Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Rich and present sound in the lower-midrange fills out the performance beautifully
- Thrilling and highly resolved musical entertainment in broad tonal and dynamic terms
- Drive and excellent timing, yet feels solid, which is a nice combination
- Easy to install due to threaded inserts and clear view of the cantilever and stylus
Product Considerations
- Screws supplied with the Goldring cartridge may not be suitable for all tonearms due to thread length
- The finish is pretty basic, being well done but just a basic black
Takeaway: The Goldring cartridge is a very engaging cartridge that extracts an infectious sound from vinyl, putting a smile on any music lover's face. It will give a live performance in the listening room.
All
Goldy MC
reviews
Manufacturer details
Body Material: Aluminum
Frequency Response: 20-50,000 Hz
Channel Separation: 28 dB (1 kHz)
Vertical Tracking Angle: 20°
Vertical Tracking Force: 1.8-2.2 g (2.0 g standard)
Recommended Load Impedance: Min. 100 ohms (when head amplifier is connected)
Coil Impedance: 12 ohms (1 kHz)
DC Resistance: 12 ohms
Coil Inductance: 25 mH (1 kHz)
Output: 0.4 mV (at 1 kHz, 5 cm/sec)
Channel Balance: 0.5 dB (1 kHz)
Stylus Shape: Special Line Contact
Stylus Type: Nude rectangular shank
Stylus Curvature Radius: 1.5 x 0.28 mil
Cantilever: 0.28 mm diameter nude boron
Static Compliance: 22 x 10-6 cm/dyne
Dynamic Compliance: 18 x 10-6 cm/dyne (100 Hz)
Wire Used for Coil: PCOCC
Terminal Pins: Brass
Mount: Half-inch
Weight: 7.6 g (0.3 oz)
Dimensions: 17.3 mm (0.68") H × 16.8 mm (0.66") W × 25.7 mm (1.01")
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- VPI turntables utilize a multi-layered plinth construction, often combining acrylic, stainless steel, and MDF, to create a highly inert and resonance-controlled base.
- They embrace 3D printing technology in their tonearm designs, allowing for complex shapes and optimized resonance control within a one-piece structure.
- The brand provides a family-owned business experience, with readily available support and a direct connection to the designers, emphasizing long-term product viability and customer care.
Select products
VPI Cliffwood
- Positioning: The entry-level turntable, designed for those new to high-fidelity audio.
- Description: Offers a solid performance with its aluminum platter and Cliffwood tonearm, making it a great choice for beginners. Unlike the more advanced models like the Prime X, it focuses on simplicity and ease of use, which is ideal for small rooms and those with a limited budget. It lacks the advanced isolation and tonearm options found in higher-end models, making it less suitable for those seeking extensive customization or the highest sound quality.
VPI Prime X
- Positioning: A high-performance turntable that sits above the Scout 21, offering advanced features for serious audiophiles.
- Description: Stands out with its 3D-printed JMW-12 tonearm and HW-40 isolation feet, providing superior sound isolation and detail retrieval compared to the Scout 21. It lacks the multi-tonearm capability of the Avenger, which might be a consideration for users looking for maximum flexibility.
VPI Avenger
- Positioning: A top-tier model designed for audiophiles seeking maximum flexibility and performance.
- Description: Features a unique three-layer chassis and ability to mount up to three tonearms, making it a standout choice for those who want to experiment with different audio setups. It offers superior isolation and sound quality compared to the Signature DS.
VPI Titan
- Positioning: The flagship model, offering groundbreaking performance and technology.
- Description: Features a pneumatic air-suspension system and analog-based oscillators for exceptional stability and sound purity, setting it apart from the Avenger and other models. Its high cost and advanced features make it suitable for those who are deeply invested in high-end audio and have the space to accommodate its large footprint.
Our take on the brand
Look inside the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
Technologically, two standout innovations set VPI apart:
Our use of 3D printing technology and our proprietary 3-phase BLD motor and processing system. The 3D-printed tonearms represent a major leap forward in precision, damping, and performance—offering sonic benefits that traditional manufacturing struggles to match. Our 3-phase motor system, paired with advanced control processing, delivers superior speed stability and vibration isolation. Both are significant engineering achievements in turntable design and performance.
