Gold Note Mediterraneo X turntable

The Gold Note Mediterraneo X is today the flagship of the Italian brand's "The Italian Turntable" series from the Florentine manufacturer, a range that also includes the Pianosa, the Giglio and the standard Mediterraneo. It draws in part on components from the latter, but receives numerous improvements.

Gold Note Mediterraneo X: chassis

The plinth is made up of three elements. The main part is a large aluminium table machined from a solid block. A 3 mm stainless steel plate is fitted on top. This construction offers remarkable rigidity and increases the turntable's overall mass.

The whole rests on a lower section of solid wood 60 mm thick. This Italian walnut is worked to reproduce the catenary curve (a curve shaped like a half-wave). Gold Note borrowed this profile from the works of Michelangelo and Galileo and applied it to its turntables to achieve maximum structural rigidity. This piece is crafted with the greatest care, by hand, by the finest Italian artisans.

The turntable rests on three large, adjustable conical feet machined from anodised aluminium, allowing height adjustment and levelling. The rear of the turntable is fitted with high-quality RCA connectors. The Mediterraneo X is supplied with its own phono cable and a smoked acrylic dust cover.

Gold Note Mediterraneo X: platter and drive

The 45 mm platter is a sandwich of solid aluminium and ultra-damped POM, weighing 7 kg.

It rests on a steel/carbon shaft 80 mm long, machined to an ultra-low tolerance for precise, friction-free rotation. The well that receives it is made of perfectly polished bronze. The shaft sits in a bearing fitted with a 4.3 mm ceramic ball.

Gold Note worked to maintain an extremely small gap between the platter and the plinth (less than 3 mm) in order to cancel the turbulence caused by the rotation of the moving masses, thereby optimising rotational stability.

The platter is driven at its edge by a ground NBR polyvinyl belt (70 elastic fibres). The motor was developed in collaboration with the Mechtex brand and is made in Switzerland. It is a 12 V AC synchronous model, decoupled from the chassis with elastomer so that it acts as a floating element.

Gold Note Mediterraneo X: tonearm

The Gold Note Mediterraneo X is fitted with a specific version of the Gold Note B-7 Ceramic X tonearm, the manufacturer's highest-performing model.

This tonearm is designed to deliver optimal performance with all low-output MC cartridges (up to 15 g).

The B-7 Ceramic X uses high-precision ball bearings made exclusively for Gold Note in Germany by GRW. These ceramic ball bearings are precisely tested and individually sealed to preserve their integrity, a crucial factor in achieving its silent design. The effective length of the B-7 Ceramic is 242 mm with a 19 mm overhang. Its tube is made entirely of titanium, with sections of varying diameter designed to break up vibration nodes and improve performance.It features a finely machined stainless steel counterweight and accommodates almost every phono cartridge on the market. Additional weights are available as an option to support heavier cartridges if required. On this turntable its output is via RCA at the rear of the plinth. It is crafted with care and precision, by hand, in Italy.

Gold Note Mediterraneo X: technology

All the turntable's functions can be controlled from the touchscreen, allowing fine adjustment of the speed and of the motor torque for perfect synchronisation. The Mediterraneo X offers a timer function that logs cartridge usage time, so its wear can be monitored.

Both the 33 and 45 rpm speeds are finely adjustable, and the setting obtained is stored in the power supply, which of course avoids having to recalibrate the speed at every power-up. The motor is electronically controlled by a "Quad-Core" microcontroller to reduce its vibration behaviour and manage speed stability with great precision. It is powered at 18 V by an external Gold Note PST-1 power supply fitted with an earthed IEC socket, letting you use the mains cable of your choice.

Gold Note Mediterraneo X: sound

From the very first tracks, the Gold Note Mediterraneo X reveals every subtlety within the music. Some details appear far more obvious than usual. The Mediterraneo X clearly distinguishes the different sections, both in width and in depth.

It is also very easy to follow each bass line; the bass is precise, dynamic and swings remarkably. The midrange and treble are rendered with transparency, clarity and dynamics. It delivers the timbral accuracy characteristic of analogue sources, and of master tapes in particular. The Gold Note Mediterraneo X meets the demands and expectations of the most discerning music lovers. The build is remarkable, as are the reproduction and the musicality. It also seems more forgiving with average-quality recordings, depending of course on the cartridge and phono preamplifier used. Our favourite!

FAQ: Everything you need to know before buying the Gold Note Mediterraneo X

Does the Gold Note Mediterraneo X come with a cartridge and a phono preamplifier?

The Mediterraneo X is supplied with its Gold Note B-7 Ceramic X tonearm, its RCA phono cable and its smoked acrylic dust cover, but the cartridge is chosen separately so it can be matched to your taste and system. A phono preamplifier is also essential, since the turntable delivers the raw signal from the vinyl: you will need to pair it with a phono stage suited to your chosen cartridge (MM or MC).

Which cartridges can I fit on the B-7 Ceramic X tonearm?

The B-7 Ceramic X arm accepts almost every cartridge on the market and has been specifically optimised for low-output MC cartridges. Its stainless steel counterweight balances common cartridges, and additional weights are offered as an option for heavier models. This gives you plenty of freedom to develop your turntable over time.

Is the turntable difficult to set up and use day to day?

Switching between 33 and 45 rpm is done electronically from the touchscreen, with no need to move the belt. The fine speed and motor-torque settings are stored in the external power supply, so there is no recalibration at each power-up. Like all our turntables, it is mounted, adjusted and tested in our workshop before shipping, so it reaches you ready to play.

What sets the Mediterraneo X apart from the rest of the Gold Note range?

The Mediterraneo X is the most accomplished model in the "The Italian Turntable" series. It stands out with its massive three-layer plinth (machined aluminium, stainless steel and catenary-curve Italian walnut), its heavy 7 kg aluminium-and-POM platter, and its high-end titanium tonearm. The whole design aims for maximum rigidity and rotational stability, in the service of a detailed, musical performance.