Goldring E4 Moving Magnet Cartridge
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Goldring E4 Moving Magnet Cartridge
The Goldring E4 Moving Magnet Cartridge is the flagship model of the E Series, designed to deliver outstanding audio performance for entry-level and midrange turntables. Representing the pinnacle of Goldring's engineering in the E Series, the E4 offers an exceptional upgrade option for those seeking to enhance their vinyl listening experience.
Key Features
- Magnetic Duplex Technology™: Dual magnet generator assembly replicates the geometry of the original cutting head for precise stereo reproduction.
- Hollow Aluminum Cantilever: Lightweight and stiff, allowing the stylus to trace medium-to-high frequencies with greater accuracy.
- Expert Adjustment Facility: Micro-adjustments during production ensure optimized channel balance and crosstalk settings.
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Super-Elliptical Diamond Stylus: Features a 7.6 x 18 micron (0.3 x 0.7 mil) nude stylus for lower effective tip mass and improved rigidity, enhancing high-frequency detail retrieval.
Design and Build
The E4 cartridge incorporates a super-elliptical diamond stylus mounted on a hollow aluminum cantilever. The stylus is cut and polished from a single piece of diamond, resulting in lower effective tip mass and improved rigidity compared to bonded stylus alternatives. This design enhances the stylus's ability to retrieve high-frequency details and reduces the likelihood of mis-tracking or overshooting during playback.
Performance
With its advanced stylus and cantilever design, the E4 excels in tracing high-frequency groove modulations accurately. The finely polished 7.6-micron profile allows it to fit more effectively into closely packed inner grooves, reducing distortion and improving transient response. The result is a flat frequency response and superior fidelity compared to other cartridges in its price range.
Versatility and Compatibility
The E4 is compatible with all medium-to-high-mass tonearms commonly found on budget to midrange turntables. Its standard fixing centers and easy installation make it suitable for upgrading an obsolete cartridge or enhancing an existing E Series cartridge by replacing the stylus. The cartridge's design eliminates the need for additional adjustments, ensuring a straightforward setup and consistent performance.
Goldring E1 to E4 Cartridge Comparison
 Goldring E1 |
 Goldring E2 |
 Goldring E3 |
 Goldring E4 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cantilever | Carbon | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Stylus Profile | Spherical | Spherical | Super-elliptical | Nude Elliptical |
| Stylus Radius | 0.6 mil | 0.6 mil | 0.3 x 0.7 mil | 0.3 x 0.7 mil |
| Channel Separation | >20 dB | >20 dB | >20 dB | >20 dB |
| Sensitivity | 3.5 mV | 3.5 mV | 3.5 mV | 3.5 mV |
| Frequency Range | 12 Hz to 20 kHz | 12 Hz to 20 kHz | 12 Hz to 25 kHz | 12 Hz to 32 kHz |
| Stylus Replaceable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Entry-level listening | Improved stereo imaging | Greater detail and balance | Top performance in this series |
| Buy Now | Goldring E1 | Goldring E2 | Goldring E3 | Goldring E4 |
Goldring E4 Specifications
| Color | Blue |
|---|---|
| Cantilever | Aluminum |
| Stylus Profile | Nude elliptical |
| Stylus Radius | 7.6 micron (0.3 x 0.7 mil) |
| Equivalent Tip Mass | 0.4 mg |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz to 20 kHz ±3 dB |
| Frequency Range | 12 Hz to 32 kHz |
| Channel Balance | Within 1.5 dB at 1 kHz |
| Channel Separation | 20 dB min at 1 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 3.5 mV ±3 dB at 5 cm/s lateral |
| Static Compliance | 22 mm/N |
| Trackability | 70 µm |
| Vertical Tracking Angle | 24° |
| Load Resistance | 47 kΩ |
| Load Capacitance | 100 to 200 pF (150 pF nominal) |
| Internal Inductance | 400 mH |
| Internal Resistance | 470 Ω |
| Cartridge Mass | 6.8 g |
| Cartridge Mass (inc. Fixings) | 7.8 g |
| Fixing Centers | 12.7 mm (0.5 in) |
| Playing Weight | 1.5 to 2 g (1.75 g nominal) |
| Cartridge Height | 17 mm |
| Recommended Tonearm Effective Mass | 5 to 20 g |
Goldring E4 or E3: what does the E4 add?
Goldring E4 or E3: what does the E4 add?
A better stylus and a lighter moving system. The E4 uses a nude super-elliptical diamond (7.6 x 18 microns) cut from a single piece of diamond, where the E3 uses a bonded stylus, and it mounts it on a hollow aluminum cantilever. Goldring lists 0.4mg of equivalent tip mass against the E3's 0.7mg, a frequency range extending to 32kHz against 25kHz, and a lighter nominal tracking force of 1.75g against 2g.
I already own a Goldring E-series cartridge. Can I just buy the E4 stylus?
I already own a Goldring E-series cartridge. Can I just buy the E4 stylus?
That is one of the two ways Goldring designed the E4 to be used. Because it is built on the same core as the other E-series cartridges, the E4 stylus fits an existing E1, E2 or E3 body and brings the E4's diamond and cantilever to it. Get in touch with Mike if you want the stylus rather than the complete cartridge.
What tracking force and setup does the E4 need?
What tracking force and setup does the E4 need?
Goldring gives a tracking force of 1.5 to 2.0g, with 1.75g nominal. Each E4 has its azimuth adjusted during production, so it leaves the factory needing no further azimuth adjustment. Overhang and alignment still depend on your tonearm, so set them with a protractor as your tonearm maker recommends.
Which phono input suits the Goldring E4?
Which phono input suits the Goldring E4?
A moving magnet input. With 3.5mV of output the E4 needs no step-up, and it wants the standard MM load of 47k ohms with 100 to 200pF of capacitance, 150pF being nominal. It fits the usual half-inch mounting centers found on most tonearms.
