VASARI RED

GoldNote Vasari Red MM cartridge — entry-level with conical stylus. MM cartridge with Alnico magnet system and elliptical stylus delivering 4mV output from a precision aluminium 7000-series body. Entry point to the Gold Note cartridge range, offering warm, musical character suited to a wide range of turntables and 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

Entry MM buyers wanting GoldNote's most accessible cartridge; T-5 or Valore 425 Plus owners wanting a brand-matched cartridge Entry MM buyers wanting GoldNote's most accessible cartridge; T-5 or Valore 425 Plus owners wanting a brand-matched cartridge Entry vinyl: Vasari Red + T-5 or Valore 425 Plus + PH-5 phono stage + IS-10 all-in-one

Awards & press

⭐ Hifi Pig Highly Recommended 2017 "These are both high achieving products that wouldn't feel out of place in a £3,000+ turntable." — Janine Elliot, Hifi Pig, 2017