Dohmann Audio, Schröder, Phasemation, & Gold Note

David W. Robinson in Jerusalem, Israel, 2022: a portrait by John Robinson

The Dohmann Audio Helix Two Mk2 Turntable, Schröder CB-11 Tonearm, Phasemation PP-2000 MC cartridge, & the Gold Note PH-1000 Phono Stage with PSU-1250 Power Supply

Part the First of my reflections on the superb synergy of the Gold Note PH-1000/PSU-1250 Phono Stage, the Dohmann Audio Helix Two Turntable with the Schröder CB-11 12" Tonearm, and the Phasemation PP-2000 MC cartridge was published a while back. (Mid-July in Issue 122, to be specific.) I gave a profile of the hardware, together with some thoughts on the vital importance of audio system synergy in evaluating components in a chain.

Several months later now, it's time to do a wrap on this project.

To review Part the First, go HERE.

On to my meditations about the performance of this audio chain…

The Experience of Synergy

Good question, but before I can finish out, I mustn't forget to note the rest of the system downstream. They are extremely well known to me, and represent a powerfully synergistic array to receive the upstream signal that I'm detailing. The list:

Audionet Stern Reference Preamplifier
Audionet Heisenberg Reference Monoblock Amplifiers (1 pair)
YG Acoustics Sonja 2.3i Loudspeakers (below 20Hz - above 40kHz)
YG Acoustics Rack 1.4 (4 shelves)
Stillpoints ESS Rack
Stillpoints Apertures (set of 10 plus two stands)
Synergistic Research SRX Phono Cable
Synergistic Research PowerCell SX Power Conditioner
Synergistic Research Power Cables
Synergistic Research and Kubala-Sosna interconnects
GamuT Bi-Wire Loudspeaker Cables
DS Audio ION-001 Vinyl Ionizer
Add-Powr Sorcer X4 Harmonic Resonator
Synergistic Research HRTs, Active Grounding System, and Atmosphere Satellite

This represents a real world-class playback system. It's highly revealing of the qualities of upstream sources, rewarding superior performance, but also spotlighting sub-par components.

So I was confident that I had an audio platform that would give me a credible and authoritative profile of this turntable chain as the months went by. And that it did.

Continuing...

Since it took a goodly while to put the whole thing together…Gold Note from Italy, the Dohmann Audio Helix Two MK2 with its Schröder CB-11 tonearm from Australia via its Philadelphia dealer (thanks, Doug White!), and Phasemation from Japan via Canada and Finest Fidelity in South Carolina (muchas gracias, Randy Forman!), it took a while to heat up the system and settle back for a few months.

But over time, a definite set of sonic impressions emerged. So now. What was it that I heard and felt while listening to LPs on this disparate collection of LP playback components, comprising one analog chain?

Starting with the point that all LP-based analog comes from, the cartridge, the Phasemation PP-2000 proved itself to be an alluring design. The chief strengths of the PP-2000 to my ears consisted of a very fine resolution, with nicely detailed sound regardless of the source LP. The dynamic range was quite good; bass was deep, and treble extended. The always-critical midrange was well-balanced with the rest of the sonic presentation, which I heard with both the Raidho TD 3.8 and the YG Sonja 2.3i loudspeakers. I liked the sense of ease and naturalness that the PP-2000 brought to my listening with every type of music…and I like most genres.

There were no bad habits here. The PP-2000 tracked like a champion on the Helix Two at 1.8 grams of tracking force. While the output was on the low side at 0.29mV, the Gold Note PH-1000 had absolutely no problem in turning that into smashing, dynamic sound. Flying colors, here.

Overall, the PP-2000 provided well-balanced performance at a mid-range (for high-end cartridges, anyway) price of $6999. Frankly, I think that the PP-2000 punches way over its price class…bloody impressive. I like it quite a lot, and think a lot of you would do so too.

The Schröder CB-11 12" tonearm was the next step in our analog stream.

I am not unfamiliar with Frank Schröder, a true high-end master, and his significant design work in high-end tonearms. I've known of his work for a very long time, and I reviewed one of his products quite favorably back in 2018 in conjunction with my review of the excellent Xact Audio's The Beat MagDrive™ Turntable. This was with the Schröder Linear-Tracking Tonearm, which Steve Dobbins provided background information about in his sidebar article to my review. You can read that HERE.

