Goldnote
Gold Note B5.2 Tonearm
Gold Note B5.2 Tonearm
Gold Note B5.2 Tonearm
The B5.2 is Gold Note's 9" ball-bearing tonearm, designed and handmade in Italy. It sits in the middle of Gold Note's tonearm range — a serious performer that will work with virtually any phono cartridge on the market, up to 15g, and install cleanly onto any high-end turntable.
At this price point, the engineering decisions matter. Gold Note have chosen four high-precision micro ball bearings manufactured exclusively for them by GRW in Germany, singularly sealed and packed to preserve their integrity. The result is noiseless tracking — the bearing assembly contributes nothing to the signal, which means low-level detail stays where it belongs: in the groove, not lost to mechanical noise.
The arm wand itself is a 12mm straight tube machined from 6000-series aluminium alloy, 1mm thick. That choice of material is deliberate — high rigidity and non-deformability mean the arm retrieves information from the vinyl groove without flexing under the stylus. The stainless steel counterweight handles a wide range of cartridge masses, and optional additional weights are available for higher-mass cartridges. VTA is adjustable on the collar, azimuth is adjustable at the headshell, and anti-skating is managed by a wire system with five positions. The hydraulic lift is a welcome touch at this level.
The finish is considered: black 3D resin shell and pivot, black anodised aluminium arm wand, stainless steel counterweight. It is a tonearm that looks and feels built to last.
Technical Specifications
| Type | 9" Ball Bearing Tonearm |
| Ball Bearings | 4 micro ball-bearings custom-made by GRW |
| Effective Length | 242mm |
| Overhang | 19mm |
| Offset | 24° |
| Arm Wand | Straight aluminium 6000 alloy, 12mm rectified tube, 1mm thick |
| Inserting Plinth Shaft | 23mm |
| Dynamic Effective Mass | 10g |
| VTF | 0.186N (19g) |
| VTA | Adjustable on collar |
| Lift | Hydraulic |
| Anti-Skating | Wire, 5 positions |
| Azimuth | Adjustable on headshell |
| Internal Cables | AWG36 Hyper Litz shielded 99.9999% OFC |
| Weight | 195g (without counterweight) |
| Finishes | Shell and pivot: Black 3D resin; Arm wand: Black anodised aluminium; Counterweight: Stainless steel; Hydraulic lift board: Black |
Who Is It For?
The B5.2 suits anyone upgrading an existing high-end turntable or specifying a new build who wants Italian craftsmanship, German precision bearings, and genuine engineering rigour at a sensible price. It is compatible with cartridges up to 15g as standard, with optional weights for higher-mass designs — making it a genuinely versatile choice. If you are pairing it with a Gold Note turntable, it is a natural fit; if you are fitting it to another deck, the 23mm plinth shaft and 242mm effective length make installation straightforward on most high-end plinths.
Buying from Martins Hi-Fi
Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind.
The B5.2 can be heard at our Norwich showroom, where we can demonstrate it in the context of a complete analogue front end and help you find the right cartridge pairing.
When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim — experienced specialists who can advise on this product and your whole system.
Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.
