Gold Note Giglio Turntable, Walnut Black Matte

The Gold Note Giglio is a belt-driven turntable made in Italy, supplied as standard with the 9-inch Gold Note B-5.1 tonearm, electronic speed switching and a dust cover.

Its chassis follows the catenary curve that helped Renaissance builders keep bridges stable – here it keeps resonances out of the music. The matte black acrylic top plate gives the walnut body a restrained, unfussy finish – and barely holds a grudge against fingerprints.

Why the Giglio?

Because every component here is out to fight vibration. The solid Italian walnut body is clamped into a sandwich with a 3 mm stainless steel plate and a 20 mm acrylic top plate, damping wood, metal and plastic across different frequencies. The 33 mm high-density POM platter, the 5 mm tungsten ball bearing and the ground, hourglass-shaped pulley keep it running quiet and steady – wow & flutter of 0.1% and a rumble figure of –78 dB speak for themselves. You switch speed electronically at the push of a button between 33⅓ and 45 – no moving the belt.

What you hear

Warmth with contour. The wooden base gives the sound body and calm without swallowing treble precision – vocals and acoustic instruments gain substance, bass stays defined. With the factory-fitted B-5.1 you're playing right after setup; the tonearm offers height adjustment (VTA) and azimuth, and its two counterweights let it take virtually any cartridge.

Who is the Giglio for?

For anyone moving up from an entry-level deck to real high-end vinyl who wants a turntable that looks as good as it sounds. Straight talk: the Giglio is a mass-loaded design without a sprung sub-chassis – it doesn't feel at home on a bouncy wooden floor, so a solid sideboard or wall shelf is a must. And: a cartridge isn't included – you choose one to suit, and we're happy to set up the Giglio as a complete matched system.

Does the Giglio come with a tonearm?

Yes. The Giglio ships as standard with the 9-inch Gold Note B-5.1 tonearm (effective length 242 mm, overhang 19 mm); the B-7 Ceramic is available as an option. A cartridge isn't included – we fit and align one to suit you.

Do I need a phono stage for the Giglio?

Yes. Like any turntable, the Giglio needs a phono preamp matched to the cartridge (MM or MC) – either as a separate unit or built into the amplifier. From Gold Note's own range, the PH-10 or PH-1000 are a good match. We'll work out with you which solution suits your chain.

Our verdict

The Giglio is one of the most coherent turntables in its class: Italian craftsmanship, thoughtful resonance control and a full-fledged tonearm from the factory, ready to play. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil set up your Giglio properly – placement, cartridge mounting, tracking force, VTA and azimuth – so it shows its potential from the very first groove.

Technical data

• Type: belt-driven turntable, electronic speed switching
• Tonearm: Gold Note B-5.1 (9 inch, effective length 242 mm, overhang 19 mm), fitted as standard; B-7 Ceramic optional
• Drive: belt drive, ground belt, hourglass-shaped pulley
• Motor: 12 V synchronous motor (high torque), PWM-regulated power supply
• Speeds: 33⅓ and 45 rpm, electronically switchable (±0.1%)
• Wow & flutter: 0.1%
• Rumble: –78 dB
• Platter: 33 mm, high-density POM
• Platter bearing: 5 mm tungsten ball bearing, hardened chrome-plated steel shaft (split-spindle clamping system)
• Chassis: solid Italian walnut wood (catenary shape), 3 mm stainless steel plate, 20 mm acrylic top plate (black, matte)
• Feet: three height-adjustable aluminium feet
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 425 × 200 × 360 mm
• Weight: 14.5 kg
• Scope of delivery: turntable, B-5.1 tonearm, dust cover (acrylic, removable hinges), external power supply PST-1, drive belt, instruction manual (cartridge not included)

Frequently asked questions

Does the Gold Note Giglio come with a tonearm?

Yes, the Giglio ships as standard with the high-quality 9-inch Gold Note B-5.1 tonearm; the B-7 Ceramic is available as an option. The cartridge is not included – you choose one to your taste, and we mount and align it for you properly.

What surface should the Giglio stand on?

On a surface that's as stable and low-vibration as possible. The Giglio is a mass-loaded design with no sprung suspension; a solid sideboard, a rack or a wall shelf are ideal. On a bouncy wooden floor, every footstep transfers straight into the groove – you don't want that.

Can I upgrade the Giglio's sound later?

Yes. The included external power supply can later be swapped for a larger Gold Note power supply, which further quiets the motor. A higher-quality cartridge or the B-7 Ceramic tonearm also get more out of the turntable. We'll show you what's really worth it for your setup.

Why buy the Gold Note Giglio at HD Zürisee?

Because a turntable only plays as well as it's set up. We set up the Giglio for you properly – placement, cartridge mounting, tracking force, VTA and azimuth – and match it to your phono stage. As an experienced team in Wädenswil, we give you honest advice and are there for you after the purchase too.

Goes well with: a matching cartridge – from our own range, for example a Gold Note Vasari or Donatello – and an MM/MC-capable phono stage such as the Gold Note PH-10. You'll find more turntables under Turntables.