I'm also aware of the helpful suggestions that he made to Peter Ledermann of Soundsmith while Peter was developing his Hyperion cartridge. Frankly, I consider Peter's Hyperion…especially the Hyperion II…to be one of the very best on the planet. There's a digression that I won't pursue here and now, but I had to say it.

That's an advantage of being an editor, eh?

The CB-11 12" tonearm is different than Frank's Linear Tracking (LT) conception, of course. Its Captive Bearing (thus the "CB") ceramic bearing unipivot design with its magnetic centering seeks to provide maximum stability, vanishingly low "chatter," and minimal vibration in the playback on the Dohmann Audio Helix Two. (For more on the CB-11, read HERE.) All other things being equal, I would prefer an LT, but Frank's CB-11 did well in skirting the worst of inner groove issues.

The carbon fiber construction made for a very stiff and yet relatively light tonearm.

Certainly, the CB-11 is an elegant tonearm, with clean lines and excellent adjustability. Once set up and in place, I was simply able to go from LP to LP with ease. We standardized on 180 grams, but VTA can be dialed in without much difficulty. (Not as easily as the Walker Audio Master Reference, but in that regard it's the best that I've ever seen.)

What commendable work by Frank…a real pleasure to use, and to listen to over all this time!

Dohmann Audio Helix Two MK2 Turntable

Mark Dohmann of Dohmann Audio is a master craftsman of the turntable. The genius behind the much-admired Continuum turntable line of years ago (Remember the Caliburn? The Criterion?), Mark has made a world-class name for himself for the significant contributions that he's made to the art of reference turntable design.

All the way back in PF Issue 45 (September/October of 2009), I did a major (really major) review of Mark's Criterion turntable. At the time, Chris Sommovigo, a longtime audiobud of mine, was handling the line. While the Criterion did not scale the heights of the Caliburn, it was an excellent design, reasonably compact (much more than its big brother, the Caliburn), with very fine sound. So I have pleasant memories of Mark Dohmann's artistry.

Continuum is no more, and Mark has moved on to his own new company…also based in Australia…named the aforementioned Dohmann Audio after his truly. I learned this from Doug White, an audiobud who is The Man over at The Voice That Is in Philadelphia. He called me a long while back, and asked me if I would be interested in evaluating Mark's new Helix Two MK2 Turntable. Given my prior experience with the Criterion, it took me only a second or two to say, "Heck yeah!"

But the logistics of turntable shipments halfway around the world…during COVID…slowed this down a good bit. It also meant that my local turntable setup expert would have to do the initial installation and configuration. Buuuuuuuuuut…once again COVID wrecked the best-laid plans. With underlying health conditions himself, plus a real concern for the health of his sons, he was unwilling to travel here to do the setup. To make a long story short, I finally had to deliver the Helix Two MK2 to his doorstep together with the Phasemation PP-2000, and leave it there until he could do the work and run out the PP-2000 for a while. Then I came back, picked up the unit, and brought it back to the rest of our stereo reference system.

At last!

Spoiler alert: First off, the Helix Two MK2 Turntable isn't just "really good" or merely "outstanding"; it's a remarkable turntable, a global-level, first-class turntable. And it does all that it does in such a compact footprint that I'm hard-pressed to find a comparison. In my experience, there are only a few turntables that do so many things right without turning into some awful bit of audio sprawl. The Helix Two MK2 should fit in just about any audiophile's system.

Smoke that for a while.

Furthermore, Dohmann Audio's integration of a Minus-K isolation system within the turntable effectively shields the Helix Two from just the sort of interference from environmental vibration that can be the very devil to tame. Having wrestled a stand-alone MinusK 100BM-8 isolation platform all the way back in 2013/2014…with its 100+ lbs. heft…I can tell you that it is very refreshing to have the MinusK isolation without the herniation that I risked back then. And the sonic benefits of an extremely low noise floor and its resultant transparency in the Helix Two MK2 is extraordinary. Especially in such a compact package!

The operation of the Helix Two MK2 was smooth as silk, and exceptionally quiet. The two speed switch allowing speed change from 33.3 RPM to 45 RPM and back was solid as a rock, and worked exactly as it should. (Note that Dohmann Audio has an option to add 78 RPM.) The dual-band drive was sure in operation, and didn't have problems maintaining speed continuity, due to the superb Swiss motor that Dohmann employs.

No problems in any regard, over the many months that the Helix Two MK2 has been here. Not one issue.

Most excellent!

