Goldmund Reference Turntable ?

The turntable itself shows a deep and wide soundstage. This was done right from Goldmund. This compensates the weakness from the T3F. It has nothing to do with adjusting the arm, this Design is superb example for super engineering which fails the target by a few miles. The movement of the Arm changes all Parameters, it is probably ok when you listen to a female singer or it is in a System which can't show a difference anyway. The treble flatness will be there in every second, it can be compensated with a cartridge like a Goldfinger which is very aggressive in this frequency area.
The micro resolution does not exist.In a way it is like a class D Amp. Powerful, but lifeless and limited in its sonic signature.
Microdynamic expressiveness which gives the presentation a king of life, does not exist.
It is a impressing product, but from what I know what is possible in analog reproduction, it is among my worst experiences.

The two Pierre Lurne tangential-tonearms T3 (any incarnation) and T5 where - while correct in their original idea and nicely made - burden from the start with a few very serious mechanical problems (not just their sleigh-mechanism...) which actually limited the number of cartridges REALLY suitable to be mounted in these particular tonearms to a small handful. All these cartridges had several design features in common ( low mass body and VERY rigid -in the mechanically and durable sense of the word...;-) .... - suspension of the cantilever being the most important).
The Goldmund tangential tonearms were technically fine executed attempts to bring the tangential principle from its theoretical superiority to suitable practice.
They weren't the first and they are not the last.
Sadly neglected here - as in many other tonearm designs - was the aspect of energy transfer.
Hi Nandric - if it is about technical/design aspects I gladly join.
Most threads the past months did not really move me to write any comment.

the biggest problem I was facing with the TF-3 was if you wanted to mount a heavy system the counterweight was not perpared to balance the cartridge. I was thinking about producing a heavier counterweight but keeping in mind that due to the intensive movements of the correction technology of the arm you should not use cartridges with sensitive technology i.e. rubber parts.

I experimented with different platters. I found out a stiff and well fixed extra platter improves the sound.

Finding a well preserved Goldmund Reference I is still one of the best preconditions to build up an excellent analogue system.

Hello Kevin
Hopefully you will have the black service manual to keep you right , I have had mine for some 15 yrs now , Take note of the mechanical grounding spike as it is very important to the sound also hopefully you should have the correct oil supplied . The T3f has a sensor that doesnt like direct light for it will suddenly start tracking across your treasured vinyl , best you play around with an old record and cartridge first. My T3f has been boxed up and shoved in a cupboard for a few yrs iam using the table with a Kuzma airline/ A90 the table now sings like never before !

I've been testing a Studio/T3 for 3 years and while I'll not admit that it's a snap to set a cartridge up, I'll say that once so done the result is pure holographic. I mean- reach out and touch Mikes Davis, while the acoustic pressurizes the room. I don’t hear any image shift as the arm self corrects. Perhaps I’m just lucky or got a good match with the Cello I’m using. Kevin Olsen, noted audio expert, owned it before me and ran a Purple Heart for years with zero problems. You must protect the cartridge while moving the counter weight. And the process is awkward- if you have two thumbs get a steady handed friend to give an assist. I think Lurne’ was ahead of his time. There is a classic look to these tables and the Ref offers a high degree of mass loading. His J1s are spectacular. But there are tricks to setting them up. I’ll discuss it all in 2011 in TAS.

Peter Breuninger
Sr. Writer,
The Absolute Sound