Goldring GR3 Turntable: A Comprehensive Overview
- Pros:
- Detailed, rhythmically adept, and confident sound reproduction.
- Excellent pre-fitted cartridge contributes to plug-and-play convenience.
- High standard of build quality and finish.
- Cons:
- Sound can appear slightly insubstantial at the top of the frequency range.
- The integrated phono stage lacks a bypass option.
- Faces strong competition in its market segment.
Goldring GR3 Turntable: Two-Minute Review
After a two-decade hiatus from the turntable market, Goldring re-enters with the GR3, a collaboration developed with acknowledged experts. The turntable presents a striking appearance, particularly in its high-gloss black lacquer finish.
Its specifications are robust, featuring a belt-drive mechanism with manual speed change. The turntable comes equipped with a highly capable Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge, pre-fitted and pre-adjusted on its aluminum tube tonearm. To facilitate easy integration into various audio setups, it includes a pair of QED cables. An internal phono stage ensures broad compatibility, though the absence of an ‘off’ switch for this stage is a notable limitation, preventing users from utilizing external phono preamps.
When connected to a suitable audio system, the Goldring GR3 delivers an articulate, informative, and confident listening experience, offering sufficient drive and attack without sounding sluggish. Its dynamic headroom, soundstaging, and timing are commendable, as is its ability to extract fine detail from vinyl grooves.
However, in less forgiving systems, a slight high-frequency stridency can become more apparent, indicating a minor lack of treble substance. Despite this, the GR3’s overall enjoyable sound profile makes it a strong contender among available turntables.
Goldring GR3 Turntable Review: Price and Release Date
- $1,299 / £699 / AU$1,599 (approx.)
- Launched in October 2025
The Goldring GR3 was released in late October 2025. Pricing is set at $1,299 in the United States, £699 in the United Kingdom, and approximately AU$1,599 in Australia.
Goldring GR3 Turntable Review: Features
- Low-vibration belt drive motor
- Integrated phono stage
- Pre-fitted Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge
The Goldring GR3 offers more features than typically found in record players at this price point. The motor, which drives the belt and spins the platter, is designed for low noise and vibration. The tonearm is a 237mm one-piece aluminum tube with a three-point mounting system, and it comes pre-fitted with the highly regarded Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge.
Included with the GR3 are two pairs of relatively high-quality interconnects from Goldring’s sister company, QED. These consist of a 1.5mm stereo RCA cable and a 3.5mm / stereo RCA alternative, simplifying connection to either a full-size system or powered speakers.
The turntable’s stereo RCA outputs are fed by an integrated phono stage. While an integrated phono stage offers flexibility and broad system compatibility, the GR3’s phono stage is always active and cannot be switched off. This means users with an existing external phono stage in their system cannot bypass the GR3’s internal one, limiting comparison or preference for an alternative pre-amplification. A simple ‘on/off’ switch for the phono stage would enhance user choice.
- Features score: 4.5/5
Goldring GR3 Turntable Review: Sound Quality
- Tremendous rhythmic positivity
- Extracts plenty of fine detail
- Lacks a little top-end substance
The Goldring GR3 excels in areas where well-designed turntables typically shine, embodying classic turntable strengths in its audio reproduction.
For instance, its rhythmic expression is outstanding. The GR3 handles low frequencies with confidence, precisely articulating the attack and decay of individual bass notes. This results in a natural, fluid, and convincing portrayal of rhythms and tempos. The low end exhibits significant variation, with ample detail in tone and texture. The turntable’s effortless handling of complex, off-kilter rhythms is particularly impressive.
The GR3 also demonstrates exceptional unity and coherence in presenting recordings. Detail retrieval is high across the frequency range, and tonality remains consistent, with a slight exception at the very top end. The turntable conveys a strong sense of singularity and performance, managing timing with a complete absence of apparent stress or effort.
Dynamic headroom is ample, allowing the GR3 to handle intense musical passages effectively. It creates a spacious and convincing soundstage, providing sufficient room for each element of a recording to be distinctly heard. The midrange communication is eloquent, and the overall presentation possesses enough positivity to avoid sounding overly relaxed.
The only area where the GR3’s balance and assurance falter slightly is at the very top of the frequency range. Unlike the rest of the spectrum, which features neutral tonality and substantial body, the high end can sound somewhat thin and lacking in substance. While it avoids harshness or edginess, this relative lack of body contrasts with the richness of the lower frequencies. In a system with complementary components, this might not be an issue, but with poorly matched or similarly inclined partners, the GR3’s treble could become more pronounced than desired.
