vast archive of reference recordings collected by Gold Note over decades – recordings whose context we know intimately. These recordings serve as absolute references and not to be altered or reinterpreted, but to be understood. By knowing how a record should sound, Gold Note’s engineers can design digital systems capable of distinguishing what belongs to the original performance from what is introduced by playback limitations.

This is where Gold Note’s digital philosophy begins: not by constructing an artificial sound, but by creating architectures that extract the truth of the recording.

In the analogue domain, Gold Note pursues musical truth through equalisation curves. In digital audio, the principle remains the same, though the method differs.

Just as the Gold Note PH 5.2, PH 10 and PH 1000 phono stages preserve the identity of analogue recordings through correct equalisation, the Gold Note DS 5.2 applies the same philosophy digitally through knowledge, reference and absolute control of playback. The result is not a more “crafted” sound, but one that is more correct, coherent and faithful to the original artistic intention.

For Gold Note, musical truth does not come from filters or imposed effects. It comes from a deep understanding of the recording and all its nuances.

The Gold Note DS 5.2 is designed to be the centre of a contemporary audio system. Its streaming platform supports:

• Roon Ready
• TIDAL Connect
• Qobuz Connect
• Spotify Connect and Spotify Lossless HD

and shares the robust network architecture of DS 10 EVO for maximum stability and quality.
Additional features include:

• Bluetooth In/Out
• Dedicated digital output for use as a pure streamer
• HDMI eARC for seamless TV integration
• Colour touchscreen with cover art display
• Integrated line level preamplifier

Thanks to this versatility, the Gold Note DS 5.2 goes beyond the traditional hi end streamer. It communicates effortlessly with stereo systems, televisions, wireless headphones, desktop setups, gaming environments and compact modern installations—always maintaining a coherent audiophile approach.

Despite its compact size, the Gold Note DS 5.2 features a fully balanced design developed according to Gold Note principles of control, naturalness and sonic coherence. Every circuit choice aims to minimise noise, instability and interference while preserving dynamic ease, spatial depth and musical credibility.

The Gold Note DS 5.2 is also conceived as part of a modular, scalable ecosystem. Its compatibility with the PSX 5.2 external power supply allows the system to evolve progressively enhancing control, stability, naturalness and dynamics without requiring a full product replacement.

This reflects a core Gold Note principle: to create coherent architectures that grow with the user, rather than isolated products that quickly become obsolete.

Like all Gold Note products, the DS 5.2 is designed, assembled and tested entirely in Italy. For Gold Note, Made in Italy is not merely a geographical label – it is a design method that unites manufacturing culture, musical research, production control and engineering precision within a single coherent vision.

The Gold Note DS 5.2 demonstrates that a modern digital source can be compact, elegant, accessible and deeply versatile without sacrificing the design depth of true high fidelity.

Features

DAC: AKM AK4493
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz +/-0.1dB
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): 0.001% max
Signal to Noise Ratio: 125dB
Dynamic Range: 120DB
Output Impedence: 100Ω
Preamp Stage Volume Control: enabled/disabled
Network Connectivity: LAN/WLAN (WiFi) 10/433Mbps 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Dual Band Bluetooth 5.2, aptX HD 24bit
High Resolution Streaming: Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, MQA, Spotify Connect, Airplay 2, Roon Ready, Spotify Lossless, Deezer, vTuner
Supported Audio Formats (Network): Up to PCM 32bit/384kHz AIFF (.aif, .aiff, .aifc) ALAC WAV (.wav) packed/unpacked FLAC MP3 DSD256: DSF, DFF Apple Lossless OGG Monkey’s IMPORTANT: UPnP server must support DSD streaming in order to stream DSD files.
Supported Media Servers: All UPnP, DLNA, Roon

Technical Specifications

Digital Inputs: 1 x RCA coaxial PCM up to 24bit/192kHz, 1 x TOS-optical PCM up to 24bit/192kHz, 1 x HDMI eARC 24bit/192kHz (Support HDMI CEC), 1 x USB-A port DSD256 and PCM up to 32bit/ 384kHz, formatted in FAT32/NTFS (32Gb max for pen drives), 1 x USB-C asynchronous PCM up to 16bit/48kHz, 1 x Network (LAN/WLAN) DSD256 and PCM up to 32bit/384kHz, 1 x Bluetooth 5.2 aptX- HD 24bit
Digital Outputs: 1 x RCA coaxial PCM up to 24bit/192kHz, 1 x Bluetooth 5.2, aptX- HD 24bit
Analogue Inputs: 1 x Stereo RCA (input impedance 10kΩ)
Audio Outputs: DAC – 1 x stereo RCA unbalanced 2Vrms, 1 x stereo XLR balanced 2Vrms. Preamplifier -1 x stereo RCA unbalanced, 1 x stereo XLR balanced, 1 x headphone (6,3mm jack)
Power Supply: 100-240V / 50-60Hz
Fuse: 2A T
Power Consumption: 35W
Dimensions: 200 W x 80 H x 260 D mm
Weight: Kg. 4 net, Kg. 5 boxed
Finish: Black anodised aluminium
App: GN Control App
Remote Control: Multifunctional IR remote control