Gold Note XS85 User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
XS85
3 way Modular Floor Standing Loudspeaker

OWNER’S MANUAL page 1
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR
BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the
user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that
may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence
of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying
the appliance.
This appliance has a serial number located on the rear panel.
Please record the model and serial numbee and retain them for
your records.
Serial Number: Model:
WARNING
TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN
OR MOISTURE
Do not disassemble any part of the product.
Do not use any part of the product for other purposes.
For service and problems of any kind, contact qualified Gold Note personnel.
Protect the product from rain and humidity and keep away from heat sources, electric and
electronic motors etc.
The power Chord supplied must be used only on this unit.
Gold Note does not have responsibility for any improper use of this unit

OWNER’S MANUAL page 2
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
1Read these instructions.
2Keep these instructions.
3 Heed all warnings.
4 Follow all instructions.
5 Do not use this apparatus near to any water.
6 Clean only with dry cloth.
7Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance
with the manufacturer's instructions.
8Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.
9 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or ground-
ing-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider
than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third
grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provid-
ed for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your
outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete
outlet.
10 Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the apparatus.
11 Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufac-
turer.
12 Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table
specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When
a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus
combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13 Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when
unused for long periods of time.
14 Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is
required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way,
such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been
spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus
has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate
normally, or has been dropped.
• Do not expose this apparatus to drips or splashes.
• Do not place any objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on
the apparatus.
• Do not install this apparatus in a confined space such as a
book case or similar unit.
• The apparatus draws nominal non-operating power from the
AC outlet with its POWER or STANDBY/ON switch not in the ON
position.
• The apparatus should be located close enough to the AC
outlet so that you can easily grasp the power cord plug at any
time.
• The main plug is used as the disconnect device, the discon-
nect device shall remain readily operable.
• If the product uses batteries (including a battery pack or
installed batteries), they should not be exposed to sunshine, fire
or excessive heat.
• Caution should be taken when using earphones or head-
phones with the product because excessive sound pressure
(volume) from earphones or head- phones can cause hearing
loss.

OWNER’S MANUAL page 3
INTRODUCTION
XS DESIGN
Gold Note unique design of the new flagship speaker is
based on ultra-rigid, curved and modular panels.
The super-dampened case is reinforced with internal
double cabinets and external wooden multilayers to
control resonances and improve sound quality.
The cabinets conveniently separate bass and mid/highs
to enhance perfect tuning, and they are connected
through a 3mm thick laser-shaped layer in aluminium to
increase rigidity and to enable the module design.
The bass drivers cabinet is vented while the mid/highs is
sealed with a second open chamber featuring a solid
aluminium grille to further improve rigidity and reduce
internal reflections at the same time.
The loudspeaker features an integrated massive
wooden & steel 2° lean backward stand with innovative
and hidden adjustable spikes.
TWEETER
28 mm custom, ultra-linear and extra-thin and soft
dome neodymium magnet featuring aluminium damp-
ened rear chamber and hexagon copper conductor coil
Custom cooling coil radiator with no-oil cotton damping
design reduces resonances and increases extension
linearity up to 45° off axis.
MIDRANGES
Two 150 mm ultra-linear horn loaded, light drivers with
aluminum elliptical phaser and Nextel treated paper to
reach high rigidity and fast natural audio response.
Adaptive rubber surround provides an ideal match to
the cone over the total frequency range.
Extra large magnet system plus long and light weight
CCAW voice coil allows perfect coil excursion and low
distortion due to excellent transient response.
Solid copper rings mounted above and below the
T-shaped pole piece reduce non-linear and modulation
distortions and increase overload margin.
Extremely stiff and stable skeleton in aluminium/magne-
sium avoids airflow noise preserving rigidity and light-
ness.
WOOFERS
Two 220 mm ultra-linear horn loaded, light drivers with
6 gm mass with Nextel treated paper and aluminum
elliptical phaser produce a fast natural audio response
in low frequencies.
Bass drivers feature large magnet design with bumped
back-plate: the large and dampened 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 over-
load margin.
Chrome plated brass phase plug reduces compression
due to temperature variations in the voice coil.
Long-term power handling is increased to eliminate
resonances from cavity inside the voice coil former.
CROSSOVER
Passive Crossover Low-High Dual-Slop with cut at
200Hz & 2200Hz and resistive design enables ultra-lin-
ear load to manage amplification without stress on the
power supply, even at a nominal impedance of 4Ω.
A sophisticated triple crossover network, featuring sum-
ming midrange multi-slope design, integrates perfectly
drivers of the Array and with anti-resonance thick
glass-fibre board, rewards the listener through a close
field smooth audio experience.
Air winding, hand-made coils and selected audio grade
capacitors and resistors complete the deluxe crossover.

