Goldring Eroica LX Moving Coil Cartridge

The Goldring Eroica LX is the entry model in Goldring's five-strong moving coil cartridge range and the lower-output sibling of the Eroica HX. It produces a 0.5mV output, which requires a phono stage with a dedicated MC input or a step-up transformer — but in return it offers the precise groove tracing and low generator mass that define true moving coil performance.

Stylus and Tracking

The Eroica LX is fitted with a Gyger II diamond stylus — a multi-radii line-contact profile with a 6μm lesser radius. This geometry traces the groove wall with greater contact area than a conventional elliptical, recovering high-frequency detail with lower distortion and significantly reduced inner-groove wear. Goldring specifies a frequency range of 10Hz–50kHz, with the audible band covered at 20Hz–20kHz ±3dB. Equivalent tip mass is 0.35mg, and trackability is rated at 85μm at 315Hz. The stylus is not user-replaceable; Goldring offers a dedicated retip service, making the Eroica LX a long-term investment.

Generator Design

The coils are hand-wound on a pure iron armature, suspended in an advanced magnetic circuit using a powerful neodymium (NdFeB) rare-earth permanent magnet. The shortened magnetic path reduces iron content and keeps total cartridge mass to just 5.2g — light enough to minimise tonearm loading while maintaining the structural rigidity needed for accurate tracking. Output is 0.5mV ±1dB at 5cm/s; channel balance is within 1dB at 1kHz, and channel separation is better than 25dB at 1kHz.

Construction

The cartridge body is moulded from Pocan® — a glass-reinforced polyester chosen for its high strength-to-mass ratio and resonance-damping properties. The body absorbs rather than transmits unwanted vibrational energy, keeping colorations out of the signal path. Every Eroica LX is individually hand-adjusted for azimuth and compliance before leaving the factory, ensuring frequency response falls within specification and that the cartridge is correctly matched to low to medium-mass tonearms. Mounting uses standard half-inch (12.7mm) fixing centres.

Range Context

Within Goldring's moving coil range, the Eroica LX sits at the entry level, sharing the same Gyger II stylus and Pocan® body as the Eroica HX above it. The key difference is output level: the LX's 0.5mV requires an MC-capable phono stage, while the HX's 2.5mV works with a standard MM input. Above both sit the Elite, Ethos, and Ethos SE — each offering progressively more refined generator and body engineering.