So the Helix Two climbs to my very short list of first-rank, top o' the heap turntables with a single, mighty bound. Mark Dohmann and company deserve very high praise for a turntable that is such an intelligent and well-engineered design.

Hats off!

P.S. Dohmann Audio has just announced and gone into production with a MK3 version of the Helix Two, as of October. To find out more about the Helix Two MK3, go HERE, or, for the USA, go to Doug White's Web site HERE.

I can well believe that Mark Dohmann and company have made new advances over what I have commented on here with the MK2.

Gold Note PH-1000/PSU-1250

The Gold Note PH-1000 Reference Phono Stage, in gold finish (image courtesy of Gold Note)

It's not very common in fine audio to get a combination of drop-dead good looks and top-notch sound. And yet Gold Note has done so in a gorgeous way with the PH-1000 and its associated PSU-1250. Both represent Gold Note's reference-level components in their categories.

Gold Note PSU-1250, rear view (image courtesy of Gold Note)

The PH-1000 is a reviewer's/record collector's/serious listener's dream, a Swiss army knife of some 40 EQ settings, 4 programmable custom EQs, 12 load settings, and 7 capacitance settings. It's hard to imagine a more versatile and intelligent phono stage…the PH-1000 is loaded, as I pointed out in Part the First. (And it comes with a handy remote, too.)

The clear display gives you a profile of your settings, so that you can know what you're listening to without a problem. Given the number of configurations possible with the PH-1000, this is an essential interface. 40 EQ settings available and custom configurations as well? This is absolutely an LP lover's and audio reviewer's dream tool...and record collectors everywhere should take note of the capabilities that the PH-1000 provides.

Killer! Simply killer!

By the way, I should note that I have listened to the PH-1000 without the PSU-1250 Power Supply, Gold Note's best. The PH-1000 by itself is quite good, but given the transformation that the PSU-1250 brings to the mix…the usual lowering of noise floor and greater dynamics that I heard when I added it to the PH-1000…I would say that you should plan on purchasing both. Why stop before you reach the summit?

Over the course of many months, I listened to an array of foundational reference recordings, new LPs, and old favorites. The list would be far too long to mention anything like them all. Among key albums:

Need I say more? Most of these are titles that I've commented on in other reviews...no reason to go into them again.

All sounded as good as I've ever heard them in our reference stereo listening room, which is a very high compliment to the companies involved.

The audio performance of the Dohmann Audio/Schröder/Phasemation/Gold Note system with all of these titles (among many others) was simply exceptional to my ears. The bass, midrange, and upper ranges were all well balanced, with no discontinuities on any LP that I listened to. Transparency was really excellent…details came through very nicely. Playback was natural and effortless, which means a great deal to me. It helped to produce a powerful presence, with the music front-and-center.

Always musical

That's how I would sum up the beauty and virtues of this playback chain. And it did so without losing any hint of transparency and the resultant deep detail. Soundstaging and imaging were precise, without ever sounding forensic/analytical/cold. Harmonic rightness reached the rare point of organic oneness, wherein musical ecstasy can be found easily. Such an organic blend of audio virtues deserves real celebration…which is what I do any time that I spin an LP.

The combination reaches the soul…synergy in spades.

And so…

…I must give the Dohmann Audio/Schröder/Phasemation/Gold Note turntable playback chain my highest recommendation. This is a real world-class, top-o'-the-heap reference pipeline, in the front rank of what I've ever heard here at Positive Feedback Central.

Which means I am awarding the companies in this two-part essay two awards. The first will be my 2022 Brutus Awards for each component. The second will be my much rarer PF Circuitous Maximus Award for 2022, for superior system synergy.

Done with enthusiasm, and real pleasure!

Retail prices:

Dohmann Audio Helix Two MK2 Turntable with Schröder CB-11 Tonearm, with options that I mentioned in Part the First of this two-part essay: Prices and options vary. Please contact Doug White in the USA (contact info below) or contact the nearest Dohmann Audio dealer internationally to get the latest pricing. Note that the MK3 version is now out, and will be the model that you will most likely be discussing.

Gold Note PH-1000 Phono Stage: USD $15999

Gold Note PSU-1250: USD $6599

Phasemation PP-2000 MC Cartridge: USD $6999

DOHMANN AUDIO

27 Viking Court

Cheltenham Vic 3192

AUSTRALIA

[email protected]

https://dohmannaudio.com

In the USA

Doug White, The Voice That Is

PO Box 445