OWNER’S MANUAL page 4
INTRODUCTION
XS DESIGN
Gold Note unique design of the new flagship speaker is
based on ultra-rigid, curved and modular panels.
The super-dampened case is reinforced with internal
double cabinets and external wooden multilayers to
control resonances and improve sound quality.
The cabinets conveniently separate bass and mid/highs
to enhance perfect tuning, and they are connected
through a 3mm thick laser-shaped layer in aluminium to
increase rigidity and to enable the module design.
The bass drivers cabinet is vented while the mid/highs is
sealed with a second open chamber featuring a solid
aluminium grille to further improve rigidity and reduce
internal reflections at the same time.
The loudspeaker features an integrated massive
wooden & steel 2° lean backward stand with innovative
and hidden adjustable spikes.
TWEETER
28 mm custom, ultra-linear and extra-thin and soft
dome neodymium magnet featuring aluminium damp-
ened rear chamber and hexagon copper conductor coil
Custom cooling coil radiator with no-oil cotton damping
design reduces resonances and increases extension
linearity up to 45° off axis.
MIDRANGES
Two 150 mm ultra-linear horn loaded, light drivers with
aluminum elliptical phaser and Nextel treated paper to
reach high rigidity and fast natural audio response.
Adaptive rubber surround provides an ideal match to
the cone over the total frequency range.
Extra large magnet system plus long and light weight
CCAW voice coil allows perfect coil excursion and low
distortion due to excellent transient response.
Solid copper rings mounted above and below the
T-shaped pole piece reduce non-linear and modulation
distortions and increase overload margin.
Extremely stiff and stable skeleton in aluminium/magne-
sium avoids airflow noise preserving rigidity and light-
ness.
WOOFERS
Two 220 mm ultra-linear horn loaded, light drivers with
6 gm mass with Nextel treated paper and aluminum
elliptical phaser produce a fast natural audio response
in low frequencies.
Bass drivers feature large magnet design with bumped
back-plate: the large and dampened 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 over-
load margin.
Chrome plated brass phase plug reduces compression
due to temperature variations in the voice coil.
Long-term power handling is increased to eliminate
resonances from cavity inside the voice coil former.
CROSSOVER
Passive Crossover Low-High Dual-Slop with cut at
200Hz & 2200Hz and resistive design enables ultra-lin-
ear load to manage amplification without stress on the
power supply, even at a nominal impedance of 4Ω.
A sophisticated triple crossover network, featuring sum-
ming midrange multi-slope design, integrates perfectly
drivers of the Array and with anti-resonance thick
glass-fibre board, rewards the listener through a close
field smooth audio experience.
Air winding, hand-made coils and selected audio grade
capacitors and resistors complete the deluxe crossover.

