Gold Note XS85 User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
XS-85
3 WAY MODULAR FLOOR STANDING LOUDSPEAKER
USER MANUAL

2
INDEX
PACKAGE CONTENT..............................................................................................................................
DESCRIPTION
..............................................................................................................................................
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
.......................................................................................................................
UNBOXING AND ASSEMBLY: WOOFER CABINET AND FOOT..............
...........................................................
UNBOXING AND ASSEMBLY: MID-HIGH CABINET
.........................................................................................
ASSEMBLY: SPEAKER MODULES
..................................................................................................................
ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION: SPEAKER MODULES AND ALUMINIUM GRILLE.........................................
HOW TO ADJUST THE FOOT SPIKES (ADJUSTABLE STAND ONLY).............................................................
CONNECTING THE SPEAKERS................................................................................................................
SPEAKER POSITIONING........................................................................................................................
PRODUCT REGISTRATION
............................................................................................................................
FAQ AND TROUBLESHOOTING
.....................................................................................................................
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
............................................................................................................
P. 3
P. 4
P. 6
P. 7
P. 11
P. 12
P. 13
P. 14
P. 15
P. 17
P. 22
P. 23
P. 24

3
PACKAGE CONTENT
• 2 XS-85 Loudspeakers
• 2 Loudspeakers covers
• 12 Allen screws M4X40
• 12 Washer M4
• 8 Spike sandblasted + black blackening
• 1 User manual

4
DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
XS DESIGN
The unique design of our flagship speaker is based on
ultra-rigid, curved and modular panels. These panels are
exclusively hand-crafted in Italy by the most skilled
cabinet-maker.
The high-damped cabinet is reinforced with a doubled
internal structure and with external wooden multilayer
panels to control resonances and improve the audio
performance. The cabinets conveniently separate the
basses and the mid/highs for a perfect tuning and are
coupled with a 3mm aluminium board to increase the
rigidity of the entire structure even further.
The woofers are installed in a vented cabinet while the
mid/highs are housed in sealed chambers in the upper
cabinet. The upper cabinet also features a second open
chamber with a massive grille made of solid aluminium
to maximize rigidity and reduce internal reflections at
the same time.
The loudspeaker features an integrated heavy-duty
stand made of steel and wood.
TWEETER
For this loudspeaker we developed a 28 mm ultra-
linear tweeter with an extra-thin and soft silk dome
powered by a neodymium magnet featuring an
aluminium damping elliptical rear chamber.
This tweeter provides low frequency resonance,
minimal harmonic distortion and an exceptional
musicality making it a real high-quality and High-
End acoustic transducer.
MIDRANGES
The upper cabinet houses two 150mm ultra-linear
drivers that feature high mass phase plugs and
Nextel treated paper cones to reach high rigidity
and fast natural audio response.
Adaptive rubber surrounds provide an ideal match
to the cone over the total frequency range.
The extra large magnet system with long and
lightweight CCAW voice coil allows perfect coil
excursion and low distortion due to excellent
transient response.
Solid copper rings are mounted above and below
the T-shaped pole piece to reduce non-linear and
modulation distortions and to increase the overload
margin.
The driver is completed by an extremely stiff and
stable skeleton in aluminium/magnesium to avoid
airflow noises and to increase rigidity and
lightness.

5
DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
WOOFERS
The XS-85 speakers feature two 220mm ultra-linear
slightly horn loaded, light drivers with 18gm mass with
Nextel treated paper producing a fast natural audio
response in low frequencies.
The bass drivers feature a large magnet design with
bumped back-plate: the large and damped platform at
the back improves stiffness while the extra-long and light
weight CCAW voice coil allows extreme coil excursion, low
distortion and excellent transient response.
Giant copper rings mounted above and below the T-
shaped pole piece reduce distortion for better overload
margin.
High mass phase plugs reduce compression due to
temperature variations in the voice coil.
Long-term power handling is increased to eliminate
resonances from the cavity inside the voice coil former.
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Optionally available, the exclusive stand featuring hidden
spikes designed to help you with fine adjustments for
perfect positioning.
PS. The adjustable stand is featured in the images
shown on this manual.
CROSSOVER
The passive Crossover Low-High Dual-Slope with
cuts at 200Hz & 2200Hz is a resistive design
that enables ultra-linear load to handle any
sort of amplification without stressing the power
supply, even at a nominal impedance of 4Ω.
The sophisticated triple crossover network, with
summing midrange multi-slope design, perfectly
integrates the drivers of the array and with
anti-resonance thick glass-fibre boards rewards
the listener with a close field natural audio
experience.
Air winding, hand-made coils and selected audio
grade capacitors and exclusive graphite custom
GN resistors complete one of the best
crossovers available today.

