What's the internal impedance of the Master Signature? This isn't one of the parameters I've seen written on the inside of the box. I'm also curious about SUT matching. Thanks.
The Colibri “Master Signature”
- Thread starter Tango
- Start date
What's the internal impedance of the Master Signature? This isn't one of the parameters I've seen written on the inside of the box. I'm also curious about SUT matching. Thanks.
Can’t remember but I read it somewhere on the web hence why I posted. Could be incorrect though.
These are the values of the regular colibri models:
36 Ohm +/- 10%
21 Ohm +/- 10%
96 Ohm +/- 10%
Either way they are high impedance designs.
Thanks. Which models correspond to each of those impedances? High impedance isn't terribly convenient, and I would like to know the exact value of the Master Sig. But it sounds like my current SUT is not a good match, being designed for a max of 4 ohm, so I'd need a new one. The other concern I have with this cart is its output, but my understanding is that they can be made substantially lower in output upon request? So that may not be an issue.
I believe the Master Sig at standard output (1.2mV) is 36? - I have a 0.9mV version which is 39?.
I got this information from a contact who reached out to his dealer in Europe.
When I asked the US distributor, they gave me a standard value of 13? which is clearly too low given the output level this cart is capable of.
If you are really behind to get the "best" step up, you should be aware, that the Colibri Cross coil has not the same wire length for the left and the right channel, it is like the half of a round wire length less on one channel, so the +/- 10% is also reflecting the possible difference between the channels. Doing a "perfect match" step up would mean to address this situation 
There is a reason, that the vdh Grail PhonoPreamp is a current driven phono stage, as this is independent from the coil resistance.
But to be fair, I never heard a difference in this regard , comparing different Phonostages.
There is a reason, that the vdh Grail PhonoPreamp is a current driven phono stage, as this is independent from the coil resistance.
But to be fair, I never heard a difference in this regard , comparing different Phonostages.
Fortunately there are more Phonostages out there with current stage amplification
(like CH Precision)
As said, I was not able to hear the difference ( so far).
Building a custom step up is a unique design anyhow,
so why not building it according to the real DC resistance by channel.
That's certainly possible to do if AJ characterized the impedance per coil and provides the info to the buyer. Does he do this?
If someone is asking very politeful, I am sure, he will answer. But it would be better to ask together with the order of a vdh cartridge, as than you can get the information for the dedicated cartridge.
Somewhere in the www it was mentioned, which of the coil windings is the shorter, which one the longer. From there you know, which channel as a minimal higher DC resistance.
But this is very minor with the gold wire coils.
I was behind this, as I had the platinum coils colibri with a DC resistance of 500 ohms,
with this platinum coil wire the difference was more significant.
Somewhere in the www it was mentioned, which of the coil windings is the shorter, which one the longer. From there you know, which channel as a minimal higher DC resistance.
But this is very minor with the gold wire coils.
I was behind this, as I had the platinum coils colibri with a DC resistance of 500 ohms,
with this platinum coil wire the difference was more significant.
Don't see why, never heard that common claim. Tang is using EMT, David is using Lamm, Schroeder and Schick use Silbatone in the WE room, Kevin of vox Olympian uses Kondo, all sound fantastic.
Just one detail - please DO NOT try to measure the resistance of the coils using an ohmmeter. Most of them inject significant current to measure a low resistance and will immediately burn the wires or damage the coils of the cartridge.
But unless we have real numbers we can't comment on such issues.
But unless we have real numbers we can't comment on such issues.
Dealers make the claim. And now there's a technical explanation for it, which is rare when dealers make such claims usually.
Most of the time yes, but it seems there's a good reason behind the current sense amplification in VdH phonos. I'm still considering Master Sig for a next cart, despite not using one of these phonos (VdH, CHP).
Do you have any picture illustrating the cross shaped modulator scheme or a detailed description of it? What is exactly meant by "the half of a round wire length less "?
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