Goldring’s new GR3 Turntable marks the company’s re-entry into the ‘table market after more than 20 years.
The GR3 looks to be squarely aimed at the plug & play turntable buyer as it comes equipped with the company’s E3 MM cartridge, a built-in phono preamp, and phono cables from sister company QED.
According to the press release, the new Goldring GR3 was “Developed in collaboration with a renowned British hi-fi manufacturer”.
While I’m no turntable whiz, I have an old Rega P3 and have used Rega arms on other ‘tables and that sure looks familiar.
The new Goldring GR3 will be available in the US come December for $999.
Here’s the complete press release from Goldring:
Goldring re-enters the turntable market with GR3: A premium blend of audiophile class and user-friendly convenience
UK, 3rd October 2024 Goldring, a globally recognised name in the world of analogue audio and renowned for its precision-engineered phono cartridges, announces the GR3, its first turntable in more than 20 years. This new turntable marks a significant return for Goldring, bringing together the company’s century-old legacy with modern-day convenience.
GR3 represents Goldring’s stylish re-entry into the turntable arena. Developed in collaboration with a renowned British hi-fi manufacturer, GR3 is equipped with the multiple award-winning Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge, offering true plug-and-play functionality. Its built-in phono pre-amplifier allows seamless compatibility with any amplifier or powered speaker, making it an ideal companion for products from sister company, Q Acoustics, such as its award-winning M20 and M40 powered stereo speakers. Additionally, GR3 comes with a choice of high-quality interconnects from Goldring’s other world-renowned sister brand QED, ensuring a vigorous connection and sound quality.
Key features at a glance:
- Pre-fitted with a Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge: This serial award-winning cartridge comes pre-installed and perfectly aligned on the GR3 tonearm, offering a balanced, refined and dynamic sonic performance.
- Built-in phono stage: For maximum convenience, GR3’s integrated pre-amplifier enables effortless connections to any amplifier or powered speaker of choice.
- Phenolic resin platter: Designed to maximize the flywheel effect, the platter ensures consistent rotational speed for enhanced audio fidelity.
- Choice of QED interconnects: 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, one of the most respected names in audio interconnects and cables, ensuring optimal connection and sound quality.
- Elegant design: GR3 pairs premium performance with a high-gloss black plinth and perspex dust cover, offering a sophisticated aesthetic that matches its superior sound.
Pre-fitted Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge
Goldring’s E3 cartridge is considered one of the best performers at its price point – just see the six consecutive What Hi-Fi? best buy awards for proof. Combining plug-and-play simplicity with uncompromised audio performance, the E3 arrives pre-fitted and pre-adjusted to the GR3 tonearm.
It features a stiff and lightweight aluminium cantilever offering 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 ensures a consistent and reassuring performance for the life of the product.
Built-in phono stage
Not every amplifier or powered speaker has the necessary gain and EQ to deal with the signal from a turntable. So, to make life easier, GR3 boasts an integrated phono pre-amplifier in order to do this job. It means this single turntable that can happily connect to any amplifier or powered speaker you decide to use without the need for extra phono amplification or boxes. Combine it easily with Q Acoustics M20 or M40 powered speakers for a user-friendly and musically powerful vinyl system.
Phenolic resin platter
The remarkable speed stability of the GR3 is maintained by employing a phenolic resin platter with an enhanced fly-wheel effect. 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.
Choice of QED interconnects
Goldring’s sister company, QED, is one of the most credible and highly regarded manufacturers of analogue and digital interconnects in the world – so choosing either a 1.5 m phono-to-phono or 3 m phono-to-3.5 mm cable to plug GR3 into a compatible amplifier or powered speakers, ensures a stable and robust connection.
Elegant design
To complement the GR3’s class-leading performance, a combination of a stylish high-gloss black plinth, covered by a perspex dust cover delivers a premium and sophisticated design that can match perfectly with any system or fit seamlessly into any interior design space.
The Goldring GR3 turntable is available now in UK and Europe, priced £699 / €899 and in the US from December, priced $999.
To buy the Goldring GR3 turntable and discover other Goldring products please visit www.goldring.co.uk (UK) www.goldringusa.com (US)
Goldring GR3 technical 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) (W x H x D): 450 x 120 x 360 mm
Weight (unpacked): 5.5 kg
Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge technical specifications
Colour: 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)
Static compliance: 20 mm/N
Vertical tracking angle: 20°
Load resistance: 47 kΩ
Load capacitance: 100 – 200 pF
Internal inductance: 400 mH
Internal resistance: 410 Ω
Cartridge mass: 6.9 g
Fixing centres: 12.7 mm (0.5 in)
Playing weight: 1.5 g – 2.5 g (2.0 g recommended)
About Goldring
The Goldring story began in 1906 with the supply of steel needles, springs and clockwork motors to the gramophone industry. Products were marked with a golden ring to indicate high quality of design and manufacture.
In 1926 Goldring introduced the Jewel Electro, arguably the most advanced gramophone soundbox of its day. During the decades following the war, as home hi-fi became a reality, Goldring was always at the forefront of innovation. The brand quickly became the industry standard for electro-magnetic pickups, with its 500 series cartridge becoming widely used throughout the broadcasting industry.
Today, Goldring continues to defy industry norms by producing high performance, premium quality, British-designed products for the specialist cartridge and turntable market.
More at www.goldring.co.uk
