MACHIAVELLI MKII RED
Micro Elliptical MC — The Machiavelli Character at a Mid-Range Price
Description ⌄
GoldNote Machiavelli MKII Red — MC cartridge for mid-range systems. MC cartridge with aluminium cantilever and Micro Elliptical 7.5×15.5μm stylus delivering an excellent price-to-performance ratio. Outputs 0.5mV at 40Ω internal impedance with copper coil winding for warm, musical playback. Precision aluminium body manufactured in Italy, compatible with a wide range of MC phono stages.
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-range MC buyers wanting the Machiavelli character at the Red tier price; a significant step up from the Donatello range without the Gold's outlay Mid-range MC buyers wanting the Machiavelli character at the Red tier price; a significant upgrade step from the Donatello range Mid vinyl: Machiavelli MKII Red + B-5.1 + Pianosa or Giglio + PH-10 + PSU-5 + IS-1000 Deluxe or IS-10
Awards & press
⭐ Original Machiavelli: Tone Publications Exceptional Value Award 2017 "The Machiavelli is capable of resolving enough information that should you take steps up in turntable or phonostage, you will be greatly rewarded." — Tone Publications, 2017
Features ⌄
- MC cartridge with aluminium cantilever and Micro Elliptical stylus (7.5×15.5 µm), Duralumin 7000 body — channel separation >28 dB
- Micro Elliptical 7.5×15.5 µm stylus profile provides a genuine step-up in tracking accuracy and distortion reduction over standard elliptical designs
- Duralumin 7000 alloy body provides rigidity and damping; copper coil winding delivers warm, musical character across all genres
- Micro Elliptical 7.5×15.5µm stylus — a genuine step-up in tracking accuracy from standard elliptical designs
- Tone Publications: 'capable of resolving enough information that steps up in turntable or phonostage reward greatly'
- Duralumin 7000 alloy body with copper coil winding delivers warm, musical character across all genres