Turntables — Gold Note Mediterraneo

The Mediterraneo is a belt-drive turntable from Gold Note, built with a thick high-density platter for resonance control. Gold Note is an Italian manufacturer known for serious analogue engineering across a wide turntable range, and the Mediterraneo represents a solid mid-tier expression of that expertise.

Position in line

It sits below the Mediterraneo X in Gold Note's turntable range, near the Giglio in general positioning within the brand's catalogue. As the standard version below the upgraded Mediterraneo X, this model likely offers much of that platform's core engineering at a somewhat more accessible price, before the X version's specific refinements.

Key specs that matter

The platter is 45mm thick, high-density POM, a substantial mass for resonance damping. Wow and flutter is 0.1%. Rumble is rated at -80 dB. At 470 x 210 x 360 mm and 20 kg it is a substantial, well-built deck, consistent with the thick platter and generally serious construction this model represents.

Sound and use context

Expect a settled, low-resonance presentation consistent with the thick POM platter's damping characteristics - a capable performer reflecting Gold Note's broader reputation for careful attention to mechanical detail in turntable design.

Pairing

No cartridge or tonearm is specified separately here, consistent with the deck being supplied as a complete package, likely with a tonearm Gold Note considers well-matched to this specific platform.

Alternatives

The Mediterraneo X sits above this model in Gold Note's range with a refined platter material and improved rumble figure, worth the further investment if this model's already solid engineering still leaves ambitions for the upgraded version. Gold Note broader turntable catalogue, spanning from this mid-tier Mediterraneo through to the flagship Bellagio Reference, gives buyers a clear upgrade path within a single trusted Italian manufacturer. A qualified installer should handle cartridge fitting and alignment to extract the full benefit of the thick, resonance-controlled platter this design is built around. Overall this remains a capable mid-tier choice within Gold Note broader analogue catalogue. A rigid, well-isolated shelf beneath the deck also helps this platter deliver its full resonance-control potential. Cable routing between turntable and phono stage should stay short and well-shielded to minimise any risk of noise pickup.