The Colibri “Master Signature”
- Thread starter Tango
- Start date
It may be a while until it is setup as I am not staying at my house where the stereo is currently. I need to get the new place situated and the stereo moved there. May not happen until Dec. Also I need to find out when I get the AS stand for the AS2000 from David.
Hope you have a smooth transition to the new place. I am moving to a new place next month too.
Tang
Some pics of the Colibri MS Stradivarius in African Black Wood Grenadille - 1,1 mV.
Still many hours to break in point, but I do feel that each day it’s getting better.
The soundstage is amazing, sometimes even freaky because I hear sounds in every corner of the room, completely unboxed, the speakers pure and simple disappear.
It gets so much information from the LPs, that albums you think you know well, with this cart the presentation, involving and separation of the instruments gives you a real sense of what you missed so far.
The sinergy with the baby Kuzma 4P it’s fantastic, couldn’t be more happier.
In fact I’m considering a downgrade on the digital side, because the difference is huge.
Anyone interested in a Metronome CD8S?
I’m absolutely in love with it.(the cart there is)
In the meantime (a bit off topic) I have a new toy, a Magnum Dynalab MD90 which plays also beautiful music with a crappy antena, need to get an ST2.
Also some pics of my companions of late night seasions, my cats, Guga and Maria.
Still many hours to break in point, but I do feel that each day it’s getting better.
The soundstage is amazing, sometimes even freaky because I hear sounds in every corner of the room, completely unboxed, the speakers pure and simple disappear.
It gets so much information from the LPs, that albums you think you know well, with this cart the presentation, involving and separation of the instruments gives you a real sense of what you missed so far.
The sinergy with the baby Kuzma 4P it’s fantastic, couldn’t be more happier.
In fact I’m considering a downgrade on the digital side, because the difference is huge.
Anyone interested in a Metronome CD8S?
I’m absolutely in love with it.(the cart there is)
In the meantime (a bit off topic) I have a new toy, a Magnum Dynalab MD90 which plays also beautiful music with a crappy antena, need to get an ST2.
Also some pics of my companions of late night seasions, my cats, Guga and Maria.
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Hi Bluedoor, what a coincidence! I had my colibri XGW on the 9 inch 4 point before I shifted it to the AMG 12 inch arm. I am looking forward to my Colibri MSS 1.1mv, a couple of weeks away. I am customizing it to the AMG arm with has a eff mass of 12.1 g. I think the 4 point is around 13g if my memory serves me right.
Don't know for memory, have to check.
But I can say without a doubt that the marriage is perfect with the Kuzma 4P 9" in sound presentation. Also aesthetically the African Black Wood seems to be made for the 4P.
I'm a guy with only one turntable that can only accommodate one tonearm, so I made very experiments in the past (had a Linn Akiva; a Lyra Kleos; and this is my fifth Van den hul - Black Beauty; Crimson; regular Colibri, Colibri KOA Strad and finally I've reached to the combo that's "perfect" for me, if there's anything perfect in this mad world we're living. Of all the others the Black Beauty comes in an honorable second place, if I had another turntable/tonearm I would buy another. Of all mentioned the BB has an authority to die for.
But the MS is way better than all the others, by far.
I think I've reached the point where I don't think more in cartridges, only listen to beautiful music. It's all that matters in the end, isn't it?
But I can say without a doubt that the marriage is perfect with the Kuzma 4P 9" in sound presentation. Also aesthetically the African Black Wood seems to be made for the 4P.
I'm a guy with only one turntable that can only accommodate one tonearm, so I made very experiments in the past (had a Linn Akiva; a Lyra Kleos; and this is my fifth Van den hul - Black Beauty; Crimson; regular Colibri, Colibri KOA Strad and finally I've reached to the combo that's "perfect" for me, if there's anything perfect in this mad world we're living. Of all the others the Black Beauty comes in an honorable second place, if I had another turntable/tonearm I would buy another. Of all mentioned the BB has an authority to die for.
But the MS is way better than all the others, by far.
I think I've reached the point where I don't think more in cartridges, only listen to beautiful music. It's all that matters in the end, isn't it?
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Bluedor, it seems I am on the same boat with you but with a slightly longer 4 point I am in the process of getting a VDH. I was going to get the colibri koa strad, but everyone seems to be upgrading from those and being very happy. So, I decided to go for a master signature, koa or african black wood like you. Could you eleborate a little more on the differences of this one and the ones you had before. I would be happy to learn morea bout your setup as well.