6
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency response: 30 Hz – 30.000 Hz
Sensitivity:
89dB SPL 2,83V/1m
Nominal impedance:
4Ωsemi-resistive
Tweeter: 1“silk dome driver
Midrange: 2x 6“ Nextel treated paper cones
Woofer: 2x 9“ Nextel treated paper cones
Crossover: 200Hz and 2200Hz @ 12dB/Oct.
Suggested Power Amplifier: min. 30W
Max Power Handling: 300W RMS
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Dimensions:
357mm W x 1280mm H x 665mm D
Weight:
Kg. 180/pr net - Kg. 200/pr. boxed

7
UNBOXING AND ASSEMBLY: WOOFER CABINET AND FOOT
Open the Foot box and gently remove the foot from the box.
Open the Woofer carton box from the top.
FIG. 1
FIG. 2
FIG. 3
Place the Woofer carton box as shown below.

8
UNBOXING AND ASSEMBLY: WOOFER CABINET AND FOOT
Gently turn the Woofer carton box upside down as shown
in the picture.
Gently remove the carton box: the Woofer cabinet should
now be upside down. After removing the bottom
protection, you can go to g. 8 being ready to assemble
the foot to the Woofer cabinet.
Pay attention to the flaps that must be as shown in g. 5
FIG. 4
FIG. 5
FIG. 6

9
UNBOXING AND ASSEMBLY: WOOFER CABINET AND FOOT
FIG. 7
Insert the supplied Spikes in the threaded rear holes of
the metal foot board as shown in the picture.
FIG. 9
Take the foot as shown in the picture and use the guides
to correctly position the foot on the Woofer cabinet.
FIG. 8

10
UNBOXING AND ASSEMBLY: WOOFER CABINET AND FOOT
5 x Screw M 4 x 45mm
1 x Screw M 4 x 40mm
Secure the foot to the Woofer Cabinet with 6 screws
as shown in picture with the allen key supplied.
Once the Foot is assembled, pay extreme care in
turning the cabinet face down as shown in the
picture. Make sure to protect it with some soft
material to avoid damaging the surfaces.
Allen key
FIG. 11
FIG. 12
FIG. 10
YES
NO
Do not use the reflex pipes to move the speaker,
eventually handle only the external flange to avoid
any damage to the reflex assembly.

11
UNBOXING AND ASSEMBLY: MID-HIGH CABINET
Gently turn upside down the Mid-High
carton box yet CLOSED.
Open the box and take care of the box
flaps. Repeat the same operation
described for the Woofer Cabinet
assembly g. 3
FIG. 1
FIG. 3
FIG. 2

12
ASSEMBLY: SPEAKER MODULES
Following the pictures, position the Mid-High
Cabinet on the Woofer Cabinet using the guides on
the Woofer Cabinet.

13
ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION: SPEAKER MODULES AND ALUMINIUM GRILLE
4 x Screw M 4 x 45m m
Secure the Mid-High Cabinet and the Woofer
Cabinet to each other with the four M4 Allen
screws supplied, as shown in the picture.
Connect the Mid-High speak-on terminal to the same
connector of the Woofer Cabinet: Insert it and turn
left in order to lock it in place correctly.
Remove all the screws from the back
of the Mid-High Cabinet, then
remove the vented aluminium back
grille as shown in the picture.
Place back the vented aluminium back grille
on the Mid-High Cabinet and gently secure all
its screws supplied.

14
HOW TO ADJUST THE FOOT SPIKES (ADJUSTABLE STAND ONLY)
FRONT SPIKES (ADJUSTABLE STAND ONLY)
REAR SPIKES
When the rear spikes are correctly installed,
the threaded black aluminium covers
supplied can be positioned to secure
them firmly to the metal foot boards
LOCK RELEASE
SPIKE DOWNSPIKE UP
The rear Spikes can be adjusted up and down
with a screwdriver or a 5,5mm wrench.