From a broader philosophy, what truly differentiates us is our identity—we're a family-owned company, still run by the original family, now heading into a third generation. Every table is made in America, built by a small but dedicated team, and reflects a hands-on, personal commitment to craftsmanship and legacy that's hard to find today.
What's your approach to customer support?
We always recommend that customers first reach out to their original retailer—dealer or distributor—as they are often the quickest path to help. However, if the dealer is unavailable or the issue goes beyond their scope, we're absolutely here and ready to jump in.
Customers can contact us directly by email or phone, and we do our best to respond as quickly as possible. What sets us apart is our commitment to hands-on support—if needed, we'll FaceTime or Zoom with customers to walk them through setup, troubleshooting, or fine-tuning. We've even invited customers to the factory when they're nearby. We take support personally because we take our customers personally—when you buy a VPI, you're part of the family.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
- Take Five – Dave Brubeck: The rhythm, the horn work, and the overall layering make this an ideal track for evaluating instrumental balance and clarity. Personally, it holds a special place—it was a favorite of mine and my wife back when we were dating, and my father, Harry Weisfeld (VPI's founder), used it to teach me about soundstage and timing. It's both a sentimental and technical go-to.
- Dr. Ackbar – Bob and Ray's Stereo Spectacular: This is a wild, lesser-known gem. It's a spoken-word journey through a castle/laboratory that plays with spatial cues and stereo effects in a way that's perfect for system testing. When your setup is dialed in, you should feel like you're physically in the space—with voices and effects coming from pinpoint locations around you.
- 64 Dodge – Greg Brown: This track gives me everything I need when checking a system—vocals, guitar tone, and fine detail. I grew up listening to it, so I know exactly how it should sound. When something's off, I can hear it immediately; when it's right, this track just sings.
What other products pair best with yours?
Tough to pick just one, but Nordost cables are often paired with VPI by both customers and retail partners—and for good reason. The synergy between Nordost and our turntables brings out incredible detail and clarity. That said, two standout system pairings we've seen a lot this past year include:
System 1:
- VPI Industries
- VAC Amplifiers
- Acora Speakers
- Cardas Cables
System 2:
- VPI Industries
- Audio Research
- Wilson Audio
- Nordost Cables
Each of these combinations delivers a beautiful blend of musicality, precision, and dynamic range—exactly what analog lovers are chasing.
Used
VPI
What if you spend more?
LUXMAN’s latest phono cartridge is the LMC-5. After 40 years’ experience, our aim was to design it to have sensitivity to all the musical information pressed on a record. The MC type power generation engine features a cross-mounted iron core with a compact magnetic system to improve efficiency. For the vibration detection system, we selected a combination of an aluminum cantilever and a SHIBATA stylus, which boasts excellent tracing ability. In addition, the unique housing structure was achieved by repeated prototyping and fine tuning. We have developed this cartridge with confidence for all those who love vinyl and value its musicality.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- The LMC-5 creates a clearer window onto the music, offering more clarity, tighter focus, and better soundstage
- Fantastic bass quality
- Well-conceived and constructed with excellent build quality
- The midrange is sonorous, making strings sing
- Easy to mount and align due to its body shape and threaded holes
Product Considerations
- A somewhat polite top end might not be ideal for those who prefer a brighter sound with more sizzle
- Proper VTA/SRA is critical to achieving ideal balance
- The pins may be smaller than the crimps on some tonearm cables, requiring adjustment
- Vocals can be a little lean, depending on the system
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Versus Goldring Eroica HX, the LMC-5 creates a clearer window onto the music and has better soundstage
- Versus Denon DL-103 and Ortofon SPU series, the LMC-5 renders people, instruments, and the recording venue in three dimensions, has precise attack, and ultimate refinement
Takeaway: The Luxman LMC-5 is a well-built, beautiful cartridge that offers clarity, detail, and a romantic sweep to the sound, making it worth buying. It is a great cartridge to add to one's system.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Kendo is a modern martial art form; translated from the Japanese it means "way of the sword". At Linn however, the word has unique connotations. Our sword is forged of boron, with a super-fine-line diamond tip. Our armour is nickel-coated, 7075-grade aluminium.
