Goldring Ethos SE MC Moving-Coil Phono Cartridge

Description

Goldring Ethos SE Moving Coil Cartridge

Goldring, introduces Ethos SE – a special edition of its award-winning Ethos model. Sitting at the very top of Goldring’s range of moving coil cartridges, Ethos SE combines uncompromising engineering with unique new features to produce a cartridge of exquisite sound reproduction capabilities.

Thanks to a raft of exclusive and carefully engineered upgrades – including pure silver coils, low reluctance pole shoes and a black anodized, aircraft-grade aluminum body – Ethos SE sets entirely new standards in terms of detail retrieval, channel separation and low coloration. Even when judged against cartridges costing a great deal more, this new special edition cartridge delivers a totally immersive, thrillingly complete musical experience – which has always been the Goldring ethos.

Features

Key features at a glance:

• New pure silver coils feature fewer windings with higher conductivity, reducing the effective tip mass and internal impedance of the pick-up for improved tracking and greater transient response.
• Low-mass cross-armature core made from Swedish iron improves channel separation and produces a more realistic soundstage.
• A vital line-contact diamond stylus features a narrow, low tip-mass, large contact-area that enhances high-frequency response and minimizes distortion and coloration.
• New low reluctance pole-shoes ensure smooth and extended frequency response via an exclusive process.
• Low-resonance, aircraft-grade aluminum body is selected for its low density and superior rigidity.

New pure silver coils

Reducing the effective tip mass of any phonograph pick-up will enhance its performance. The Ethos SE relies on Ag 9999 pure silver coil windings which have very low internal resistance and lower mass because fewer windings are used. The coils therefore have a significantly lower mass than our standard copper windings. This means the Ethos SE is better able to negotiate or ‘track’ the record groove without losing contact. The upshot is greater transient response, a reduction in resonance throughout the audio band, and flatter overall frequency response. 

Low-mass cross-armature

By using high permeability Swedish iron in a low-mass cross-shape, rather than the conventional (and heavier) square alternative, Goldring improves channel separation and delivers an armature assembly that can produce an extraordinarily realistic stereo soundstage. High frequency detail levels are improved, distortion is reduced, and mis-tracking is all-but eliminated. 

Vital line-contact diamond stylus

In order to retrieve the highest frequencies in a recording, Ethos SE uses a narrow, low tip-mass, large contact-area diamond stylus. This vital-shank, nude design has a polyhedral, line-contact diamond profile, and is connected to the armature by a stiff-yet-lightweight alloy cantilever tube. So, as well as having a remarkably good high-frequency response, distortion, resonance and coloration are minimized.  

GOL-1 generator

Originally developed during vinyl’s initial rise to ubiquity, the GOL-1 generator ensures a smooth and extended frequency response. It’s still handmade by Goldring, and here it is presented as an example of the company’s ongoing dedication to refinement of every aspect of its design and assembly. Exclusively for the SE version, the pole shoes have been subjected to a new process, which enhances the permeability of the metal, creating a lower reluctance magnetic circuit. This serves to flatten and extend the frequency response, especially in the upper registers where musical detail resides.

Aircraft aluminum body

The GOL-1 generator is fitted into a precision-milled 6082-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum body shell. This material was carefully selected for its low density and superior rigidity – and thanks to its anodized black finish it’s as good-looking as it is durable. 

Specifications

Frequency Response                      20 Hz – 20 kHz ± 2 dB

Frequency Range                             12 Hz – 32 kHz

Channel Balance                              within 1 dB @ 1 kHz

Channel Separation                        better than 30 dB @ 1 kHz

Sensitivity                                           0.35 mV ± 1 dB, 1 kHz @ 5 cm/sec

Static Compliance                            28 mm/N

Trackability                                        90 um (@ 315 Hz)

Equivalent tip mass                        0.34 mg

Vertical Tracking Angle                 20 °

Stylus Profile:                                    Vital line-contact

Stylus Radius                                     35 x 8 μm (0.3 mil)

Stylus Type                                         Non-Replaceable (re-tip service available see website)

Load Resistance                                100 Ω

Load Capacitance                             100 – 500 pF

Internal Inductance                        3.5 uH

Internal Resistance                         3.8 Ω

Cartridge Mass                                  7.7 g

Cartridge Mass (inc. fixings)        8.5 g (without stylus cover)

Fixing Centers                                    0.5 ” (12.7 mm)

Playing Weight                                  1.5 – 2.0 g (1.75 g recommended)