van den Hul Colibri Grand Cru
- Thread starter PeterA
- Start date
I made my decision. A SME IV or V, so I searched and found a Series IV for a decent price. It was actually mounted on an Oracle Paris, so I bought the TT as well.
The Oracle seems to be above the Clearaudio Performance, or maybe the SME is above the Clearaudio Unify (actually I believe it simply is).
The SME is a dream to set up (actually the Unify is a pain in the a**).
When I mounted the Crand Cru, straight out of the box (brand new), I was simply chocked! What a cartridge. I rediscovered many of my vinyls, and everytime I couldn't believe my ears. What when it's broken in...
Guess I found my final gear...
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Running in a Grand Cru is a terrible bind
Usually i would spin up Cardas or Clearaudio and leave running. Or perhaps keep replaying a record i don't listen to, that has all frequencies well recorded.
But the issue is that as soon as the needle drops, I'm experiencing a performance, and it feels rude to give any less than my full attention
That there is so much hidden in a record. Or how much a cartridge can extract from a vinyl. Transparency and image found a new dimension with the Grand Cru.
I always thought that sound is better in analogue than any digital, just image depth was a bit better with digital. I was wrong!
- dan
You hit EXACTLY the pointRunning in a Grand Cru is a terrible bind
Usually i would spin up Cardas or Clearaudio and leave running. Or perhaps keep replaying a record i don't listen to, that has all frequencies well recorded.
But the issue is that as soon as the needle drops, I'm experiencing a performance, and it feels rude to give any less than my full attention
Dan, this is exactly how I think of it. The grand cru simply presents information that was heretofore hidden in the grooves. It is an incredible cartridge.
I had the Grail some years ago. It's a quite musical item, good staging, but when you look inside, there are a lot of components, and it lacks a bit of transparency. My actual has very little components in the signal path, maybe not as neutral, but highly musical and transparent.
Another friend of mine just got his.
He is very very happy!
He is very very happy!
Hello,
Just received my GC today. Replaced my MC Anna on the 3012-R. I needed to remove a part of the counterweight because it’s so light. I have the .75 mV configured for classical music. First impression is very positive.
The traditional photography :
Just received my GC today. Replaced my MC Anna on the 3012-R. I needed to remove a part of the counterweight because it’s so light. I have the .75 mV configured for classical music. First impression is very positive.
The traditional photography :
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Here is a photo from a different angle. This just came back from its 250 hour inspection and fine tuning.
I was just thinking about the vdH service. Mr. van den Hul offers a free inspection and fine tuning after 200-250 hours of playing time. I requested a lower output and commented that there was a slight "accent" in the very high frequencies during some program material. This first Grand Cru has been modified to Grand Cru specifications from my former Master Signature. I sent this Grand Cru back for the inspection and any fine tuning that could be done per my request. Two weeks later I got the cartridge back.
The output has been lowered from 1.1 mV (standard for Master Signature) to 0.75mV to match my other Grand Cru, and the damper was replaced with a new one of different compliance. I could tell immediately that the output was now similar because I did not have to change the volume setting when switching from one arm/cartridge to the other. And, the slight HF "accent" on muted trumpet and cymbals on one or two LPs is now gone. I knew something had changed when I went to align the cartridge in the same V-12 headshell as I had to slide the arm forward by quite a bit. I also had to lower the VTF as this cartridge came back slightly heavier. Interestingly, the VTA seems about the same, though after I listen to a few more LPs, I will know more.
You can see from the two profile photos that the two cartridges are not identical. The magnets appear to be the same size, so to lower the output, he must have removed some windings or done something else which I can't figure out. The silver cylinder collar where the round tube meets the square magnet is larger on the bottom cartridge. Also, if you look at the cantilever, the white section is different lengths. Finally, the size of the wooden body: in the top photo the front of the body reaches the lower assembly, while in the bottom photo, the wood stops well short of the lower assembly.
I am grateful that I can send my vdH cartridges back for an inspection and adjustment depending on what I am hearing and how they might sound in my particular system. This kind of customization seems rare in the cartridge world. The communication and turn around time were superb. I have a lot of respect for Mr. van den Hul. He is a gentleman and a real artist. He loves music and cares deeply about satisfying his customers. At least that has been my experience. These cartridges are the result of incredible passion for his art.
The output has been lowered from 1.1 mV (standard for Master Signature) to 0.75mV to match my other Grand Cru, and the damper was replaced with a new one of different compliance. I could tell immediately that the output was now similar because I did not have to change the volume setting when switching from one arm/cartridge to the other. And, the slight HF "accent" on muted trumpet and cymbals on one or two LPs is now gone. I knew something had changed when I went to align the cartridge in the same V-12 headshell as I had to slide the arm forward by quite a bit. I also had to lower the VTF as this cartridge came back slightly heavier. Interestingly, the VTA seems about the same, though after I listen to a few more LPs, I will know more.
You can see from the two profile photos that the two cartridges are not identical. The magnets appear to be the same size, so to lower the output, he must have removed some windings or done something else which I can't figure out. The silver cylinder collar where the round tube meets the square magnet is larger on the bottom cartridge. Also, if you look at the cantilever, the white section is different lengths. Finally, the size of the wooden body: in the top photo the front of the body reaches the lower assembly, while in the bottom photo, the wood stops well short of the lower assembly.
I am grateful that I can send my vdH cartridges back for an inspection and adjustment depending on what I am hearing and how they might sound in my particular system. This kind of customization seems rare in the cartridge world. The communication and turn around time were superb. I have a lot of respect for Mr. van den Hul. He is a gentleman and a real artist. He loves music and cares deeply about satisfying his customers. At least that has been my experience. These cartridges are the result of incredible passion for his art.
Peter. Do you normally use the DB protractor or the card board protractor that came with the SME arm? What do you prefer?
Re first sentence - I think the round tube on the top photo cartridge is longer, regardless of length difference in the silver cylinder collar. Look at it relative to the plastic piece holding the wire solder points.
Re second sentence: the white cantilever surround is of different lengths but I think the cantilevers are also of different lengths. Maybe the photo perspective is skewing that to my eyes.
Old world craftsmanship with personal service. Yes - much respect - he's a rare bird partilcularly since he donates proceeds from the cartridge work to charity.
Peter, like Van Den Hul you are on another level ! Your observations and meticulousness when it comes to all things analog is of the charts, and your steady hand takes some excellent pictures
Hi Peter - are you saying you had a Master Sig converted to Gran Cru specs?
Thanks, Joe
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