I am in the process of getting a VDH. I was going to get the colibri koa strad, but everyone seems to be upgrading from those and being very happy. So, I decided to go for a master signature, koa or african black wood like you. Could you eleborate a little more on the differences of this one and the ones you had before. I would be happy to learn morea bout your setup as well.
I asked for the Colibri Master Signature Koa Strad and my dealer returned to me saying they are not in Koa anymore. Here is the answer;
Colibri XGW Master Signature Stradivarius (0,7 mV): Product code = A03HR.
The term 'koa' referred to a specific type of wood. It is now changed to 'Pau Amarello'
This makes me wonder now, how it would effect the sound!
Colibri XGW Master Signature Stradivarius (0,7 mV): Product code = A03HR.
The term 'koa' referred to a specific type of wood. It is now changed to 'Pau Amarello'
This makes me wonder now, how it would effect the sound!
Kodomo san,
Mine is XGW but the color looks like Pau Amarello. I think VdH is fooling with our head. He knows we crazy audiophiles can even hear the dead.
Regards,
Tang
Kodomo san,
Another thing you need to be aware of is this Master Sig is less forgiving on statics, click-n-pop's than other carts I owned. It is a very very sensitive cart. If I touched any part of my tonearm, I could hear the sound comes out from my speakers. Maybe this is why it is so darn lively and energetic. Make sure you clean your records well.
Tang
Kodomo san,
Another thing you need to be aware of is this Master Sig is less forgiving on statics, click-n-pop's than other carts I owned. It is a very very sensitive cart. If I touched any part of my tonearm, I could hear the sound comes out from my speakers. Maybe this is why it is so darn lively and energetic. Make sure you clean your records well.
Tang
Tango, what you observed could well have to do with the much higher output from this cartridge than the others on your rig. The new Van Den Hul Colibri’s have more than enough gain...do you compensate for the differences at your preamp...and of course for the varying loading requirements that each cartridge requires?
Dea
Dear Davey,
My Master Sig is rated 0.5mV which is pretty much the same as my Opus1. I prefer higher gain output carts. My preamp is already adjusted to the lowest possible setting. The loading I did by ears. When I lowered down the loading from my optimal point I lost that last bit of livelyness.
Kind regards,
Tang
Dear Davey,
My Master Sig is rated 0.5mV which is pretty much the same as my Opus1. I prefer higher gain output carts. My preamp is already adjusted to the lowest possible setting. The loading I did by ears. When I lowered down the loading from my optimal point I lost that last bit of livelyness.
Kind regards,
Tang
Tango, I am with you, I too much prefer higher gain output cartridges, although that style is decidedly out of fashion right now.
I think a lot of the Colibri Master Signatures have a higher output than 0.5mv, some as much as twice that at 1.1mv! Did you specify yours at that gain?
Loading can be tricky, many times the load needs to be adjusted not just to the particular cartridge, but also the tonearm cabling and even the different phono cabling, like you said ...best to do it by ear...with a lot of patience.
The master signature they are going to provide me has 0,7mV output. I have been informed that VDH does not use the general standard and the output actually is about 20% lower so about 0,56mV. It is still not on the lower side of the scale. I am going to get their own current based pre the "Grail", so I hope I wont have to worry about loading or gain at all... I will let Van Den Hul know that I am going to use it with 4 point and Grail, so he matches the cartridge accordingly.
I have a Okki Nokki Cleaner, mofi brush and levin brush. I think I will get the Degritter when it is out. It seems like a plug and play operation with good results.
I have a Okki Nokki Cleaner, mofi brush and levin brush. I think I will get the Degritter when it is out. It seems like a plug and play operation with good results.
Latest news is that VDH recommends me the 1.1mV output version with their Grail preamplifier. I directly quote from VDH
"Your questions are discussed with our specialist William van den Hul (together with our director Aalt van den Hul).
The best match is the Colibri Master Signature Stradivarius (Pau Amarello version) with an output of 1.1 mV. It works optimal with the Grail preamplifier.
The Master Signature Stradivarius is equipped with an improved magnet, it gives a more dynamic sound."
"Your questions are discussed with our specialist William van den Hul (together with our director Aalt van den Hul).
The best match is the Colibri Master Signature Stradivarius (Pau Amarello version) with an output of 1.1 mV. It works optimal with the Grail preamplifier.
The Master Signature Stradivarius is equipped with an improved magnet, it gives a more dynamic sound."
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