Based on a platform of the Golden Night, the Golden Dream is a single-ended design, utilizing two 300B tubes in parallel configuration per monoblock to produce a claimed 25 Wpc into all impedance.
There are four different levels of refinement in the GD line, designated as Level 5, 6, 7 and 8. The Level 5 Golden Dream SCSE (Self-Canceling Single-Ended) , while the similarly equipped Level 6 GD is endowed with an output transformer with a silver secondary winding, a choke filtered polypropylene power supply unit, pure silver input transformer and silver signal path throughout. Level 7’s includes silver signal path and Black Gate capacitors in the main unit. Then, the Level 8 Golden Dream monoblocks put silver into everything, including the wiring in the power supply unit. The subject of this review is a pair of the Level 6 Golden Dream monoblocks.
Audion’s “Self-Canceling” topology aims at canceling out second order harmonic distortion inherent in tube amplifiers. According to Dave Gough, the proprietary topology accords superior impedance matching to drive the output tubes slightly harder, yielding two additional watts from each 300B, and inducing transient and bottom-end response “very difficult to find in other amplifiers.”
Each Level 6 Golden Dream features heavy duty speaker connectors robust enough for larger cables with either banana or spade termination, with separate positive connectors for 2 ohms, 4 ohms and 8 ohms applications. Volume adjustment is via a step-less Alps volume knob on the front panel that has no volume marking around the knob, using a notched locator etched on the gold-plated collar to indicate the volume setting.
Each of the amplifiers from the Golden Dream line features tube sockets with unique locking mechanism that corresponds with the locking pins at the 300B tube’s base. Replacing the usual pin holes inside other amplifiers’ tube sockets are unique conductive levers allowing the tubes to be inserted and rotated 60-degree clockwise for locking.
The Golden Dream’s rendition of “Lacrimosa”, in which the female choir’s vocalization eclipsed even the accompanying strings’ spellbindingly subliminal fiddling with distinct dimensionality and textural impression, conveyed a convincing realism. Dynamic scale of the venue was infused with vocal flamboyancy that conveyed a communion and expansiveness that was at the same time charged with energy and warmth. The exclusive realm of the SET was fully glorified.
Musically, the very energetic and yet resolving Golden Dream/AN-E SEC Silver interface complimented the spectacular DSD-remastered recording with such dynamics, that also lent credibility to the opinion that no other ensemble could’ve mustered the level of perfection as the Berlin Philharmonics did during the von Karajan legacy.
The Golden Dream’s 25 Wpc rating proved to be more than enough for the Tannoy Churchill’s 95 dB/8 Ohm sensitivity. Under such unification, the Tannoy’s 15-inch Dual-Concentric™ method rendered a majestic manifestation of the Berlin Philharmonic’s massive strings, at the same time inducing the delicate layering of the 300B sound, making for an invigorating experience only the Audion/Tannoy union could muster
Constantine Soo - February 2004
Power: Class-A, 2 x 28 Watts 8 Ohms at 240VAC
Load: 8 Ohms Nominal
Distortion: <0.25% - no feedback
Frequency Response: 10Hz - 34kHz -3dB
Sensitivity: Variable >150mV Full Output
Noise: (CCIR) <70dB
Power Consumption: 200 Watts at 240V AC
Finish: Golden and Chrome as standard
Tube Compliment: 2 x 300B, 1 x CV100, 1 x CVX120