- Sound quality score: 4.5/5
Goldring GR3 Turntable Review: Design
- Belt drive with manual speed change
- Phenolic resin platter
- High-gloss black plinth
Goldring has openly acknowledged that the GR3 was developed in collaboration with a third party, described as “a renowned British hi-fi manufacturer.” This collaboration is a sensible approach, given that the GR3 marks Goldring’s return to the turntable market after more than two decades.
The GR3’s design will likely appear familiar to those acquainted with prominent British turntable brands. The turntable features a belt-drive system and a phenolic resin platter. This platter is engineered with the majority of its mass concentrated at the outer edge, increasing inertia and maximizing the flywheel effect to maintain consistent rotational speed.
The plinth is constructed from anti-resonant composite fiber and boasts a high-gloss black finish, which is prone to showing fingerprints. It rests on three pliant, resonance-suppressing feet and comes with a clear Perspex dust cover. With the lid closed, the GR3 measures 120 x 450 x 360mm (HxWxD) and weighs approximately 5.5kg.
- Design score: 5/5
Goldring GR3 Turntable Review: Usability and Set-up
- Cartridge is pre-adjusted for all but downforce
- Can easily be connected to many types of system
- Manual speed change
The Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge is factory-fitted to the tonearm and pre-adjusted for all settings except downforce. Users simply need to dial in the recommended 2g to prepare the turntable for playback.
Connecting the GR3 to an audio system is straightforward. One of the supplied QED cables can be used to transmit line-level analog audio from the turntable to an ‘aux’ or other line-level input on the user’s setup, whether it’s a powered speaker or a full hi-fi system.
After connection, ensure the drive belt is correctly positioned around the pulley for the desired RPM. The power switch is located on the underside of the plinth, directly below the “Goldring – established 1906” inscription. Once the cartridge guard is removed and the needle is lowered onto the vinyl, the turntable is ready for use.
- Usability and setup score: 5/5
Goldring GR3 Review: Value
- Great build and finish
- Articulate sound
- Very acceptable cartridge
Considering its high standard of build and finish, the inclusion of a capable cartridge, and its flexible specification that simplifies system integration, the Goldring GR3 offers strong value for money. The turntable’s confident and articulate sound further strengthens its appeal.
- Value score: 5/5
Should You Buy the Goldring GR3?
Buy it if…
You want a convenient experience. Aside from setting the downforce, the GR3 offers a very straightforward setup and operation.
You value effortlessly rhythmic sound. The Goldring’s fluid and engaging musical presentation is highly enjoyable.
You don’t mind regular dusting. The high-gloss plinth tends to show fingerprints and dust easily.
Don’t buy it if…
You already have a quality phono stage in your system. The GR3’s integrated phono stage cannot be bypassed, meaning you must use it.
Your system tends to be bright at the top of the frequency range. The Goldring can emphasize the high end, which might be less than ideal with similarly voiced components.
You have greasy hands. The high-gloss plinth is very susceptible to fingerprints.
Goldring GR3 Review: Also Consider
Rega Planar PL1The Rega Planar PL1 is a strong alternative to the Goldring. While less expensive and lacking pre-amplification or a cartridge as capable as the Goldring E3, it still offers excellent value.Read the full Rega Planar PL1 review
Pro-Ject T2 Super PhonoThe Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is another option worth exploring. It is a visually appealing and great-sounding record player that includes an integrated phono stage, which, unlike the GR3’s, can be switched off. It comes with a decent Sumiko moving magnet cartridge (though not quite on par with the Goldring E3) and is available at a similar or slightly lower price point than the GR3.
How the Goldring GR3 Was Tested
- Tested over the course of two weeks
- Connected to a Naim Uniti Star network streamer/amplifier and Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 Signature speakers
- Listening to various types of music
The Goldring GR3 was connected to the line-level analog input of a Naim Uniti Star network streamer/amplifier using the supplied QED RCA/RCA cables.
The Naim system was then connected to a pair of Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 Signature speakers, placed on FS-700 S3 stands, using QED XT50 speaker cable.
Extensive listening sessions were conducted over two weeks, involving a wide variety of music. Reference devices used for comparison included a Rega Planar 2 with a Carbon MM cartridge and a Technics SL-1300G with a Goldring 1042 cartridge.
