With the Goldring GR3, the British manufacturer makes a surprise return to the turntable market, 20 years after its last model, the Goldring GR2. Equipped with a Goldring E3 cartridge, an aluminum tonearm and a phenolic resin platter, this new generation also includes a phono preamp. Priced at €890, is it worth the two decade wait?
The history of Goldring
Founded in 1906 as Gebrüder Scharf, the brand that became Goldring in 1953 originated in Berlin. From the outset, the manufacturer specialized in the design of gramophone parts, the ancestor of the record player. In 1926, the Juwel Electro Soundbox gramophone was launched, the brand’s very first model. In 1933, the brand moved to London.
- Read more: The fascinating history of turntables
The 1940s saw the birth of the first magnetic cartridge, named 100, and the Headmaster tonearm. But it was in the 50s that Goldring established itself as a major player in the UK, thanks to the development of the No. 500 cartridge, a model that quickly became a BBC staple. In 1967, in collaboration with Swiss manufacturer Lenco, the legendary GL75 turntable was born. This best-seller remains a favorite among vinyl fans to this day.
From the ’70s onwards, Goldring focused on developing hi-fi cartridge ranges, such as the G900 and E series, as well as the Electro II cartridge, launched in 1983 and the brand’s first moving-coil model. In 2005, the Goldring GR2 turntable, successor to the GR1, closed a chapter of almost 20 years in record player design, until the surprise launch of the GR3 this fall. Over the years, the British manufacturer has never ceased to promote physical media, offering turntables and cartridges recognized the world over for their musical qualities.
Included accessories
The Goldring GR3 manual turntable is supplied with a pre-mounted Goldring E3 cartridge on the aluminum tonearm. Also included are a counterweight, a transparent dust cover and a power cord. Conveniently, two QED cables are also included: an RCA to RCA cable, and a handy RCA to 3.5mm mini-jack model for connecting the GR3 to the auxiliary input of a wireless speaker, for example.
All the cables are detachable, so you can opt for higher-end models, or easily replace them in the event of wear or damage.
Introducing the Goldring GR3 turntable
Phono preamp
The Goldring GR3 turntable is a plug-and-play solution. It features an RIAA preamplifier stage. This allows the turntable to be connected directly to an amplifier with no phono input, or to a connected speaker with an auxiliary input, for example. This promises audiophile quality, as Goldring specializes in vinyl equipment. While the integrated phono preamp offers great versatility and benefits from the brand’s expertise, it’s a shame it can’t be deactivated in order to use with an external preamp.
Design
Particularly elegant, the Goldring GR3 manual turntable adopts a sleek design reminiscent of Rega’s Planar models. In fact, it has the same weight as the Rega Planar 2: 5.5kg. After a twenty-year wait, this new generation retains the minimalist look of its predecessor. At the front, gold lettering underlines the high quality finish. However, fingerprints and dust are very visible on the lacquered chassis.
Single-piece aluminum tonearm
The Goldring GR3 turntable features a single piece aluminum tonearm. Its precision machining guarantees optimum mechanical performance. Note, however, that the counterweight doesn’t feature a graduated scale for easy adjustment of the tracking force. The latter is adjusted by gently turning the counterweight forwards or backwards, or with the help of a gauge if you have one. Working like a pendulum, the Goldring GR3 turntable’s tonearm returns to its initial position when the tracking force is correctly adjusted.
Phenolic resin platter
The solid phenolic platter benefits from a high flywheel effect (storing kinetic energy through rotation) that ensures excellent inertia for the vinyl record. The platter is belt-driven. The Goldring GR3 turntable is compatible with 33 and 45 rpm records, and the speed is changed manually by moving the belt on the pulley.
Goldring E3 cartridge
As a specialist in hi-fi cartridges, Goldring has equipped its new turntable with an in-house model. The E3, with its elliptical stylus, features an aluminum cantilever. The cartridge phono is a moving-magnet model featuring Magnetic Duplex technology. This uses a double magnet to more precisely follow the fluctuations of the groove. This practical cartridge can be upgraded, as it is compatible with the Goldring E range of styli, including the E4 model with elliptical nude tip for optimized transient response.