Kendo is the eager apprentice to its master, Ekstatik; sharing the same values, and picking up many of its traits along the way. Kendo is the outcome of our engineers' efforts to capitalise on the elements of Ekstatik which work so well; using our tried-and-true, trickle-down development methodology to produce a more affordable, high-performance cartridge which retains the same core design principles and acoustic fingerprint.
Kendo possesses a rigid, nickel-coated 7075-grade aluminium body. This specific grade of aluminium matches that of our Arko tonearm, for which Kendo was designed to be the perfect partner. This facilitates superb material synergy throughout the tonearm system, and effectively banishes unwanted resonances away from the delicate generator, along the arm, and out through the sub-chassis.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Key to the enduring appeal of the LP12 is the indefinable rhythmic joy to the way it makes music
- The Linn Selekt LP12 retains an extraordinary ability to draw you into the performance with a simple rhythmic rightness
- The Selekt offers a level of performance that is an order of magnitude higher than LP12s of old
- Fine details that are so easily lost from the grooves of a record are worked effortlessly into the performance
- The LP12 is utterly painless to live with
Product Considerations
- The Kendo cartridge isn't a very forgiving performer and can sound a little hard and forward with less pristine pressings
- The Arko arm has a rather stiff example—that needs a little force—to move it out of its rest
Takeaway: The Linn Selekt LP12 is an insightful and enjoyable turntable that delivers an absolutely competitive performance with anything else at its price point. It is a formidable turntable that delivers the emotional content of the music above all else
Video review
Our take on the brand
Reference stereo cartridge with sandwich-body The most modern EMT generator of the Reference-products features a multi-facet diamond on sapphire cantilever. Our unique assembling technology makes it possible to tune the individual sound properties of this high-resolution transducer unit to maximum musicality. The body of the JSD Pure is fitted with a high-density layer that reduces unwanted resonance behaviour between cartridge body and tonearm.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Direct connection with music's dynamism and energy
- Stellar cartridge that gets under the skin of music with outstanding coherence and energy—encompassing, beguiling warmth of vinyl replay
- Honest sound, extracting so much information from the groove, the sound is uncanny
- Superb tracking and an ability to listen through pops and crackle well
- Excellent sight-lining for horizontal alignment within the headshell
Product Considerations
- Nude stylus with no stylus guard requires careful installation
- More about musical drive than about air and spaciousness
Takeaway: The EMT JSD Pure Black is a cartridge that provides a direct and energetic connection to the music and brings out the warmth of vinyl. It is honest and extracts a lot of information to make records sound great.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Warm sound with increasing frequency response at higher frequencies
- Very responsive to high level tracks
- The cartridge is versatile
- Natural, musical voicing focused on the midrange, while also dialed in to create strong, deep lows, and detailed highs
Product Considerations
- Requires careful mounting, especially connecting the color-coded wire connectors to the cartridge pins
- Can reveal limitations in older recordings
- Adjustments needed for tracking force, vertical tracking angle (VTA), and azimuth
Takeaway: The VPI Shyla phono cartridge provides excellent details, dynamics, and depth of image, while having a good overall balance and perspective. It is musically involving and would be quite appealing to bundle with the purchase of a VPI turntable or as an upgrade cartridge.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Provides a balance of analog qualities with high resolution and detail retrieval
- Clear and devoid of specific character, with a silky and extended tonal balance
- Impressive dynamics without sounding bloated or overly punchy
- Excellent tracking ability and low noise floor, revealing details and nuances in recordings
- Delivers an involving and intimate musical reproduction, described as 'brilliant and gorgeous'
Product Considerations
- Clean vinyl records are essential as the Microline stylus brings out noise
- May not satisfy listeners seeking a cartridge with a strong signature in bass, mids, or highs
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs. Hana ML: The Umami Blue paints with distinct and detailed lines, while the ML is more 'analog' and focuses on the ensemble sound, with better bass definition than the ML
- Vs. DS Audio 003: The Umami Blue offers a huge amount of transparency, while feeling more analog-like
- Vs. Hana Umami Red: The Umami Blue has the same subtlety and grace, detail and precision, and outstanding imagery as the Red, but the Red has more dynamism and rhythmic drive, as well as extra air in the top-end
