In sports, no; in Hi-Fi, yes: Thanks to doping and better components, Goldring has enhanced its strong MC cartridge Ethos to create the Ethos SE. Is the price difference worth it?
The MC cartridge Ethos already earned itself a medal during its test. Priced at just under $1,270, the silver-colored cartridge impressed with its lively character, realistic sound staging, and a touch of high-end feel. Now, the new, all-black Ethos SE is here to take it a step further, priced at around $1,700. It uses the same aluminum body with pre-drilled mounting holes as the Ethos and features the same rigid, lightweight cantilever made from a hard aluminum alloy, fitted with a “nude” diamond in a “Vital” design with a narrow “Line Contact” shape, aiming to extract details even from the inner grooves of records.
The differences, as is often the case with cartridges, lie in the details. The cross-shaped coil former, made of Swedish iron and designed to ensure effective channel separation and realistic sound staging, is wound not with copper wire but with the finest pure silver wire. Additionally, to keep mass low, it has fewer windings compared to the Ethos.
This results in greater mobility, which enhances the ability of the assembly to transfer the movements of the cantilever in the magnetic field of the powerful neodymium magnet with minimal loss. However, the output voltage decreases as the coils naturally become smaller. In this case, the Ethos SE may require a few decibels more amplification or a quieter phono preamp. We measured both Goldrings and later, of course, listened to them. The Ethos SE actually showed a slightly lower output of 0.34 millivolts (1 kHz, 5 cm/sec) compared to the standard Ethos’s 0.49 mV, translating to a level difference of about four decibels.
Easy to Handle
The cushioning pads of the manually crafted “GOL-1” generator, originally developed by Goldring, have also been enhanced. A special treatment exclusive to the SE model increases the metal’s permeability, reducing the magnetic resistance of the fields, which, according to the manufacturer, significantly benefits the reproduction of higher frequencies.
Weighing 7.7 grams with a dynamic compliance of 16 and an internal resistance of about 4 ohms, the Ethos SE is a perfect match for common medium-mass tonearms and standard integrated or external phono MC preamps. If adjustable, we recommend gain settings slightly above 60 dB with the usual load impedance of 100 ohms.
When installing the cartridge, it’s best to leave the needle guard on to prevent any accidental damage to this sensitive part. Of course, it should be removed when balancing the tonearm. Set the tracking force to 18.5 millinewtons, slightly above Goldring’s recommendation of 17.5 mN, which brought a touch more color, pressure, and firmness on the Ortofon tonearm AS-212R.
We mounted the Ethos SE and the standard Ethos with the same geometry in identical headshells, making it easy to switch between them. The SE version indeed performed at a higher audiophile level, sounding smoother and more refined. Contrary to what one might expect from silver coils, the SE had a slightly darker, fuller, and silkier sound compared to the standard Ethos, which emphasized the upper midrange and sounded a bit more forward. The SE also provided a more spacious soundstage, drawing the performers farther away from the speakers.
The multi-layered, atmospheric vocal performance of the California Project in the classic “The Warmth Of The Sun” had far more warmth, expansiveness, and the necessary sentimental feel with the Ethos SE. The song went straight to the heart with this cartridge.
This reminds us of the exceptional performance of Goldring’s high-end MC cartridge, the Transrotor Figaro, which also uses an aluminum cantilever. The Figaro, one of our reference models priced at around $2,970, outshone the Ethos SE in every way with its grander, more detailed presentation. Still, the Ethos SE has significantly closed the gap to its more expensive rival, outperforming its predecessor and sounding absolutely “prohibitedly good”.
Oriented Towards Superior Sound
Despite its tonal balance, the Ethos SE offers excellent resolution, proven during Ana Caram’s lively track “Maybe.” The song flowed effortlessly from the speakers, with a nuanced, agile musical motion that is a hallmark of the track, beautifully handled by the British MC. This demonstrated once more that exceptional sound clarity does not necessarily require an ultra-hard boron cantilever. The Ethos SE achieves this with its aluminum tube.
Specifications
- Product / Price Category: Cartridge / from $1,060 to $2,650
- Price: $1,700
- Weight: 7.7 grams
- Cartridge Type: Moving Coil (MC)
- Recommended Tracking Force in Millinewtons: 18.5 mN
- Output Voltage in Millivolts (1 kHz, 5 cm/s): 0.34 mV
- Needle Compliance (µm per Millinewton): 16
Verdict
Performance Ratings (Converted to 10-Point Scale)
Sound Quality: 7.0 / 10 (Very Good – 1.5 on the original scale)
- Description: Sonorous yet finely detailed, with a colorful and dynamic sound image.
Tracking Ability: Still very good
Measurements: 8.5 / 10 (Good – 1.8 on the original scale)
- Frequency Response: Good
- Channel Equality: Very good
Features: 8.3 / 10 (Good – 1.7 on the original scale)
- Included Accessories: Two pairs of screws, Allen key, needle guard.
- Build Quality: Good
- Color-coded connectors / Threaded mounting holes: Yes / Yes
- Instruction Manual Quality: Satisfactory
Handling & Usability: 5.0 / 10 (Satisfactory – 2.6 on the original scale)
- Packaging: Cardboard box with a thin plastic inlay
- Warranty: 2 years
Overall Test Result: 8.4 / 10
