Gold Note B-5.1 9-inch Tonearm, Black

The Gold Note B-5.1 is a handmade 9-inch tonearm in black anodised aluminium, featuring GRW precision ball bearings, adjustable arm height and a hydraulic cueing lift. Gold Note fits it as standard to its own Pianosa and Giglio turntables – as a standalone arm it’s meant for anyone who wants to give their turntable a more precise arm.

Why the B-5.1?

Because it gets right the things that matter in a tonearm. The straight 12 mm arm tube in 6000-series aluminium is stiff and light, and the four micro ball bearings come from GRW in Germany and are individually sealed. You set the arm height (VTA) on the collar and the azimuth at the headshell – two adjustments many arms in this price range don’t even offer. The double counterweight balances cartridges up to 15 grams, and extra weights are available for heavier ones.

What you get

With 10 g effective mass and 242 mm effective length, the B-5.1 sits right in the range where most MM and many MC cartridges feel at home. Shielded internal wiring in AWG36 litz wire and a 1.5 m tonearm cable with DIN plug and RCA connectors deliver the signal cleanly to your phono preamplifier. The hydraulic lift lowers the stylus gently – even when your hand is no longer quite so steady after the second glass of wine.

Who is the B-5.1 for?

For turntable upgraders looking for a solid 9-inch arm with a 23 mm mounting shaft, and for owners of a Gold Note turntable who need a replacement or second arm. Straight talk: changing a tonearm is not a project for a rainy Sunday with the screwdriver from the kitchen drawer. Whether your turntable has a suitable armboard and how overhang and geometry work out is best clarified together beforehand.

Our verdict

The B-5.1 is an honest, cleanly engineered tonearm from Italy that offers more adjustment than you’d expect at the price. Combined with a good cartridge, you’ll get audibly more out of your records. Questions about mounting or pairing? The HD Zürisee team in Wädenswil is happy to help: +41 44 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Technical specifications

• Type: 9-inch ball-bearing tonearm, handmade in Italy
• Arm tube: aluminium (6000 series), straight, 12 mm diameter, 1 mm wall thickness
• Bearings: 4 micro ball bearings by GRW (Germany), individually sealed
• Effective length: 242 mm
• Effective mass: 10 g
• Overhang: 19 mm
• Offset angle: 24°
• Mounting shaft: 23 mm
• Arm height (VTA): adjustable at the collar
• Azimuth: adjustable at the headshell
• Anti-skating: thread
• Cueing lift: hydraulic
• Cartridge weight: up to 15 g (double counterweight, extra weights optional)
• Internal wiring: AWG36 litz wire, shielded, OFC copper
• Tonearm cable: 1.5 m, DIN (4-pin) to RCA
• Weight: 195 g (without counterweight)
• Finish: black anodised aluminium
• Scope of delivery: tonearm, 1.5 m tonearm cable (DIN/RCA)

Frequently asked questions

Which cartridges suit the B-5.1?

With 10 g effective mass, the B-5.1 is a medium-mass tonearm. It works best with medium-compliance cartridges, as is typical of most MM and many MC designs. The double counterweight balances cartridges up to 15 grams; for heavier cartridges, Gold Note offers additional weights.

Will the B-5.1 fit my turntable?

That depends on the armboard. The B-5.1 has a 23 mm mounting shaft, 242 mm effective length and 19 mm overhang. Your turntable therefore needs a suitable hole or armboard and the right distance between the arm pivot and the platter spindle. Send us the make and model of your turntable and we’ll gladly check.

What is the difference between the B-5.1 and the B-7 Ceramic?

Both are 9-inch arms with 242 mm effective length and 10 g effective mass. The B-7 Ceramic, however, has a titanium arm tube with six sections of different wall thickness and ceramic ball bearings, while the B-5.1 has an aluminium tube with classic micro ball bearings. The B-7 Ceramic is therefore the more elaborate version, at around twice the price.

Does the B-5.1 come with a cartridge?

No, the B-5.1 is supplied without a cartridge. In the box you’ll find the tonearm and a 1.5 m tonearm cable with DIN plug and RCA connectors. You’ll find suitable models from Gold Note and other brands in our cartridge range, and we’re happy to recommend a combination that suits your turntable.

Why buy the Gold Note B-5.1 from HD Zürisee?

Because a tonearm only shows what it can do with correct geometry. We check with you whether the B-5.1 fits your turntable, recommend the right cartridge and help with mounting and alignment. With long-standing analogue experience and our own technician, you’re in good hands with us after the purchase too.

Goes well with

A good cartridge belongs on the B-5.1 – see our cartridges. If you’re looking for a complete turntable, browse our turntables, plus matching phono preamplifiers, phono cables and turntable accessories.