Takeaway: The Hana Umami Blue cartridge provides a balanced and detailed listening experience, extracting the essence of recordings without imposing its own colorations, making it a good option. It's a fantastic option for those seeking a high-performance cartridge that offers a window into the music's original character.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional stability and remarkably low magnetic resistance due to the magnetic flux damper technology and Alnico-5 magnet system
- Precise and unwavering tracking, even during demanding musical passages, because of its rigid construction and solid boron cantilever
- Extracts fine details from vinyl grooves while maintaining a natural, organic presentation, capturing every nuance with stunning accuracy
- Precise imaging, deep, controlled bass, and silky, extended highs because of the 0.14 x 0.08mm Line contact PF stylus
- Presents music naturally and in an unforced manner
Product Considerations
- Requires a premium investment
- Needs a high-quality phono stage to perform optimally
- Careful setup is recommended to achieve the best results
- One review noted a 'thuddy' quality to the sound, but this may be due to setup issues or cartridge-tonearm mismatch
- Rich sounding electronics can cause excess warmth due to the bass, according to one review
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The XX-2 MKII is more even-handed and produced great slabs of bass, compared to the Lyra Helikon
- The XX-2 MKII has a darker tonal balance and funky bass lines, compared to the Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua
Takeaway: The Dynavector XX-2 MKII is a high-end cartridge that retrieves a lot of detail from vinyl while remaining natural sounding, making it a standout choice for serious vinyl enthusiasts. It is an excellent choice for people looking for a solid upgrade to their analog setup.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The EAR MC 4 puts out a consistently pleasing, almost burnished sound that was detailed yet timbrally rich, with saturated instrumental tones and fabulous pace and rhythm
- Offers flexibility with four different sets of gains and impedances via four pairs of gold-plated RCA input jacks, making it suitable for a variety of MC cartridges
- Excelled with mono jazz LPs pressed before 1958, seeming to lower the noise floor and give those records a quieter, cleaner, overall warmer sound
- The review unit had a nice, solid heft that attested to its density
- The MC4 adds better soundstage, faster response but most of all timbral beauty
Product Considerations
- A long burn-in period is required before the EAR MC 4 sounds its best, with the sound continuing to improve over 150–200 hours of listening
- With some symphonic music, tutti's sounded squashed, and timpani strokes rumbly rather than punchy
- One reviewer thought that the free-form avant-garde music on Eric Dolphy's Time Out was far less involving via the Musical Fidelity step-up than the EAR, which sounded so much more dimensional
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Music First Step-Up Transformer: The EAR MC 4 was bloomier, sweeter, with more tonal weight and distinct imaging, it presented a wider soundstage and superior jump factor, more timbral richness and sophistication, and tighter bass on jazz and rock tracks
Takeaway: The EAR MC 4 is a flexible and handsome analog instrument that offers rich timbral colors, tonal weight, and rhythmic tightness. Its multiple gain options and small size make it a great choice for enhancing your listening experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Sounds great right from the first minute of use, with a fast, open, articulate, precise, lively, and expressive delivery.
- Sounds timbrally purer and more realistic, getting closer to the natural sound of acoustic instruments.
- Has a more robust bass and is even crisper and more direct.
- Sounds impressive in the TP 160 arm.
- The TAS 1600 is very clearly more refined, liquid, transparent, and more highly resolving than the TAS 1500.
Product Considerations
- The TAS 1600 can initially sound polite to the point of being uninspiring, and dynamically restrained.
- The TAS 1600 did not perform well with the TP 92 arm, sounding rough, hard, shut-in, and compressed.
- Can sound a little dry and is not particularly rich or colorful in the midrange.
- The TAS 1500's emphasis on precision can lead to dry or 'square-ish' treble.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The TAS 1500 sounds similar to the Audio Technica AT OC9 XSL, but timbrally purer and more realistic.
- The TAS 1500 is crisper and more incisive in the bass, compared to the TAS 1600.
- The TAS 1600 has much more bloom in the midrange and an overall lusher and more liquid presentation, compared to the TAS 1500.
- The TAS 1600 seems to have similarities with the Audio Technica AT-OC9XSL (Line Contact).
Takeaway: Both the TAS 1500 and TAS 1600 cartridges perform splendidly when paired with the right tonearm. The TAS 1500 is great for those who want to hear every detail, while the TAS 1600 is ideal for those who seek harmonic richness and delicacy.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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