The Goldring 1022GX sits near the top of Goldring’s acclaimed 1000 series moving magnet cartridge range, positioned between the 1012GX and the flagship 1042. Designed and manufactured in the UK, the 1022GX is built for listeners who demand extended frequency retrieval and refined detail from their vinyl collection.
Line-Contact Stylus Design
At the heart of the 1022GX is a vital-shank, nude diamond stylus with a polyhedral line-contact profile. This geometry provides a large contact area with the groove wall while maintaining an equivalent tip mass of just 0.45mg. The extended contact patch reduces both stylus and record wear, and enables undistorted retrieval of ultrasonic frequencies that conventional elliptical profiles cannot trace accurately.
Construction
The cartridge body is formed from Pocan®, a glass-reinforced polyester chosen for its rigidity and low resonance. Inside, the magnetic circuit uses an ultra-low-mass Alnico V magnet paired with finely etched mu-metal laminated pole pieces. Two formerless coils of 4,000 turns each are enclosed within integral mu-metal shielding for effective rejection of external interference. A gold-plated nickel tie-bar provides a path for static discharge and stabilises the cantilever assembly.
Suspension and Tracking
The 1022GX employs a special butyl rubber polymer suspension with optimised damping characteristics. Static compliance is rated at 24mm/N laterally and 16mm/N vertically, making the cartridge compatible with a wide range of tonearms. Recommended tracking force is 1.5–2.0g, with a nominal setting of 1.7g.
The Goldring 1000 Series
The 1000 series represents Goldring’s premium moving magnet range, sitting above the more affordable E series (E1 through E4). Within the 1000 series, the hierarchy runs from the entry-level 1006, through the 1012GX, to the 1022GX and the flagship 1042. Each step up the range brings refinements to the stylus profile and magnetic circuit. The 1022GX’s replaceable stylus (D22GX) allows the cartridge to be maintained without replacing the entire body assembly.
| Cartridge Type | Moving Magnet |
| Stylus Type | Vital-shank nude diamond, polyhedral line-contact profile |
| Equivalent Tip Mass | 0.45mg |
| Vertical Tracking Angle | 24° |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz ±3dB |
| Output (Sensitivity) | 6.5mV ±1.5dB at 1kHz @ 5cm/sec |
| Channel Balance | Within 2dB @ 1kHz |
| Channel Separation | Better than 25dB @ 1kHz |
| Load Resistance | 47kΩ |
| Load Capacitance | 150 – 200pF |
| Internal Inductance | 570mH |
| Internal Resistance | 660Ω |
| Cartridge Mass | 6.3g (7.6g with fixings) |
| Tracking Force | 1.5 – 2.0g (1.7g nominal) |
| Static Compliance | 24mm/N lateral; 16mm/N vertical |
| Fixing Centre | 12.7mm (0.5″) |
| Body Material | Pocan® (glass-reinforced polyester) |
| Magnet | Ultra-low-mass Alnico V |
| Replacement Stylus | D22GX |