DONATELLO RED
High-Output MC — MC Performance from Any MM Phono Stage
Description ⌄
GoldNote Donatello Red MM cartridge. High-output MC cartridge with aluminium cantilever and Micro Elliptical stylus, producing 1.8mV output for use with standard MM phono inputs. At 140Ω internal impedance and just 7g weight, it bridges the gap between MC performance and MM convenience. Made in Italy with the same body as the Donatello Gold.
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
Entry MC buyers wanting a GoldNote moving-coil cartridge at an accessible price; a strong step up from the Vasari MM range Entry MC buyers wanting GoldNote moving-coil character at an accessible price; MM-to-MC transition buyers Entry analog: Donatello Red + B-5.1 + Pianosa or Valore 425 Plus + PH-5 or IS-10 built-in phono
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." — Greg Simmons, Stereo Times, October 2020 (reviewed in same Donatello range context)
Features ⌄
- Ultra-light 7 g MC high-output cartridge — 1.8 mV output drives MM phono inputs directly; aluminium cantilever, Micro Elliptical diamond, channel separation 24 dB
- High 1.8 mV output eliminates the need for an MC phono stage, delivering MC character and detail from any standard MM phono input
- At just 7g, the lightweight body suits virtually any tonearm; ideal upgrade path from MM without requiring a new phono stage
- 1.8mV high output — uses any standard MM phono input; no MC phono stage required
- 7g lightweight body suits virtually any tonearm — ideal upgrade path from MM without requiring a new phono stage
- Ideal entry MC for Pianosa, Valore 425 Plus and T-5 owners who already own a MM phono stage