Separate power supply
The Goldring GR3 record player benefits from a meticulous design that optimizes performance while minimizing motor noise. The power cable is fitted with an external power adapter that moves the AC/DC electrical conversion out of the chassis. This reduces noise in the sound signal chain. The result is high current and sound signal stability.
Key specifications
- Manual turntable
- Belt drive
- 33 and 45 rpm playback
- Manual speed change
- Phenolic resin platter
- Aluminum tonearm
- Goldring E3 cartridge
- Integrated RIAA preamplifier
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 450 x 120 x 360mm
- Weight: 5.5kg
Listening conditions
For this review, we connected the Goldring GR3 to the Atoll IN300 hi-fi stereo amplifier via its auxiliary input, thanks to the turntable’s built-in phono preamp. To do this, we used the included RCA cable. The amplifier powered a pair of Jean-Marie Reynaud Orfeo floorstanding speakers.
Although the Goldring GR3 turntable is a plug-and-play solution thanks to its RIAA preamp, setting up the tonearm requires a certain know-how, and ideally you should use a digital gauge like the model offered by Elipson to facilitate adjustment of the tracking force.
Listening impressions
The build quality of the Goldring GR3 was immediately obvious. We were impressed by its attractive appearance. When turned on, there was no hissing or humming, despite the absence of a grounding cable – a sign of careful craftsmanship. This turntable, the only one to date in the brand’s catalog, takes full advantage of the musical potential of its Goldring E3 cartridge. Renowned for its precision at the top end of the sound spectrum and its excellent tonal balance, this cartridge enhanced our vinyl records.
Pushed to its limits with a varied selection of records, the Goldring GR3 turntable proved to be versatile and convincing on every level. It switched with ease from soul by Amy Winehouse to Beatles rock and orchestral compositions like Mozart’s 40th Symphony. The new turntable from the British manufacturer offered a wide, spacious soundstage.
The timbre of vocals was reproduced with great naturalness, underlining the GR3’s ability to convey the singer’s emotion with realism. The musical reproduction was dynamic, both when listening at low and high volume. This versatility is a real asset, enabling you to fully enjoy a vast discography.
Goldring GR3 compared to …
Argon Audio TT-4 Special Edition: at €990, the Danish model is equipped with an ATS technology carbon tonearm and an Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge. While both turntables incorporate a phono preamp, the Goldring GR3 is supplied with two different cables, which enhance its versatility right out of the box. In the listening room, the Argon Audio model is more at home in the lower end of the frequency range, while the British turntable is more precise in the upper mids and treble.
Pro-Ject Debut Pro B: at €899, the Pro-Ject turntable is compatible with 33, 45 and 78 rpm records, and boasts a high-quality mini-XLR output. However, its Pick It Pro B cartridge lags behind Goldring’s century-old expertise and the E3 model mounted on the GR3 turntable. Sound-wise, the Goldring turntable is more uncompromising when it comes to the quality of vinyl records and masters, given the high fidelity of its cartridge reproduction.
Who is the Goldring GR3 designed for?
This manual record player is dedicated to vinyl enthusiasts who prefer all-in-one solutions with an integrated preamp. The RCA to RCA and RCA to mini-jack cables underline its versatility, pairing easily with a hi-fi amp or directly to a connected speaker. Its meticulous finish and elegant design make it easy to integrate into a living room or bedroom. In short, this is a model for music lovers looking for a turntable capable of forming an intuitive vinyl system without sacrificing sound performance.
Conclusion
With its minimalist design, the Goldring GR3 focuses on the essentials: music reproduction. It takes advantage of the brand’s hi-fi cartridge know-how to exploit all the capabilities of its excellent E3 cartridge. A beautiful object, the quality of its finish is on a par with the sound performance. The GR3 excels in its ability to reproduce emotions, creating a direct connection between the listener and the artists.
We liked
- The Goldring E3 cartridge
- The two cables included with the record player
- The high-quality finish
We would have liked
- For the chassis to have been less sensitive to dust and fingerprints
- To be able to deactivate the RIAA preamp