15
CONNECTING THE SPEAKERS
EXAMPLE CONNECTION N. 1
Standard wiring connection (No Bi-Wiring).
Gold Note speakers are all supplied with standard bridge.
Special Exotic Bridge parts of the SIENA BRIDGE ENHANCER line are available on demand
-+
-+-+
-+
Stereo Power Amplifier
RIGHT
SPEAKER
LEFT
SPEAKER
R L

16
CONNECTING THE SPEAKERS
-+
-+-+
-+
Stereo Power Amplifier
R L
EXAMPLE CONNECTION N. 2
Bi-Wiring Connection
RIGHT
SPEAKER
LEFT
SPEAKER

17
SPEAKER POSITIONING
Identifying the ideal sound/acoustic room to play an audio system well is not that strictly related to the proportional
dimensions of the rooms as many audiophiles believe. The sound played through an audio system is just “Energy
diffused in a closed environment” that is all absorbed, reflected and dispersed. The loudspeaker position is the
most important aspect because managing the reflections is a key factor to get the best sound. The first two
reflections are crucial, after them the energy of the reflection starts being lower and does not particularly affect the
sound performance.
The first reflection creates a 25m/s delay. Such delay is not favorable because it creates a disturb overwhelming
the sound while the delay in between 40 and 80m/s creates what is called ambience.
Therefore it is very important to reduce the first reflection keeping the speaker as far as possible from the side
walls and using some carpets on the floor in front of them is advisable.
A symmetrical position of the speakers in the room, having the same distance from the side and rear walls is also
very important and should be implemented when possible. The better the positioning the better the focus and the
sound stage will be.
WALL MATERIAL
Generally, most of the walls are thick therefore there is the best bass extension control as well as good acoustic
isolation. Dry walls vibrate quite a bit, therefore they are usually not favorable or should be treated accordingly.
CEILING
The higher the better. The ideal works between 250 and 360cm having the same regular height.
The vaulted ceiling is quite critical because it works like a magnifier lens increasing the power in specific
areas. In case of an attic where typically the ceiling slopes down it is better to position the speakers closer
to the lower ceiling and place the listening point in the higher ceiling area.
FLOOR
Marble floors are the worst because they are extremely reflecting but even the all carpet floors don’t work well
because they absorb indiscriminately. The best option are wooden floors. In any case, all floors can be easily
corrected with a 2/4cm thick carpet placed in front of the speakers.
SIDE WALLS
Covering the side walls with a carpet is wrong but leaving them naked is not the ideal solution either. Pictures with
frames on the walls are ok if they come without glass protection and are placed symmetrically on both sides of the
speakers. Eventually some small specific traps could be a good solutions.

18
SPEAKER POSITIONING
REAR WALL
The rear wall does not need to be symmetrical like the side walls but some additional acoustic treatment
will be able to diffract the energy of the sound wave which is important to get good results.
A traditional library with books and records is a very good “no cost” solution.
OPPOSITE WALL
The wall opposite of the stereo system is not that critical. If it is too close to the listening point itself it
would be better covering it with some absorbing material or with a thick curtain.
WINDOWS AND DOORS
They always vibrate. It would be better to not have them situated in the room’s corners or in the middle of the side
walls. Treating them with absorbing material could be good but they also must be well closed not waving. Having a
door behind the listening point could work fine once opened.
Curtains in front of the windows should be light to avoid stopping too much energy, except for the optional ones
behind the listening point.
FURNITURE
Ideally, avoid using big furniture with glass/many doors. Open shelf furniture is the best.
If possible, avoid placing the table in between the speakers and the listening point because tables tend to reflect
heavily the high and mid-frequencies.
AUDIO RACKS
Though the best position of audio racks usually is not in the middle of the speakers, some special racks
such like the Gold Note Galileo can beπlaced there because its special all curved shape helps diffracting
the sound waves very well. If you are using standard racks placed in the middle of the speakers, it is
preferable to have rather small ones which enhance a better sound focus.
SUBWOOFER
A general thinking believes the subwoofer does not have any direct emission of sound so the position is not
important. In fact, the energy of the waves generated by the subwoofer creates a sound stage which follows rules
similar to the full range speakers therefore the same rules should be applied to it as well.

19
SPEAKER POSITIONING
WIDER STEREO SOUND STAGE SPEAKER POSITION
(for some kind of instrumental music, symphonic orcherstra, etc.)
WIDE STEREO IMAGE SPEAKER
POSITION
(for some instrument music, synfonic orcherstra etc.)
LISTENING POINT
• The distance of both the speakers to the listening point should be the same
• The distance between both the speakers and the side walls should be the same
• The distance between both the speakers and the rear wall should be the same
The more distance there is between the speakers the wider the sound stage will get but less
focus will the obtained.
To balance the focus, the speakers can be directed to the listening point as indicated in the
images of the pages 18 and 19 of this manual.