DONATELLO GOLD
Stereo Times Acclaimed — Ultra-Light MC Cartridge Under €1,100
Description ⌄
GoldNote Donatello Gold MM cartridge — high-output moving magnet. MC cartridge with aluminium cantilever and Micro Elliptical stylus delivering 0.5mV output at 40Ω internal impedance. At just 7g, it pairs well with lighter-tracking tonearms and standard MC gain phono stages. Italian-made with precision matched coil windings for high channel separation.
Technical background
GoldNote cartridges are hand-assembled at the brand's Florence workshop. MC models use Samarium-Cobalt or neodymium magnet assemblies with coils wound from gold-plated silver AWG40 or copper wire at extremely low turns counts to minimise internal impedance. Stylus profiles progress from Conical (Vasari Red) through Elliptical, Micro Elliptical, Line Contact and Micro Ridge (Tuscany Gold), with cantilevers in aluminium, boron or sapphire depending on tier.
Design story
All GoldNote cartridges are assembled by hand in Florence, Italy, where each generator is wound and tested individually. The naming tradition honours Renaissance artists and thinkers born in Tuscany — Tuscany, Machiavelli, Giotto, Da Vinci, Donatello, Vasari — reflecting GoldNote's commitment to Italian cultural heritage and artisanal craft in every product regardless of price point.
Best for
Mid-level analog system builders wanting a highly praised MC cartridge at under €1,100; buyers upgrading from MM to MC for the first time Mid-level analog builders wanting a highly praised MC at under €1,100; buyers upgrading from MM to MC for the first time Mid vinyl: Donatello Gold + B-5.1 + Pianosa or Giglio + PH-10 or PH-5 + PSU-10
Awards & press
⭐ N/A "If you're shopping in this price range, or even a little higher, do yourself a favor and seek out the Donatello Gold for an audition. It's an excellent cartridge." — Greg Simmons, Stereo Times, October 2020
Features ⌄
- Ultra-light 7 g MC cartridge with Samarium-Cobalt magnet, aluminium cantilever and Micro Elliptical diamond — compatible with any tonearm, channel separation 24 dB
- Ultra-light 7g body fits a wide range of tonearms spanning lightweight to medium effective mass for versatile system integration
- Samarium-Cobalt magnet system provides a stable, consistent magnetic field for accurate and repeatable channel balance over time
- Stereo Times: 'An excellent cartridge — seek out the Donatello Gold for an audition' — Greg Simmons, 2020
- 7g ultra-light body with Samarium-Cobalt magnet — fits a wide range of tonearms from light to medium mass
- Stable Samarium-Cobalt magnet system maintains consistent channel balance over time — reliable long-term tracking