When it comes to turntables, I have to admit that my top MC reference remains the Aidas Mammoth Gold. It is the benchmark by which I compare all comparable MC cartridges. It lacks nothing I can hear and is listenable to the maximum.
The Gala Gold LE is their limited-edition cartridge in honor of the matriarch of the company, Gala, who recently turned 85, and is limited to just 85 in production. At about half the cost of the Mammoth Gold, I was stunned by the fact that the Gala is twice as beautiful. Victor must have been truly wishing to honor his mother with a work of art. I am not sure that if he had consulted Fabergé the Gala would appear more extravagant for $4995! The Gala is built in California.
The sculpted agate is sublime. The gold and black highlights are perfect. The long, elegant boron/sapphire cantilever is exquisite and easy to aim. Even the clearly colored-coded gold pins are perfectly designed for the audiophile's use. I mounted the Gala on the Helius Omega Tonearm recently rebuilt by Helius in England tweaked with their top silver wire replacing the copper normally provided with the model. The whole affair is mounted on the very limited edition—only 7 in America—E.A.R. Disc Master magnetic drive turntable.
The low output Gala requires the highest output setting (300 ohms) of the Zesto Allasso Step-up Transformer and E.A.R. 88PB Tube Phono Stage. Nevertheless, it was extremely quiet, even at the highest volume and during the quietest passages.
Specifications
- Body: Blue River Agate
- Cantilever: Namiki/Adamant boron composite
- Stylus: Namiki MicroRidge
- Output: 0.26 mV
- Magnet system: AlNiCo5
- Tracking force: 1.9-2.1 gram
- Compliance lateral: 13 um/mN
- Cartridge weight: 11.5 gram
- Recommended loading: 100 – 1,000 Ohms
- Channel separation: >30 dB/1 kHz
- Channel balance: >1 dB/1 kHz
- Coils: 999.5 Gold 0.04 mm
- Mount: thread M2.5 x 0.45 mm, 1/2 inch or 12.7 mm
- Coil impedance DC: 3 Ohms
- Trackability at 300Hz/2.0g: 60 uM
- Vertical tracking angle: 20°
- Recommended tonearm mass: lite, medium, high
- Break-in period: 50 hours
I found the Gala required about 75 hours to bloom properly. For best results, I settled upon a tracking force of 2 grams. It also required a goodly amount of anti-skate, more than usual in my setup. I have no idea why. It was necessary to balance the channels properly. I chose the new RSX Technologies Beyond Phono Cables which are most neutral and extraordinarily detailed and designed by the renowned audiophile Roger Skoff.
Gala Performance
In addition to the aforementioned quiet that this cartridge affords, it tracks like a bandit. I could not find an LP that threw it a curve. I have grown unforgiving of any cartridge in anywhere near this price range that does not flawlessly track.
Overall, the Gala is excellent from bottom to top of range—with a few surprises: the bass and upper midrange. The bass is gut-punching and room-filling. I found it unique and thrilling. The Greensleeves album from Impex Records and the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society shook the room with layers of organ resonances and definition that I don't think I have heard before. It was outstanding! I cannot say for sure that it always blended perfectly with the upper bass and midrange, but you can always turn down the subwoofer if you find it too much fun. To me, it was a bonus. You may always trim powerful bass, but it is tough to enhance it if it is too delicate.
The upper midrange was a bit on the sweet side. I love the sound of violins and reed instruments with the Gala Gold LE. Vocals were warm and right. Though not as neutral as the Mammoth, it is a viable sonic choice, natural, and addictive in nature. Otherwise, the overall production was superb and high-end presenting all the musical values you would expect at this price point and more.
Imaging is state of the art, as is soundstage depth. Soundstage width is magnificent and dramatic. While huge sounding and natural, the Gala is never strident or ill-mannered. LP after LP just sang honestly and elegantly. I was never less than entertained.
Compared to the Mammoth
After months of comparison, which is more than usual for me, I would suggest the Gala is about 90% of the Mammoth, overall. The Gala is a killer cartridge, and very competitive with the best that I've heard. The Gala is a bit less defined than the Mammoth, but no less musical. One would expect the Gala to be a bit behind the Mammoth, given all of its refinements and higher cost associated with that design. But the Gala is absolutely more beautiful to look at, no doubt about that. It may also be the equivalent of the Mammoth in imaging. The Gala is absolutely a great tribute cartridge and deserving of its accolades.
Using agate stone for the housing of this MC may offer musical benefits to the Gala that I may not find as familiar. All of the cartridges I have used were either wood or metal bodies, except the Mammoth, which was made of bone. Stone may yield a more natural and exciting reproduction with lower resonances. I did find it harder to pick apart and characterize the Gala—more than wood-bodied designs. Could be the stone body? With the exception of Koetsu, the Aidas Audio line is about the only company trying stone designs, and is doing so with obvious great success.
Summary
The Aidas Audio Gala Gold LE Phono Cartridge is a winner and a looker. It performs at or above its price point in every way, and looks magnificent. The jewel-like agate body is truly special and refined. This California company is full of surprises. The Gala is a wonderful example of the finest cartridge manufacturing in America, or anywhere else, for that matter. This MC is a keeper for any record collection or audiophile.
You can get a little more for a lot more money. Welcome to the high-end.
Gala Gold LE Phono Cartridge
Retail: $4995
ViRa USA
206 Spruce st.
Tehachapi, CA 93561
USA
310.806.2854
Vira USA Web site: virausa.com
Aidas Audio
Web site: aidasaudio.com
All photographs by Bob Levi.
