Have you heard the Goldring Ethos Cartridge?

Thank you!

Yes, I had a Goldring years ago on a Roksan turntable.  It was spectacular for the money.  I'm wondering if this cartridge can really compete with carts in the $2-3k range.  My sense is it can. 

Thank you @jorgjean  and @allenric .  I had a Goldring made, Roksan badged cartridge about a decade ago on a Roksan Radius turntable that I loved.  It punched about its price class. 

Thank you WBS. that is helpful!

Yes Chakster, that’s the way to do it. Problem is carts are tough to audition. We always take a leap of faith.  

I just bought the Ethos. Should arrive tomorrow. Cannot wait!

I've been running in the Ethos now.  It's likely too early to give an accurate assessment of the cartridge, but here's what I noticed. 

--Setup was a breeze. The body and the cantilever provide easy viewing for setup. They aren't obscured. 

--Packaging was first rate. As good or better than the last few carts I bought--AudioTechnica ART9, Benz LPS, Kiseki Purpleheart. 

--Sound is particularly big, bold and lively. Bass, midrange and treble are pretty equally distributed.  

--I would like it to open up with a bit more air on top. I have only a few hours on it so we shall see. 

It's been another week of playing records with the Goldring Ethos.  It settled down very quickly. After the initial 5-20 hours, it's broken in-from what I can tell in my confirmation bias/subjective mind. :). I don't hear it changing now. 

What a stellar cartridge for $1600!  This is a keeper.  If I had to describe this cartridge I would say it's totally balanced.  It doesn't avoid romanticism, bloom, or euphonic texture. The first order of business, though, is dropping everything I've heard that I've liked into equal parts.  Not one area is overemphasized.  Or so it seems to me.  Highs, mids, and lows are equally pronounced and curtailed without feeling rolled off.  

Enough of me trying to find the terms. Here's my behavior...

I almost took the day off to listen to records. 

I've bought more records (and I own a bunch). 

I came home from a dinner party, put the wife to bed, and stayed up til 3 am just listening. 

There's a gravitational pull into my music room.  Great job Goldring. 

PS If the Ethos is below your price range, don't scoff. If it's above your price range, maybe try another.  I had a Roksan Radius that came stock with a Goldring 1042 or something. Damn, if I couldn't find anything to beat that MM. It rivaled with ease an Ortofon 2m Black.  Takeaway : Goldring makes great cartridges that should be heard.

PPS. I have no affiliation with the company.  I'm just elated that I didn't spend $10k on a cartridge that moves me and keeps me up at night--in a good way! :)

 

I love the Ethos.  It's a very balanced cartridge and that's a really good thing.  The sound never gets old. I also find I just like listening to it. 

It's bigger and bolder sounding than my ART9 and Kiseki Purpleheart.  The ART9 is a bit more polite and the Purpleheart is rounded and warm and just a bit backward leaning in its presentation.  The ART9 is more conservative but equally as good. The Purpleheart is sweeter than them both--but I haven't played the ART9 right before or after the Purpleheart in awhile. 

It is not aggressive or harsh. BUT its presentation is big, bold, clear and somewhat powerful.  The loud end is robust and not bloated.  I recommend it without reservation.  It is well worth the price. 

I'll say this-- I feel like I'm missing nothing but magnifying glass detail around things. The Ethos doesn't miss the detail, but rather it doesn't highlight as much as the ART9. 

It's amazing you get this much good sound for the price. 

PS My system has some warm components but my main speakers are horn loaded.  I also like it with a set of ribbon tweeters. 

You cannot go wrong with the ART9 either. I LOVE that cart!