Warwick Aperio GoldenSound Edition

Warwick Acoustics, based in Warwickshire, England, builds some of the most advanced electrostatic headphone systems in the world, and the Aperio is their reference statement. For the GoldenSound Edition, they handed the tuning over to GoldenSound, a reviewer respected across the hobby for his measurement work and critical ear, and let him rework the Aperio's analog and digital paths from the ground up. The result runs the same 2nd generation electrostatic drivers as the standard Aperio, finished in gold ventilation grilles with black detailing, but voiced as a genuinely different listen.

Type & Technology

• Open-back, circumaural electrostatic headphone system with a matched, purpose-built energizer, amplifier, and DAC unit. The headphone is designed to be used only with its own electronics
• 2nd generation Balanced-Drive High Precision Electrostatic Laminate (BD-HPEL) transducers, running at an 1800V bias voltage, more than three times a typical electrostatic design
• Complete ground-up rework of both the analog and digital signal paths for this edition, with GoldenSound voicing every stage of the tuning
• Analog-first design. Whether routed through the onboard DAC or an external DAC or turntable, the analog stage stays untouched by digital processing

Sound Character

• Combines clinical precision with musicality: lifelike timbre, an expansive soundstage, and controlled, authoritative bass
• Retuned by GoldenSound across the full range, from bass extension to treble refinement
• Built for a discerning, long-term listener rather than a quick demo wow factor

Build & Comfort

• The energizer unit houses the DAC, amplifier, and power supply in one chassis, with balanced discrete MOSFET, high-bias, single-ended Class A output in a dual mono topology
• Distortion plus noise under 0.001%
• Drive cable is dual mono, shielded, ultra-low capacitance, silver-plated OFHC copper with silicone insulation and Kevlar reinforcement
• Polarized 4-pin, self-latching connectors on each earcup for a secure, low-noise connection

Best For

Listeners who already know the standard Aperio and want a second, distinctly voiced flagship rather than a straight upgrade, and anyone who follows GoldenSound's reviewing work and wants his tuning philosophy in a reference-tier system. The electronics are purpose-built for this headphone, so it is not meant to be mixed and matched with third-party amps.

What's in the Box

Aperio GoldenSound Edition headphone and matched electronics unit, a hardshell Pelican carrying case, and a power cable.

Specifications