Hi Guys,

Just a heads up about this new cartridge which i've had out for audition:

CONS:

• It looks like something out of "Lost in Space" ( the new one not the original "Danger will Robinson" one), so if you like a more traditional look of cartridge this one wont be for you.
  
  
  
• It is a very wide cartridge, so wont fit on headshells that have a rim around the edges like the Technics or AT style ones. 

• Price: At the price this cartridge sells for i'm afraid that most audiophiles wont consider it, as it seems absurdly cheap for what it does.

PROS:

• The sound quality of this cartridge in my system (Gyrodec, Jelco750, Quad ESL57's and valve amps) was simply astounding. This cartridge has grip, drive and dynamic abilities that many more expensive cartridges lack. OK it's not going to compete with your 2M Blacks, Shure V15's or Technics in terms of detail but it certainly gets into the groove and boogies along nicely. I found it a real fun cartridge to listen to.
• The price of this cartridge is $129.95, which as far as i'm concerned is an absolute bargain and i'm hard pressed to think of anything anywhere near this price that i'd rather live with.

I have a demo unit doing the rounds so hopefully someone else will weigh in with any varying opinions.

:

Am I correct in thinking that this cartr also has threaded inserts (no fixing nuts req'd)?

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

tapped inserts ... yah !

how does it compare with the other leading cheapies like the grado black and sumiko oysters  etc ?

Tapped inserts yes, sorry forgot to mention that. Also comes with very good quality stainless hex head mounting bolts in a couple of different lengths. (and the appropriate allen key to suit). Stylii are also interchangeable throughout the range, so you can upgrade to the E3 simply by purchasing the new stylus, so you have an upgrade path as well. Spoiler alert: I prefer the E1. As I was discussing with someone else the other night it's really nice to encounter something great sounding and enjoyable that doesnt cost a fortune.

I havent heard the Grado black but have had the prestige gold. By comparison, The gold is an interesting cartridge as it sounds like a more expensive cartridge in a basic system but when you put it into a more resolving system it just sounds dull and lifeless (IMO), the E1 is more of a bright and breezy listen. Sumiko cartridges I went away from after my second duff BPS EVO111, but have heard a friends pearl which was OK but nothing to get excited about. Take all that with a grain of salt as I dont have the Sumiko agency. YMMV as always.

Decidedly interesting, my interest is piqued. Would be interested in hearing if anyone has compared it to the other bargain beast the AT95E.

Never play Leapfrog with a Unicorn.

Sounds like I’d best unbolt the ugly little sod and send it your way nakmad...

Hi Nakmad,

Send me your address and you're next on the list. Yes I have had a couple of AT95e and also the spherical version, both of which I was quite frankly underimpressed with and sold on. Disapointing really as I had a great time with the AT110 ( I think it was, had a red stylus assy)

Aight. Best I say sumink given Ian’s hospitality in slugging this one my way... and there are two key words here: ‘fuck-that’s-ugly!’ (Cos that’s one word) and ‘fun’ - because what she lacks in physical appeal, she makes up for in an abundance of personality.
Cool story, I came into this blind. Not a fan of Goldring and having been on a geek hiatus, I’d read or heard nothing about this cart before Ian sent it my way. I decided to keep it that way.
Laying eyes on her for the first time, you knew she was entry level. A pig in some rather garish lipstick - looking not a whole lot unlike an AT91 in an absurdly dimensioned, hollow plastic shell. (It’s actually aluminium I think).
Set up really was a doddle. I figured it was going to track at around 1.5 and dialed her in with ease before laying down my first slab o vinyl... (LA Vampires with Maria Minerva)
Fun. That’s the word for it. Fun. Bouncy, punchy, dramatic and with an overstated and bloomy bottom end that you’d be tempted to call dark if it weren’t for the more than adequate top that maybe sizzles when she ought shimmer - but you get the idea anyway.
So what she is, is fun. What she’s not is the beginning or end of anything. My thinking after a day or so of not-so-critical listening was that I’d be more than happy to pay anywhere up to $150 for one of these puppies. A quick hit on the google-tron told me they retailed for $130. Sold.
I’ve had an AT95 and it didn’t stay long. I bypassed the 2M Red for the Blue and that’s still the worst $300 I’ve spent in audio. I reckon that for the money, this could be a real winner. I mean, it is what it is and it does what it does - but it sure has some fun doing it - so that’s a yes from me...

