THE GOLD NOTE A3 EVO II SPEAKERS

The Italian audio manufacturer Gold Note has been known for designing and manufacturing beautiful looking and sounding home playback gear since 2012. We have friends and colleagues who rave about the sonics and the craftsmanship. Until now though, we had had little experience with the brand. We took delivery of the Gold Note A3 EVO monitors, and put them through their paces for several months. 

This two way, standmount monitor is manufactured in Florence, Italy, as is the entire Gold Note product line. The speaker starts at $4,799 for a Walnut matte finish, with an upcharge for a very attractive Walnut gloss finish.  The A3 EVO is first in line among four other speakers Gold Note offers, all of these being impressive looking floorstanders. 

Design & Description:

The A3 EVO is stunning in appearance, and its contoured lines make quite a statement. This is not a surprise considering they are produced in one of the great cities of the Italian renaissance. One cannot help but gaze at them in admiration of their visual impact, and while their aesthetic appearance is in no way a prerequisite for enjoying their performance, it would still give you a sense of pride to own them just on that basis alone. Of note, the binding posts are of very high quality and accept bananas or spades.  The rear port is a specially formulated aluminium tube.

The A3 EVO  is a bass reflex design with a silk dome tweeter made by Gold Note. Silk dome tweeters are known for their organic, non-fatiguing sound. The published specifications note low frequency extension to 45 Hz, and a 6 Ohm load, with sensitivity at 87 dB.

The A3 EVO are not very large monitors but they are far from “bookshelf” speakers. They weigh a hefty 30 lbs each, and they feel very solid. The speakers ship with attractive grilles, but we never used them during listening, only to protect from dust.  Gold Note also makes dedicated stands for the A3 EVO for seamless integration. However, we used our own Sound Anchors 28 inch stands for the duration of the review. 

Set Up & Listening:

We set up the A3 EVO in a system that included a Sonore mircoRendu streamer, a Bryston BDA-3 DAC, a Rega Planar 6 turntable, a Schiit Freya+ preamp, and an Audio Research VS55 amplifier. Cables were a mix of Audio Art Cable and Black Cat. We started with the speakers firing straight forward but eventually settled on about 15 degrees of toe in, roughly 8 feet apart. We were able to allow for plenty of space around the speakers as well.  

After casually having music play for a few days to let the speakers settle in, we decided on a whim to start off critical listening with the Deluxe high-res remaster of  Led Zeppelin II. Having heard this remaster numerous times, as well as original vinyl pressings and various CD versions, we were quite surprised to be able to hear new levels of detail and layers through the A3 EVO. The percussion, bass line, and acoustic guitar on “Ramble On” were rendered in such a delicate way, it was revelatory. It was like noticing small details in an old painting that has been carefully restored.

We then streamed Elvis Presley’s From Elvis in Memphis, and Back in Memphis, two of Presley’s strongest LPs. They were recorded during a period considered his most artistically fruitful, with strong material and superb performances. The albums are packed with classic tracks like “Power Of My Love”, “Inherit The Wind”, “Kentucky Rain”, and “Long Black Limousine”. The material is a mix of country, soul, gospel, and rock. The songs are augmented by strings, horns, and great backing vocals. The A3 EVO did such a wonderful job of highlighting the creative energy of these 1968 and 1969 recordings.  And most importantly, Presley’s voice was front and center, almost spookily present.

Putting some vinyl spins into play, we really enjoyed an original green label Warner pressing of Van Morrison’s Moondance. The Celtic / folk / soul  hybrid Morrison was producing during this period was intricate and sonically nourishing. The A3 EVO made this album sound earthy and timeless. “And It Stoned Me” and “Into The Mystic” flowed out of the speakers effortlessly, with acoustic guitars shimmering, and the various layers of horns and keyboards delightfully easy to follow.

We then dug out a pristine copy of a Philips pressing of the London Symphony Orchestra performing Ravel’s Ma Mère L’Oye. We were dazzled by the sheer mystery of the music, and the A3 EVO unravelled the instrumental interplay beautifully. The woodwinds and strings had excellent texture and filigree. We enjoyed the presentation so much, we played the record several times front to back. 

Focusing on recent releases, we put some new 24 bit download purchases into rotation. First up was Hallival, by Iona Lane, a UK based songstress who specialises in ambient folk. Her music is both ethereal and seductive, calling upon British folk and subtle jazzy touches, and her own overdubbed harmony vocals.  Her powerful, clear voice came though the A3 EVO brilliantly.  Highly recommended!

We also enjoyed the debut release from New York City jazz drummer Charles Goold, Rhythm in Contrast. The album is a delight from start to finish, and features some of the most tasteful and vibrant new jazz we have heard for some time. Goold’s superb drumming, along with electric guitar, horns, vibes, and piano create a thrilling soundscape. The A3 EVO did a fantastic job of creating a “live” sound, so that the interplay between the musicians was a joy to behold. The textures of the acoustic instruments, and the tonality of the piano and vibes really showed how the Gold Note speakers strive for accuracy and beauty at the same time.

We were really pleased with the bass articulation, and the low end extension improved as the speaker loosened up. Right out of the box, however, the midrange and lower treble were perfectly balanced. The soft dome tweeter seems to have been perfectly calibrated, and also improved after a few days.. Once settled in, and positioned correctly for the room and listener position, it is smooth sailing.

Conclusion:

There was a descriptor that kept appearing in my mind after each listening session, and that word was elegance. That is how I would sum up my experience with the Gold Note A3 EVO speakers. There was something immersive about their performance. They draw the listener into the music, and make it difficult to end listening sessions. 

I can sum up the Gold Note A3 EVO monitors by saying they occupy that rare territory where recording accuracy and musical satisfaction interact. This is generally never an easy task from a designer’s standpoint. However, Gold Note has done it here. For those who have had their interest piqued, but who have large rooms, it would be a very good idea to audition the Gold Note floorstanding models. In our opinion, at around the $5000 Euro mark per pair, the A3 EVO is a superb value.

Gold Note A3 EVO: $4799-$5599 Euro

Frequency response: 45-20000Hz ±3dB

Sensitivity: 87dB SPL 2,83Vs/1m

Tweeter: 1” silk dome driver

Midwoofer: 6” in polypropylene

Impedance: 6ohm nominal

Dimensions: 240mm W x 345mm H x 295mm D

Optional Stands Available. 

GOLD NOTEGOLD NOTE A3 EVO II SPEAKERS