Got a new Goldring E series cart (video & audio clips inside)

[Q-E-2]

Hello there! I was curious about the new series of MM carts by Goldring and decided to go and get the TOTL model: the E3. Since I could not find any kind of review, I thought it was a good idea to post my first impressions as well as a video and a couple of 192/24 audio clips

After 40 hours of break in period, it sounds quite good to me: not bright at all, smooth and with rounded edges. The bass is also very very good. It tracks fairly well but maybe it's its weak point. But then again, I'm used to much more sophisticaded stylus shapes

The new body is weird but in a positive way; I like it! ;D

Anyway, the videos (I've added another one):

Audio clip 1 (Joe Jackson): https://www.dropbox.com/s/xcr5dgz38xxnjlo/ARC-LP1 (Goldring-E3).wav?dl=0
Audio clip 2 (Jeff Beck): https://www.dropbox.com/s/ogmxzqvdqqhmyon/JeffBeckSampleGoldringE3.wav?dl=0

I hope you find this useful and interesting

 

[Q-E-2]

I've added another audio clip to the initial post

 

[gusten]

A variant of the AT95E.

 

[Q-E-2]

A variant of the AT95E.

Really? Why you say that? I have both and the AT sounds a lot different to me...I prefer the Goldring BTW.

 

[gusten]

Really? Why you say that? I have both and the AT sounds a lot different to me...I prefer the Goldring BTW.

I just meant it is a different AT95E. They are very popular for these kind of alterations as they are cheap and good.

 

[ripblade]

The generator is an Audio Technica, but with a more substantial body and likely a better stylus, it should add up to a better sound overall.

I wasn't impressed initially with the sound of the Youtube video...particularly the channel separation, but the wav file sounded very good indeed, if perhaps with the slightest trace of sibilance.

Nice video, BTW!

 

[Q-E-2]

I just meant it is a different AT95E. They are very popular for these kind of alterations as they are cheap and good.

Oh, I understand

I wasn't impressed initially with the sound of the Youtube video...particularly the channel separation, but the wav file sounded very good indeed, if perhaps with the slightest trace of sibilance.
Nice video, BTW!

Thank you The sound of the video is not very impressive because that record has a pretty sober sound and this track in particular is a bit dynamically compressed. Anyway, it sounds nice. The audio clip by Joe Jackson sounds quite bright and vivid. Maybe the most balanced sound is the second audio sample, the Jeff Beck tune

 

[Q-E-2]

I've added another video to the initial post

 

[Stanton681EEES]

Sounds pretty good to me. Not sure how it compares to the AT95E. The big G on the cartridge always makes me think of the Green Bay Packers or an old chain discount department store, Gold Circle.

You're video probably convinced me to buy one of these just to see how it compares to the AT95E.

Nice video! Great job with the edits and effects. I definitely appreciate the quality you put into it.

For those not familiar with the brand Gold Circle here is a link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Circle

 

[Stanton681EEES]

It sounds kind of bright which I had heard those Music On Vinyl copies did. Nice cartridge. I have an original Epic as well as a Japanese pressing great LP.

 

[Q-E-2]

Sounds pretty good to me. Not sure how it compares to the AT95E.
You're video probably convinced me to buy one of these just to see how it compares to the AT95E.
Nice video! Great job with the edits and effects. I definitely appreciate the quality you put into it.

That's very kind of you, thank you I may put together a comparison video with both cartridges...I can tell in advance that I prefer the Goldring.

For those not familiar with the brand Gold Circle here is a link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Circle

Haha! This is the first time I see that brand LOL

It sounds kind of bright which I had heard those Music On Vinyl copies did. Nice cartridge. I have an original Epic as well as a Japanese pressing great LP.

Yep, I also like this album a lot. Jeff Beck is amazing!

 

[Q-E-2]

The generator is an Audio Technica, but with a more substantial body and likely a better stylus, it should add up to a better sound overall.

You may be right...both internal metallic housings are identical. After some "cartridge surgery" I managed to fit the E3 internal parts into the AT95 plastic mounting part. But you may wonder why...simple: because I wanted to grace the E3 body with a higher profile stylus, but the plastic case of the E3 prevented me from that. In short, I made it! Here's the proof:

Don't let your eyes fool you, what you're seeing/hearing is a Goldring E3 with a Paratrace stylus It may be a bit ugly, but it sounds beautiful

 

[ripblade]

You may be right...both internal metallic housings are identical. After some "cartridge surgery" I managed to fit the E3 internal parts into the AT95 plastic mounting part. But you may wonder why...simple: because I wanted to grace the E3 body with a higher profile stylus, but the plastic case of the E3 prevented me from that. In short, I made it! Here's the proof:

Don't let your eyes fool you, what you're seeing/hearing is a Goldring E3 with a Paratrace stylus It may be a bit ugly, but it sounds beautiful

Good show! If I were you, I'd modify the Paratrace needle grip to fit the E3 body....best of both worlds. Large nail clippers to remove the vertical 'wings'. It may still look ugly but the sound should be better.

I communicated with the vendor of that stylus. I almost bought it but chickened out in the end. It's a fair price, but I'm not sure the generator justifies it considering AT makes a number of better ones. The only problem with them is that they're not as easy to modify.

 

[Q-E-2]

Good show! If I were you, I'd modify the Paratrace needle grip to fit the E3 body....best of both worlds. Large nail clippers to remove the vertical 'wings'. It may still look ugly but the sound should be better.

I communicated with the vendor of that stylus. I almost bought it but chickened out in the end. It's a fair price, but I'm not sure the generator justifies it considering AT makes a number of better ones. The only problem with them is that they're not as easy to modify.

If you like the sound of the AT95, with the Paratrace you'll get nearly the same sound; "only" a bit of better clarity overall, but the big improvement is tracking...it tracks like a champ! nothing to do with the original stylus.
BTW, just to make things clear, the cartridge in my video is not an audio-technica, it's a Goldring E3, which sounds a bit better than the AT95 IMHO

 

[ripblade]

BTW, just to make things clear, the cartridge in my video is not an audio-technica, it's a Goldring E3, which sounds a bit better than the AT95 IMHO

Possibly, but it sure looks like an AT95 with a Goldring label imprinted on it. Put a stock ATN-95 needle on it....now see if it still sounds better.

 

[Q-E-2]

Possibly, but it sure looks like an AT95 with a Goldring label imprinted on it. Put a stock ATN-95 needle on it....now see if it still sounds better.

Mmm...better than what?
Nevermind, it sounds better than any combination I tried them all:

AT body + stock AT stylus
AT body + Paratrace stylus
GE3 body + GE3 stock stylus
GE3 body + stock AT stylus
GE3 body + Paratrace stylus

The best combo is the latter, which is the one I used in my video. What I was trying to say is that I prefer the sound of the Goldring rather than the sound of this AT. The paratrace stylus improves tracking and gives an extra touch of transparency to the sound...with all bodies; it does not change the main character of the sound, but it makes the body express better. And that's was I was after

I did print the "E3" lettering myself...so as not to confuse it with the AT

 

[losthorizon]

Very interesting, how about the E3 body with a 95sh stylus?