Jun 26, 2018 18:02:37 GMT 12 cartridgeguyonline said:

Hi Nakmad,

Send me your address and you're next on the list. Yes I have had a couple of AT95e and also the spherical version, both of which I was quite frankly underimpressed with and sold on. Disapointing really as I had a great time with the AT110 ( I think it was, had a red stylus assy)

Thanks, Ian, pm on it's way. Looking forward to giving this a whirl!

Underimpressed was my previous experience of the cheaper AT MM's as well, but a while back I acquired a Thorens TD320 for parts, which was fitted with an AT95 with the red spherical stylus. To cut a long story short, I fired it up and tested it out and it didn't sound half bad for an entry level beast..unlike my prior experience's with AT's. 
Like Mr Heathen, I've never been able to gel with Ortofon MM's.. nice but bland.. I do like a lot of their MC's though

Never play Leapfrog with a Unicorn.

Hi Nakmad,

Have received your PM and as soon as it finds its way from heathens place to mine it's on it's way. Nice to see that Johnny had the same opinion of it as me, now I'm waiting for citroens somewhat divergent view which I still cant quite reconcile. I should also mention at this point that i've put my money where my mouth is and ordered one for myself (yeah like I really need another cartridge...)

Re Ortofons: I've not listened to any of their MC's in many a year, but the 2M black is quite special although definately a more cerebral listen than the Goldring.

Cheers

These were my thoughts I sent to cartridgeguyonline

"Played a fair few albums now and I must say that I am indeed impressed.

Took a little while to adjust to the sound, after using the Kiseki Blue. It sounded a bit rough around the edges (e.g comparatively edgy, and softness/bloom in the quite prominent bass), but nothing really bad esp in the context of its budget price.

Two things I immediately noticed were
1. Most of all was the detail in the separation of instruments. I think that's where its secret lies and which gives it a nod above other budget carts. I can only imagine how well the ones higher up the range may sound.
2. How everything sounded subtly a tad slower. Lack of leading edge attack? Probably just the normal MM sound? I haven't had a MM in my quite resolving main system for many years now.

There's no comparison to that gawd awful 2M red I briefly tried. Maybe I had the capacitance setting wrong but it was a bright screechy thing indeed!

Tracking at 2 gms, complex passages and even slight warps didn't faze it. Overall its a very well balanced cart, clear and quite dynamic. I'd certainly recommend it to anyone looking in this price range."

My goto budget recommendation has been the AT95, which at around $70 is about half the price of the E1. The E1 is clearly a better sounding cart than the AT95 but both make enjoyable music.

I done sapose I’d best unbolt this puppy and send it home then... Tis good. 👍🏿

Now that I have had a good play with one, my tuppence....

After reading Ian's and others review's, I put my hand up to 'experience' what this cartridge is all about.

I would concur with most of M'sieur Citroen's comments.. pretty much my appreciation, with the exception I didn't find it  'slow' in my system, but I know what Citroen means.

It's a large beast, but easy to mount thanks to integral bolt treads, and easy to align. Best for me with the arm/cartridge level to the playing surface, and I ended up at the recommended 2g tracking. No improvements going higher, and the sound tended to coarsen going lower. ( I tested it installed in a Grace 727, mounted on my SP25..)





((that record clearly needed a clean, but with my eyesight...  ))

My initial impressions were a slightly blowsy bass, great mid range, and a slightly muted top. On extended listening, and I must stress that has been a fun experience, the bass bloom decreases with usage, the bottom end tightening up nicely. Plenty of Oomph with less flab than fresh out of the box. Sound stage is nice and wide, similar to my other cartridges, but lacks a bit of depth so spatially a tad 2 dimensional. Vocals are a little forward and I think that is what gives this cartridge it's appeal.. it is immediately engaging in the most sensitive part of our hearing range. The top end is nice but gets a bit splashy on complex signals as you would expect for a conical stylus.

If that all sounds like damning with faint praise, it's not meant to be. A Denon DL160 and Garrott Decca London are my daily users, so the above is my best attempt to put it in context: the dreaded price/performance ratio. The is seriously good bang for the buck.

I could quite happily live with this cartridge and will in fact do so.. I bought this one  . It is going to replace the AT95 on my TD320... I use 'My' loosely.. it's likely to be confiscated as swmbo's vinyl spinner.

Such is the sound out of the Goldring E1, I feel obliged to  investigate the E3 at some stage, either via a replacement stylus, or another complete cartridge.

Never play Leapfrog with a Unicorn.

Here's another review vs Grado Black 2

Crikey he's as bad as colinf listening to the same part of each record over and over....

I've not heard a Grado black in living memory but I vastly prefer the E1 to the prestige gold I used to own. Interesting to note that the replacement stylus for the gold I bought in the same shop in Singapore that he did !

E3 review