The Colibri XGW Stradivarius MC pickup is the top model of van den Hul's handcrafted phono cartridge, featuring paired gold coils and a 0.38mV / channel output. As a result of AJ van den Huls' ongoing research to improve their phono cartridge designs, the Colibri has seen the light of day.

The Colibri XGW Stradivarius MC cartridge is the improved successor to van den Hul's Grasshopper Beauty series of phono cartridges, where many building components have been removed in a very successful quest to return to the simple essence of phono transduction. The result is a clean and open design with an incredibly simple sound, which in all its aspects closely resembles the speed, elegance and beauty of tropical birds called "Colibri"; hence the name of the cartridges.

The van den Hul Colibri XGW Stradivarius MC Phono Cartridgege features a Koa wood body treated with the 400-year-old Stradivarius lacquer formula that gives it a stiff, hard shell that translates to superior sound and incredible sound! The Stradivarius also features a medium output (0.38mV), 24 karat gold coils, a samarium-cobalt magnet, extended channel spacing, and excellent tracking capability.

Compared to van den Hul's Grasshopper Beauty series, the following differences stand out:

By minimizing and adapting the total magnetic circuit of the cartridges, the related distortion and noise (Barkhausen) have been significantly reduced. This opens up many subtle sound details that have never been heard before; especially the decay of instrument sounds now stands out much more clearly throughout the music.

Due to the minimization of the total magnetic circuit of the cartridges, the mass of the cartridges has been reduced. Together with the possibility of adjusting the cartridge statics to the special demand of the customer, it is now possible to use very light tonometers while maintaining a very good tracking ability.

By eliminating the front pole it has been possible to apply an even shorter cantilever; this further improves the direction and accuracy of the groove modulation transductions.

Due to the minimal magnetic design, the output voltage has been reduced slightly.

Features:

24 karat gold coils.

Proprietary stiletto van den Hul 1s.

Boron cantilever.

Koa wood body treated with 400-year-old Stradivarius lacquer formula.

Specifications:

Frequency response: 5-65,000 Hz.

Output voltage: 0.38 mv.

Tracking force: 1.35-1.5 grams.

Compliance: 35.

Body: Koa wood.

Needle shape: VDH-1S.

Needle radii: 2 x 85 microns.

Vertical tracking angle: 22 degrees.

Recommended load: 40-47,000 ohms; optimal load: 40-400 ohms.

Recommended effective toner mass: 10-16 grams.

Weight: 6 grams.

Internal impedance: 23 ohms.