The Colibri “Master Signature”

[Ron Resnick]

Dear Mike,

I have only tried the Master Sig with SME and Axiom. With the Axiom, there was a little less sibilances than with the SME. However I think this was because the phono I used with the Axiom was Ayon which is more forgiving on the highs than the EMT phono that I am using with the SME's. I never tried with SAT. However, I think it is in the DNA of this cart. I already tried tuning azimuths, vtf's and Vta's. I used your favorite Dean Martin song, Blue Moon, to easily compare sibilances with my other carts. When he sings "Blue moon. You SSSaw me SStanding alone" that's where easily heard. But nothing gets more real than the Master Sig when he ends the song with "Without the love of my own."

@Ron. When I wrote my comment about sibilance, I actually was thinking about you. The ZYX and Opus do have less sibilances. But apart from this sibilance, I could really hear deeper into his vocal and music with the Master Sig. Nothing is perfect.

@Peter. Loading shapes off sibilances very minor but could have more adverse effect on energy of music.

Kind regards,
Tang

Thank you, Tang! I appreciate you thinking of me!

 

[awsmone]

Since sibilance is usually in a specific frequency band have youth tried using the EMT JPA66 and moving off RIAA and changing the curve in the high frequencies .?

 

[sujay]

Oh no
Sssserious problemssss
With Massster Ssssig on the Sssssmeeeee

THx, will do.

 

[sujay]

Hi Bill,

I didnt tame it. I am no magician. I could only tune it down a little. I found the change in azimuth shape off the sibilance more than adjusting the vtf that Mr. Fremer was implying. I also tried different vta's which could lower down the sidilance also, but it compromised my goose bump factor. So I ended up going back to my original optimal setting and adjust only the azimuth which has the least or no side effects that I could hear.

Hope you guys dont overblow this sibilance things way out of proportion. It is there in the dna. If you can only have one cart and very sensitive to sibilances. Don't buy the vdh. Buy the Atlas SL, This cart has the lowest sibalance without sacrificing highs. But it has no magic of the Master Signature.

Kind regards,
Tang

TBH, it doesn’t bother me so much and agree that in some way it contributes to the high jump factor ( without the ‘cringe’ factor which Marc alluded to). Which is why I love the Colibri, no question. It just that it’s probably not an all rounder suitable for all types of music.

 

[kodomo]

Does anyone know if the crimson has the same sibilance issues, or does anyone know if vdh grail preamp somehow compensates for this with the colibri?
After Tang's mouth watering comments and videos, I am planning on getting on the VDH ship. I am going to get the grail preamp and the crimson or the colibri to go with it.

 

[Tango]

Does anyone know if the crimson has the same sibilance issues, or does anyone know if vdh grail preamp somehow compensates for this with the colibri?
After Tang's mouth watering comments and videos, I am planning on getting on the VDH ship. I am going to get the grail preamp and the crimson or the colibri to go with it.

Dear Kodomo,

Please let us know how it goes with the Grail and Crimson. The value for money of this brand is at very top. I think Bonzo is about to visit VdH himself. If he doesnt annoy Mr.VdH too much, maybe we could have some good info. I am very happy with my Master Sig. The sibilance thing is minor to me as is minor to Sujay.

Kind regards,
Tang

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Hi All,

The issue as I see it is the large variability of the exact same VDH cart so essentially everything is a one off. I am not sure how one can contemplate this realistically unless you are lucky enough to either have a dealer with lots that you can choose from or you know someone who is selling a good one. But I do understand the addiction to the life, energy and vibrancy if the stars align for you.

 

[shakti]

I have listened to many Colibri versions, all of them had the sibilance issue in the beginning.
vdh recommends 300h usage, before the Colibri plays best. Usually than without the sibilance situation.

If still with, I can recommend the free 300h service, vdh customizes / fine tune, if the customer likes it, the colibri to the dedicated tonearm, that the sibilance situation should be gone finally.

My best Colibri's were always the really old ones....

Now I am trying to get some hours on a Master Signature

 

[microstrip]

I have been writing about positives of this Colibri Master Signature.
The drawback of this cart is the sibilances on vocal what I find more than other carts I own. I have been trying to tame down these sibilances for the past few days. Now it is at its lowest point while not compromising other positives but still more than the others.

