Paul Rigby
www.goldnote.it, www.audiopinnacle.co.uk 01420 544140
Right from the off, you notice it: that wavy lower plinth made out of walnut. This one feature provides a clue to the intriguing design qualities of this turntable and also the care and thought applied to its construction.
I asked Gold Note about the wooden plinth element and they admitted that there are pros and cons to working with aged Italian walnut: “It’s very difficult to work with and it takes an extremely talented and skilled craftsman to create unusual shapes, like the one we need,” said a spokesperson. The upsides apparently outweigh the difficulties, though: “The Italian walnut used on the Mediterraneo is extremely dense, but highly dampening at the same time. So when you feel the weight of the deck, you know that it comes mostly from the lower plinth. So, basically, it provides stability, insulation and rigidity to the turntable on its own.”