It can be said that the Goldmund Telos 590 NextGen II amplifier remains a champion when it comes to detail reproduction – both in music, performance and engineering. But what is more amazing, the amplifier also brings the power, the solidity and the density of the sound at an unbelievable level.
Before this review, please also say that I am not a fan of the built-in amps. Cramming an entire preamp, poweramp, and even a digital source into one box to me has never seemed the smartest technical choice. Clearly, such a composite design not only significantly increases the risk of electromechanical interactions between three different circuits, but the power supply also faces the ability to provide independent stable power to multiple functional boards. . However, after a period of experience with Goldmund Telos 590 NextGen II, a 125W Class A / B amplifier, equipped with 384K / 32-bit DAC decoder, I and a few colleagues had to change their perception. about the performance capabilities of the integrated amplifier. Technical structure On the outside, the Telos 590 NextGen II looks identical to its predecessor, NextGen I, which was once highly regarded. It’s a rectangular box made of solid, harmonious, rectangular steel, weighing about 20kg, with an LED display that serves as a center console in the center of the front. Above the screen is a glossy gold Goldmund logo placed solemnly in the center. The display correctly shows 3 indicators: on the left side is the selected number of inputs (from “1” to “8” and all stops in the middle); on the right is the volume level (from “00” to “99”); and the center indicates the device’s power status (a pair of horizontal bars light up confirming that the source is turned on and the built-in device is ready to play music). There are metal knobs on either side of the LED screen (two buttons in total). The left button will change the input and the right button will change the volume. The knobs when turned quite lightly and show the next drag when rotating. While the input and volume controls can be done directly via the front panel controls, Goldmund still features a compact metal remote control to meet the demands of lazy audiophiles. moved on. This remote also lets you perform other functions through the buttons. In addition to changing the input and volume levels, it allows you to mute the pre-amp (also turn off the volume lights on the right side of the LED panel) or put the unit in Standby mode (this also dimming the whole monitor sets). On the back, the Telos 590 NextGen II has 8 inputs and a complete set of loudspeaker wiring stakes without criticism. If you are an audio enthusiast using subwoofer, you will be out of luck with the Telos 590 NextGen II, because the manufacturer wants this integrated amplifier to be a “purest” component for the sound system. stereo and traditional two-channel music lover. The amplifier has 3 digital inputs including a USB 2.0 port, a TosLink and a 75 ohm SPDIF coaxial and 5 pairs of analog RCA. The machine is also integrated 32-bit DAC, with the ability to receive and decode high-resolution digital music sources in a variety of formats, including 32bit / 384kHz PCM and DSD 128. The fin-shaped heatsinks are designed on either side of the chassis. Unlike Krell, which often makes “razor sharp”, the radiator of Telos 590 Nextgen II is smooth enough to touch without causing injury and although in fact this amplifier has a fairly large capacity, but they are still not too hot. . It’s all thanks to Goldmund recently developing a sophisticated cooling system. “The company has created a mechanical link between the power MOSFETs and the heatsink to make heat dissipation more efficient. This mechanical refinement contributes to flexibility, providing extreme dynamics and speed. In fact, the Telos 590 NextGen II has become refined, comfortable and smooth with dense colors and details No one would have thought that a mechanical device, independent of the actual circuit. , it can make such a profound difference “. As many people know, Goldmund’s electronics have long been praised for their power, speed, and resolution. In addition, they are prized for their gentle, mellow tonal balance. For listeners looking for detail delivered with lifelike speed and impact, Goldmund’s products have long competed with the best. However, for listeners looking for warm, natural sounds and 3-dimensional space, they have not yet satisfied much. For example, the Telos 590 NextGen a few years ago had been well-praised for its very high resolution, characteristic of Goldmund, but still had slight flaws for still being cold. But the new Nextgen II version of this integrated amplifier has changed completely when showing a different face. Of course, Goldmund also claims improvements in the circuitry of the Telos 590 Nextgen II, including reduction of intermodulation distortion (especially important for woofer control), improved linearity in all The amplification stages and greatly reduces time distortion. The company also says on its website that the key to high-fidelity audio is achieving the right balance between power and control. Judging by the results, Goldmund definitely achieved his goal with the Telos 590 Nextgen II. Sound quality assessment To hear what Goldmund advertised, all you have to do is find a live recording that features a performer you often listen to and love. In this try we chose the great blues guitarist BB King and the popular album Live at the Regal. I enjoyed the King band’s performance (all smart uniformed trumpets swing their instruments perfectly between breaks, like the drummers swing their baton) , or the beautiful melody of King’s guitar, Lucille, and the expressive way he plays it and sings. Through Goldmund, Lucille is “inflated” into three dimensions, her voice is filled and “deeper”, comes close to the male voice and feels miraculously revived. And not only did Lucille benefit from the NextGen II “treatment”, but so did King’s silky, vaguely high-pitched voice like Nat Cole, creating a sweet contrast to his historic guitar playing style. his. Nextgen II not only brought Lucille and King to life as if they were singing live, but it also had the same effect on his wonderful acoustic rhythm. We can almost see them play and rotate simultaneously on stage from left to right. It can be said that NextGen II is still a champion when it comes to detail reproduction – both in music, performance and technique. If you are a simple audiophile “cannot live” without hearing a single chip (made of thin copper pieces or from laminated bamboo, fixed at an upper open end in the flat surface of a trumpet or tube) flute) of the saxophone fluttering gently at the end of a long note, like Branford Marsalis’s tenor saxo in Harry’s “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square”, the Telos 590 NextGen II is sure will be your first choice. What sets the Telos 590 apart from the original Telos 590 (and previous generations of Goldmund) is that in addition to the instrumental and performance details, NextGen II also offers the colors of that sax and tuba. almost perfect. Once you combine ultra-high resolution with incredibly natural tone, pitch, intensity, and duration, you get what everyone calls completeness – along with neutral, one of the two. An indispensable element of the equipment used to recreate the real stage. And the Telos 590 NextGen II has such a finish, at an excellent level. Conclude
Goldmund’s Goldmund Telos 590 NextGen II excels in low-end and strength (but in some respects, mid- and high-range still). And it did so without great reservations about soundstage size, dynamics and impact, detail retrieval and noise levels. You can hear all of these advantages in Goldmund’s built-in amps, especially in the bottom octave, where it has such a power, solidity, and tonal density that I would not have dared to think of. As you add the sweetness and friendliness of the sakura to the mids and highs to this incredibly solid bass and power base, you get neutral tones for tonal and fidelity great that every music lover craves.
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