I came from the other approach - my Colibri was supposed to contrast another, more dynamic, more bass capable cartridge with it's delicate musicality.I spent the weekend listening to the VDH cartridge and I can say it's an all around winner. I was worried that it would just be used for jazz and classical but I have to say that it really handles the voice well. Even Getty Lee's.
I was lucky enough to pick up a VDH XGW Stradivarius (thank you MikeL) and added it to the system last week. It is absolutely fantastic, and gives me the clearest window into the music I've ever had in my system. The detail and nuance of the instruments has really taken my system to the next level
I spent the weekend listening to the VDH cartridge and I can say it's an all around winner. I was worried that it would just be used for jazz and classical but I have to say that it really handles the voice well. Even Getty Lee's.
Mike can i ask you to briefly describe the differences when you move to Master Signature?Jeff,
not sure how i missed this earlier, as i was obviously watching for it.
Congrats, and glad you are satisfied, and not surprised. this was not a cartridge i wanted to sell. it needed some time spent with it. i think it's a sleeper and fits more systems than the Master Signature (with it's more normal output level and slightly more mild demeanor). it still has that vdH magic.
nice pic, btw.
cheers,
Mike
Jeffrey can i ask, how do you have the vta?I spent the weekend listening to the VDH cartridge and I can say it's an all around winner. I was worried that it would just be used for jazz and classical but I have to say that it really handles the voice well. Even Getty Lee's.
Jeffrey can i ask, how do you have the vta?
Is the cartridge up at the rear, parallel or down at the rear?
Jeffrey can i ask, how do you have the vta?
Is the cartridge up at the rear, parallel or down at the rear?
On advice from Shakti I've added a Derenville damper pad between cartridge and headshell, and changed the Ikeda headshell for a Yamamoto African Black Wood head shellFremer in his vdh Stradivarius review gave some details on how he reduced sibilance
Currently I'm slightly down at the rear, but I'm still experimenting and haven't settled yet.I'm using the supplied bubble level to have it flat on the headshell. I've experimented with it being a little up from that but I like the sound flat best. What about you?
The SME 3012R seems to work really well with the VDH, I bet the Ikeda sounds great as well. I had an Ikeda 345 that I really liked. The build quality on Ikeda is fantastic.
Surely only in the US?The prices of all cartridges are up the rear
The 3012R was far superior to the Ikeda, but that was the 10" version. The VDH carts seem to really like the 3012R.Currently I'm slightly down at the rear, but I'm still experimenting and haven't settled yet.
Yes the Ikeda is a beautifully made bit of kit. As seen above, I've added a wooden headshell, part of the sibilance- taming remedy.
I'm very intruiged by the SME 3012R, because of the love it receives on this forum
Hmm, leading to a squeezed middle.The prices of all cartridges are up the rear
Fun!I have also decided to keep my VdH MS Colibri strad but get an sme 3012r for it. I deliberately bought a Kuzma Stabi M so as not to get too many cartridges and arms but I have now found another way to keep them and get even more! I opened up a speaker company and decided to make a demo room. I have a few cartridges already and two on the way so I will be getting another table and put 3 arms on it. It can have different flavors so people may have a clearer window to speakers overall sound. At home, I will keep current favorite for that time
I could not feel content with the performance I got from this cartridge on my standart 4 point arm. I also tried a 9" version but still it was not as good as I expect it to be. So, I could not make it sing with that setup but I hope to make it sing with properly matched arm and pre.
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