OWNER’S MANUAL page 5
SPECIFICATION and KEY FEATURES
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency response: 30 Hz – 30.000 Hz, Dual Slope QB3 N°4
Sensitivity: 89dB SPL (2.83V/1 m)
Nominal impedence: 4 ohm semi-resistive
Power handling: 30W – 300W
Suggested min. listening distance: 1.5/2.0m
____________________________________________________________________
PHYSICAL
Dimensions: 1280 x 357 x 665 mm (HxWxD)
Weight: 180 Kg per pair – net weight/200 Kg per pair - shipping weight
____________________________________________________________________
FINISHES
FRONT | TOP | REAR PANELS | STAND: Black Laquer
SIDE PANELS: Black Glossy Grand Piano lacquer or White lacquer or Italian Walnut

2 3
OWNER’S MANUAL page 6
UNBOXING AND ASSEMBLY: Woofer Cabinet & Foot
1
4 5
Open the Foot box, and gently remove the foot from the box.
Open the Woofer carton box
from the top.
Place the Woofer carton box as shown below.
Gently turn upside down the Woofer carton box as shown in the
in the picture. Pay attention to the flaps that must be as shown
in fig. 5

OWNER’S MANUAL page 7
UNBOXING AND ASSEMBLY: Woofer Cabinet & Foot
6
7
Gently remove the carton box: the Woofer carton box
should now be upside down. After the bottom protection
is removed, you can go to fig. 7 being ready to assemble
the foot to the Woofer cabinet.
Take the foot as shown in the picture and use the
guides to correctly position the foot on the Woofer cabinet.

OWNER’S MANUAL page 8
UNBOXING AND ASSEMBLY: Woofer Cabinet & Foot
10
8
Allen key
2 x Spikes 5 x Screw M4 x 45mm
1 x Screw M4 x 40mm
Yes
No
Do not use the reex pipes to
move the speaker, eventually
handle only the external
ange to avoid any damage
to the reex assembly.
9
Secure the foot to the Woofer Cabinet with 6 screw as shown in
picture with the allen key supplied.
Insert the supplied Spikes in the threaded rear holes of
the metal foot board as shown in the picture.
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.

2 3
OWNER’S MANUAL page 9
UNBOXING THE MID-HIGH CABINET
1
4 5
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
fig. 3-4-5

OWNER’S MANUAL page 10
ASSEMBLY THE SPEAKER MODULES EACH OTHER
Following the pictures, position the Mid-High Cabinet on the Woofer
Cabinet using the guides on the Woofer Cabinet.

OWNER’S MANUAL page 11
ASSEMBLY THE SPEAKER EACH OTHER AND INSTALL
THE ALLUMINIUM GRILLE
4 x Screw M4 x 45mm
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 alumini-
um back Grille on the Mid-High
Cabinet and gently secure all
its screws supplied.

OWNER’S MANUAL page 12
HOW TO ADJUST THE FOOT SPIKES
LOCK RELEASE
SPIKE DOWNSPIKE UP
The rear Spikes can be adjusted up & down
with a screwdriver or a 5,5mm wrench
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
FRONT SPIKES
REAR SPIKES

OWNER’S MANUAL page 13
CONNECTING the SPEAKERS
-+
-+-+
-+
Stereo Power Amplifier
Right
Speaker
Left
Speaker
R L
Example Connection n. 1
Standard wiring connection (No Bi-Wiring).
Gold Note speakers are all supplied with standard bridge.
Special Exotic Bridge part of the SIENA BRIDGE ENHANCER line are available on Demand

CONNECTING the SPEAKERS
OWNER’S MANUAL page 8OWNER’S MANUAL page 14
-+
-+-+
-+
Stereo Power Amplifier
Right
Speaker
Left
Speaker
R L
Example Connection n. 2
Bi-Wiring Connection
CONNECTING the SPEAKERS