Tang

Dear Tang,

Can you give us precise examples of two or three recordings where you notice this sibilance? I am usually sensitive to them in voices in mediaval music , but I did not find it in my recordings. I had a few cases in the past where the vinyl playback had sibilance but the CD also had it, so I concluded it was intrinsic to the recording.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Dear Tang,

Can you give us precise examples of two or three recordings where you notice this sibilance? I am usually sensitive to them in voices in mediaval music , but I did not find it in my recordings. I had a few cases in the past where the vinyl playback had sibilance but the CD also had it, so I concluded it was intrinsic to the recording.

I think Tang likes the Analogue Productions Dream with Dean album for this test...

 

[Ron Resnick]

Hi All,

The issue as I see it is the large variability of the exact same VDH cart so essentially everything is a one off. I am not sure how one can contemplate this realistically unless you are lucky enough to either have a dealer with lots that you can choose from or you know someone who is selling a good one. But I do understand the addiction to the life, energy and vibrancy if the stars align for you.

This sample to sample variability would concern me as well.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Ron, remember when you commented skeptically on each Nat amp not being identical one sample to the next.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

This sample to sample variability would concern me as well.

well....er.....vdH is a breed apart. very loose distribution, back door access to the products from on line sellers, all sorts of variations in product descriptions, every example a bit unique, but always cutting edge attributes. you almost need a road map to determine exactly which product variation you are looking at.

if the product did not consistently deliver special sound then it could never survive all that chaos.

i'm glad a manufacturer like vdH exists........but it's not for everyone.

 

[bonzo75]

Mike, you still have one? Thought you sold off one strad?

 

[microstrip]

well....er.....vdH is a breed apart. very loose distribution, back door access to the products from on line sellers, all sorts of variations in product descriptions, every example a bit unique, but always cutting edge attributes.

if the product did not consistently deliver special sound then it could never survive all that chaos.

i'm glad a manufacturer like vdH exists........but it's not for everyone.

IMHO it is not a breed apart, you are describing what happens with several other top high-end cartridge manufacturers ...

BTW, in Europe van dan Hul gives exceptionally fast and very reasonable cost service to his products, something that does not happen with many other famous manufacturers.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

IMHO it is not a breed apart, you are describing what happens with several other top high-end cartridge manufacturers ...

none take it as far, or done it as long, as vdH.

Koetsu might be one that has it's own 'cone of confusion' going......but in a different way. they simply tell you nothing.

 

[PeterA]

This sample to sample variability would concern me as well.

I heard a story where a guy goes to a Lyra dealer in Vienna and asks to audition an Olympos, Titan i, and Atlas. Three identical arms on the same table. After an hour or so he told the dealer that he would take the Olympos. The dealer went behind the counter to get a brand new cartridge in the box. The customer said, "No, no, no, I want that precise Olympos you just played for me." My friend who told me the story said that this customer was well aware of the sample to sample variation of even a brand as well known as Lyra. I never gave it much thought, but if true, it is worth considering.

I also heard from a dealer for a well known tone arm manufacturer, that for his personal arms, he specified which technician he wanted to assemble the arm. Crazy stuff that might keep some audiophiles awake at night.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Mike, you still have one? Thought you sold off one strad?

i did sell the Colibri Strad Signature in Jan.

i still have this one with 10 hours on it, bought it last December and never used it. it's for sale, or i might use it when i get another tone arm.

 

[bonzo75]

Thanks. Was there a sonic difference in the signature strad and the Koa strad?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Thanks. Was there a sonic difference in the signature strad and the Koa strad?

likely degrees of energy projection and space mostly based on what i've read. i've not actually listened to the .38 Koa Strad in my system.

i bought the $8k .38 Koa Strad (there are a number of reviews) and then before i received it, also bought the .7mv Sig Strad. i decided not to use the .38, and only tried the $11k .7mv Sig Strad, which i wrote about and liked alot. i ended up letting Jazdoc try the .38 Koa Strad for a few days (that's where the 10 hours came from), he returned it to me, and i've never used it. when i sold my NVS and standard Telos and then only had the one tonearm i've just used my GFS cart and never had occasion to try the .38 Koa Strad.

i know Dre did a review directly comparing the Koa Strad and Stad Signature.....you could read it. and before i sold my .7mv Strad Sig i did loan it to Jazdoc briefly. Jaz is not one to live with the dark side of vdh.......he's like Ron in that way. a Benz LPS kinda guy..