Goldring is well-known for its line of moving magnet and moving coil phono cartridges, but now, after over 20 years, it has announced a new turntable, the GR3.
Developed in collaboration with a renowned (unnamed) British hi-fi manufacturer, the GR3 incorporates the Goldring E3 moving magnet phono cartridge and features a built-in phono pre-amplifier for flexible connection with any amplifier or powered speaker.
The E3 has been one of our favorite MM cartridges below $250 for almost 3 years and it would only make sense for Goldring to pre-install it on the GR3.
Pro Tip: Goldring suggests that the GR3 is a great companion for the M20 and M40 powered speakers from its sister company, Q Acoustics.
One of our few nitpicks in regard to the M40 which will likely be our Editor’s Choice pick for best wireless speaker of 2024 is that it doesn’t come with an internal phono pre-amplifier, so it’s great to see Goldring include one in the turntable.
GR3 Key Features
The Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge is pre-fitted and aligned to the GR3’s tonearm for optimal performance.
The E3 features a stiff and lightweight aluminum cantilever that supports accurate tracking, more detail, and reduced distortion, while a ‘dual magnet’ generator ensures authentic reproduction, better channel separation, and a more musical soundstage. Designed and engineered in the UK, micro-adjustments during production ensure a consistent and reassuring performance for the life of the product.
GR3’s built-in phono pre-amplifier supports easy connection to any amplifier or powered speaker of choice.
The GR3 has a Phenolic resin platter that is designed to maximize the flywheel effect, the platter ensures consistent rotational speed. By distributing the majority of its considerable mass at the outside of rotation, inertia is increased and therefore speed variations are suppressed. This gives the GR3 a very good wow and flutter performance which in turn ensures that the fidelity of its musical reproduction remains high.
Goldring provides a choice of either a 1.5 m phono-to-phono or a 3 m phono-to-3.5 mm cable from QED.
The GR3 looks as good as it sounds with a high-gloss black plinth and perspex dust cover.
Goldring GR3 Turntable Specifications
- Tonearm: Hand-assembled and carefully matched tonearm
- Cartridge: Factory-fitted Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge
- Motor: 24 Volt low noise, low vibration motor
- Plinth: Gloss Black finish with Goldring gold branding
- Platter: Phenolic resin with flywheel mass on the rim
- Phono Amp RIAA accuracy: (100 Hz to 20 kHz) ±0.4 dB, typically better than ±0.25 dB)
- Dimensions (lid closed) (WHD): 450 x 120 x 360 mm
- Weight: 5.5 kg
Goldring E3 Cartridge Specifications
- Cartridge Type: Moving Magnet
- Color: Violet
- Cantilever: Aluminium
- Stylus Profile: Elliptical
- Stylus Radius: 0.3 x 0.7 mil
- Frequency Range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Channel Balance: 1.5 dB at 1 kHz
- Channel Separation: >20 dB at 1 kHz
- Sensitivity: 3.5 mV (1 kHz @ 5 cm/sec)
The Bottom Line
Goldring is making an interesting move at this time. Being a successful maker of phono cartridges for many years, they are getting back into the turntable business at a time when there is a surplus of turntables between $800 and $1,000 in the market.
Goldring will have to compete with Rega, U-Turn Audio, Technics, Audio-Technica, and Pro-Ject and that’s not insignificant.
Is there room for the GR3 in the market? Based on the data that we’ve seen — this table will likely find its place if it’s sold with Q Acoustics loudspeakers and comparable electronics.
The E3 is a rather neutral sounding cartridge that does better in warmer sounding systems; and especially with wireless loudspeakers that are darker sounding like the Q Acoustics M40.
The Rega-designed tonearm and Goldring E3 are a very good combination and we suspect that the GR3 is a solid performer.
Price & Availability
The Goldring GR3 is priced at $999 (US) and internationally at £699 / €899.
- Available now in the UK and Europe from www.goldring.co.uk
- Available in the US in December 2024 from www.goldringusa.com (US)
Related Reading
