The Gold Note Mediterraneo turntable embodies the Italian manufacturer’s know-how. It’s the most ambitious model of The Italian Turntable series of the Florentine brand which also includes the Pianosa and the Giglio. The turntable uses some of the elements of the range, but it also comes with many improvements.
GOLD NOTE MEDITERRANEO: CHASSIS
The turntable has the atypical but very successful appearance of the manufacturer. The lower part of the chassis features a half-wave shaped curve. It’s made of 60 mm thick solid Italian walnut hardwood. This wood part is handmade with great care by the best Italian craftsmen.
It’s associated with a 20 mm thick black Sustarin upper plinth. This is a composite material close to acrylic providing outstanding rigidity and vibration damping qualities.
Both parts sandwich a 3 mm thick stainless-steel plate. This assembly provides superb rigidity and increases the turntable’s total weight.
The turntable stands on three big conical anodised aluminium adjustable feet.
GOLD NOTE MEDITERRANEO: PLATTER AND DRIVE PRINCIPLE
The 45 mm thick platter is made of high-density POM. It lies on an 80 mm long carbon steel spindle. It’s engineered for ultra-low tolerance. This allows obtaining precise rotation without any friction. The bronze bearing hosting it is perfectly polished.
Gold Note worked at keeping an extremely limited gap between the platter and the plinth of the turntable (less than 3 mm) to suppress turbulence generated by the rotation. Therefore, it allows to optimise platter rotation stability.
The platter is driven at its rim by a 70-shore rectified EPDM belt. The motor has been developed via partnership with Mechtex. It’s manufactured in Switzerland. It consists of a 12 V AC synchronous model. The proprietary power control generator is based on a Quadral-Core micro-controller to effectively minimise vibrations and control speed stability in 33 and 45 rpm with high precision.
Both speeds can be modified with precision, and the adjustment achieved is saved, therefore preventing the need to change the speed each time you switch the turntable on.
The motor is decoupled from the chassis using an elastomer material acting as a floating element. 18 V are supplied via a Gold Note PST-1 external power supply equipped with an IEC ground plug allowing to use the power cord of your own choosing.
GOLD NOTE MEDITERRANEO: TONEARM AND ACCESSORIES
The Gold Note Mediterraneo features a superb Gold Note B-5.1 tonearm in its first version. This 9” model has a 242 mm effective length with a 19 mm overhang. This tonearm is designed and produced entirely by hand in Italy with high-precision to provide the best sound results.
The B-5.1 features a pivot with high-precision micro ball bearings exclusively made for Gold Note by GRW in Germany. It has dual counterweights for the precise adjustment of the tracking force. Of course, it can be associated with lots of high-performance MM cartridges and MC cartridges having a 15 g weight. It is delivered with a good quality 1.5 m Litz OFC phono cable equipped with Hirschmann RCA connectors and an SME 5-pin DIN.
However, the Gold Note Mediterraneo is also available with the B-7 Ceramic high-precision tonearm. This tonearm features high-precision ceramic ball bearings made exclusively for Gold Note by GRW in Germany. The tube is manufactured using a precise and voluntary assembly of six titanium sections.
Just like all Gold Note turntables, the Mediterraneo is supplied with an acrylic dust cover with detachable hinges.
GOLD NOTE MEDITERRANEO: TESTING AND LISTENING
We’ve tested the Gold Note Mediterraneo with two MC cartridges: one Italian (Gold Note!) and one Danish (Ortofon).
As a Gold Note product, this turntable is really easy to set up and to use. It’s not always the case with its high-end counterparts.
The Gold Note Mediterraneo provides a vibrant and nuanced reproduction with beautiful timbres. Bass is clearly present and very punchy! Depending on the works, it’s reproduced with width and depth or completely tense and perfectly articulated. The double bass or organ pedals’ notes have weight and authority.
As always with our Italian friends, midrange is full of emotion. The quality of high frequencies plays a big part in the turntable’s overall balance. They are precise and expressive but without any aggressiveness.
The Gold Note Mediterraneo plays music without exaggerating or trying to charm the listener. It remains impartial and neutral on all registers, no matter the music style. It can also provide dynamics, nuance and lots of subtlety if the track asks for it.
If you’re looking for a very high-quality turntable which is easy to set up and to place, and including a dust cover, an excellent phono cable, etc. this Gold Note Mediterraneo turntable is made for you!
A reference!
AWARDS:
The Audiophile Man - 8/10 - 2018
HiFi Pig - 2019
Mono and Stereo - Highly Recommended - 2019
Hi-Fi Choice - Editor's Choice - 2020
Hi-Fi News - Highly Commended – 2020
FranckPrinciple: rigid turntable
Wow and flutter: 0.1%
Rumble: -80 dB
Speeds: 33 and 45 rpm ±0.1%
Speed control: electronic
Drive principle: belt
Motor: 12 V synchronous
Chassis: 20 mm thick black Sustarin + 80 mm thick wood + 3 mm thick stainless steel
Platter: 45 mm thick high-density POM
Platter bearing: 5 mm ball bearing
Platter spindle: Split-Spindle™ clamping design
Tonearm: Gold Note B-5.1 or B-7 Ceramic
Phono cable: 1.5 m Litz OFC Din/RCA
Dust cover: acrylic
Power supply: 18 V
Dimensions: 470 x 210 x 360 mm
Weight: 20 kg