OWNER’S MANUAL page 8
SPEAKER POSITIONING
OWNER’S MANUAL page 15
Identifying the ideal sound/acoustic room to play an audio system is not that strictly related to the proportions
of the room, as many audiophile believes.
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 since managing sound reflections is the key factor to get
the best sound. The first 2 reflections are crucial, after that the energy reaches such low levels to become
almost irrelevant to sound performance.
The first reflection creates a 25m/s delay. Such delay creates a disturb overwhelming the sound while the delay
in between 40 and 80m/s creates what is called “ambience”.
It’s very important to reduce the first reflection by keeping the speaker as far as possible from the side walls
and even using some carpets on the floor in front of them.
A symmetrical position for the speakers in the room is also very important, when possible, leaving the same
distance from side and rear walls.
Following these guidelines will help to achieve a better focus and improve the sound stage.
WALL MATERIAL
Generally speaking, thicker walls are better for bass extension control and to achieve good acoustic isolation.
Drywalls can vibrate quite a lot and that’s the reason why normally they are not recommended or should be
treated accordingly.
CEILING
The ideal ceiling would be between 250cm and 360cm height, with a regular and even surface.
Vaulted ceilings are critical and can work as a magnifier lens increasing the power in specific areas.
In case of an attic, where typically the ceiling slopes down, is better to position the speakers closer to the short-
er side and the listening point where the ceiling reaches its highest.
FLOOR
Marble is one of the worst material for listening rooms due to its extremely reflecting surface, but even floors
completely covered with carpets wouldn’t be ideal since the energy will then be indiscriminately absorbed.
The best results are usually achieved on wooden surfaces. Anyway all floors can be easily improved by placing
a 2/4cm thick carpet in front of the speakers.
SPEAKERS SIDE WALLS
Covering the side walls with tapestry is not recommended, and so is leaving them naked. Pictures with frames
on the wall are ok if without glass and if placed in a symmetrical way on both sides of the speakers. Eventually,
some small specific traps could be a good solution.

SPEAKER POSITIONING
OWNER’S MANUAL page 16
SPEAKER REAR WALL
The rear wall does not need to be symmetrical, like the side walls, but some acoustic treatment able to diffract
the energy of the sound waves is important to get the best results.
A traditional library with books and records can be a very good solution.
LISTENING POINT REAR WALL
The listening point rear wall isn’t a critical aspect to consider. In case of extreme proximity to the listening point
itself, absorbing material or thick curtains are recommended.
WINDOWS and DOORS
Windows and doors will always vibrate. An ideal room shouldn’t have openings in the corners or in the middle
of side walls.
Treating them with absorbing material could improve the result and it’s important to make sure that everything
is well closed and not waving.
Having a door behind the listening point could be fine, if kept open.
Curtains in front of the windows should be light to avoid energy absorption, except behind the listening point.
FURNITURE
Avoid big piece of furniture with glass and doors would be ideal. Open shelf furniture is fine.
If possible, is recommended to avoid placing tables between the speakers and the listening point to prevent
strong reflections of highs and mids.
AUDIO RACKS
Though the best position is not between the speakers, some special racks (like Gold Note Galileo due to its
special curved shape) can help diffracting the sound waves.
In case of standard racks placed between the speakers, is preferable to choose small ones to enhance a
better sound focus.
SUBWOOFER
A general belief says the subwoofer doesn’t have direct emissions of sound and so the position is not import-
ant. In reality, the energy of the waves generated by the subwoofer creates a sound stage and follows similar
rules of the full-range speakers, so the same rules should be applied.

OWNER’S MANUAL page 8
SPEAKER POSITIONING
OWNER’S MANUAL page 17
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 from 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 the distance between the speakers, the wider the sound stage, but with less focus.
To balance the focus, the speakers can be directed to the Listening Point as indicated in
images on page 9, 10, 11.

SPEAKER POSITIONING
OWNER’S MANUAL page 8OWNER’S MANUAL page 18
NARROWER STEREO SOUND STAGE SPEAKER POSITION
(for solo instrumental music, like piano, guitar and voice etc.)
WIDE STEREO IMAGE SPEAKER POSITION
(for some instrument music, synfonic orcherstra etc.)
Listening Point
A smaller distance between the speakers will result in a better focus, producing a less realistic
sound stage.

SPEAKER POSITIONING
OWNER’S MANUAL page 8OWNER’S MANUAL page 19
DISTANCE BETWEEN SPEAKER AND LISTENING POINT ORIENTATION
Listening Point
A
B
C
The distance between the speakers should be the same that is between the speakers and the Listening Point.
If the distance is shorter, the speakers must be oriented to the Listening point accordingly.
Empirical tests are necessary to find the right balance between a wide stereo sound stage and very focused
and crispy details.