Gold Note Vasari Shibata MM Cartridge – First Look
All Image Credit: Gold Note
Gold Note of Italy has announced the release of a new member of the Vasari line of moving magnet cartridges, the Vasari Shibata. The current Vasari cartridge line includes; the Gold made of a duralumin body with elliptical stylus and the Red made of a special ultra-damping photopolymer body with a conical stylus.
This latest addition to the Vasari line maintains the same aluminum cantilever, output voltage and compliance specifications but Gold Note indicates that the new Shibata stylus supports a significantly extended frequency response of 10-30,000Hz and improved channel separation of >25dB.
This latest diamond stylus was originally designed by Mr Shibata in the 70’s. Basically it is an evolution of the elliptical shape with extra special cuts creating a hybrid asymmetrical shape that provides a large increase of surface area contact, accompanied by a significant reduction of total pressure into the vinyl groove. The result is that the Vasari Shibata produces a significantly extended frequency response and reduction in the wear of both the record and the diamond when compared to other shapes.
The Gold Note Shibata cartridge uses an “ultra-rigid” and lightweight aluminum cantilever attached to a motor system that uses an alnico magnet and copper wire coil, creating and output voltage of 4mV with the 47kΩ suggested load. The assembly is housed in a damped Duraluminium Alloy body which all together weighs in at 9.5g. Recommended tracking forces is 2g.
Specifications:
- Type: MM Phono Cartridge
- Output Level: 4mV
- Frequency Response: 10-30,000Hz
- Impedance: 500Ω
- Inductance: 500mH
- Channel Separation: > 25dB
- Suggested Tracking Weight: 2g
- Cantilever: Aluminium
- Suggested Load: 47kΩ
- Compliance: 10×10-6cm/dyne
- Diamond Cut: Shibata
- Diamond Size: 3.5 x 20μm
- Col Wire: Copper
- Magnet: Alnico
- Mounting: 9mm
- Weight: 9.5g
- Body: Duraluminium alloy
