The vinyl turntable market is in for a surprise! Goldring has unveiled a new manual model, almost twenty years after the release of its last turntable. The Goldring GR3 will replace the GR2, released in 2005. Equipped with a Goldring E3 cartridge, a one-piece aluminum tonearm and a thick phenolic resin platter, this new generation, priced at €890, still features the sleek design that has made the range so successful.
Goldring and turntables
Goldring is a British manufacturer specializing in record players, tonearms, cartridges and vinyl accessories. Founded in 1906, the brand enjoyed the first golden age of turntables in the second half of the 20th century. In collaboration with Lenco, Goldring produced several renowned models, such as the GS-70 and the iconic GL-75, released in 1967. Reliable and durable, this model is still highly prized by vinyl enthusiasts.
The partnership between Goldring and the Swiss manufacturer came to an end after 20 years. Faced with the rise of CD and digital formats, Goldring gradually withdrew from the turntable market, relying more on its expertise in hi-fi cartridges. So much so that every new turntable model unveiled by the British firm creates a stir. In 2005, Goldring launched the GR2 manual turntable. At the time, the trade press praised its excellent value for money, as HiFi Choice magazine put it: “A solid, well-articulated sound that reveals the magic of vinyl. A well-built and professionally tuned turntable”.
Goldring GR3, the surprise turntable!
Since 2005 and the GR2, Goldring had once again disappeared from the turntable market. Despite the revival of record players and the vintage trend, the UK manufacturer persisted with its strategy. For almost 20 years, Goldring continued to regularly renew its phono cartridge ranges and offer a wide selection of vinyl accessories.
Then this week, against all expectations, Goldring unveiled a new turntable called GR3. It follows in the footsteps of previous generations: minimalist design, aluminum tonearm and in-house cartridge. The Goldring GR3 is equipped with a Goldring E3 cartridge and a phono preamp. The latter enables the turntable to provide a compact vinyl system by connecting directly to the RCA input of a pair of active speakers, or to the auxiliary input of a wireless speaker. Evolutive and versatile, it can also be connected to an amplifier without a phono input.
This latest iteration also features a major innovation: a phenolic resin platter. This heavy material distributes the mass of the platter more evenly, giving it a better fly-wheel effect thanks to enhanced inertia. Less sensitive to vibrations, the platter ensures stable playback speeds for 33 and 45 rpm records.
Goldring GR3: key specifications
- Manual turntable
- Belt drive
- 33 and 45 rpm playback
- Manual belt-driven speed change
- Integrated phono preamp
- Pre-mounted E3 Goldring cartridge
- Phenolic resin platter
- Aluminum tonearm
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 450 x 120 x 360mm
- Weight 5.5kg
The Goldring GR3 record player comes in an elegant black finish with gold lettering on the front. Pre-orders are available on Son-Vidéo.com for €890. Good news for all turntable enthusiasts: the Goldring GR3 will be presented to the public at the 2024 Paris Audio Video Show on October 26 and 27 in Paris!
