@mijostyn, in my experience you don’t need to be apprehensive about the built quality of the Colibri. The design is fragile by nature and mounting and dismounting a Colibri needs a very steady hand and definitely is not my idea of having a good time. Nonetheless, my Colibri XPW Blackwood is over 10 years old, has received two retips and is still performing beautifully. No sign of the wood changing dimensions or anything. My sample is the discontinued version with platinum coils (the only one such beast in existence as far as I know), so at least as ‘collectible’ as e.g. the Lyra with platinum magnets. One could get nervous about the exposed coil wires, but after a while you tend to forget this. I do use it sparingly, as vdHul isn’t getting any younger and I would be reluctant to have it retipped again by somebody else. So if you’re interested in a Colibri, my advise to you is to get one while you still can.
Lyra Lambda Atlas/Etna
i currently play multiple cartridges; within my system, my go-to cartridge (vs LPS, XV1S) ends up being my Transfiguration Proteus which has a fair amount of life left. I am debating sitting tight or can anyone please provide insight if they have ever compared a Proteus to the Etna or Etna Lambda? I recognize Atlas is in a different swim lane, but any comparisons there? I am currently running an ARC Ref 3SE phono- Thanks
Showing 4 responses by edgewear
@mijostyn, the MSL Signature Platinum is very high in the food chain of modern high end MC cartridges. I haven’t heard it myself, but do own Accuphase AC-6, which is also a Matsudaira design. Based on the price level, this cartridge is most likely at the performance level of the Hyper and Ultra Eminent models (mixing the specs of the former with the boron cantilever of the latter). The system is very dynamic and neutral, almost to the point of being antiseptic. No flavouring, no ‘gorgeous tone colour’ or any other attributes, except of course when it’s in the recording. Of all the cartridges I use it’s probably the most ‘honest’. Assuming this is Matsudaira’s premier design objective, the Signature Platinum will most likely aim for that same goal at the highest level. |
@mijostyn, if you contact Johan about the availability of the Colibri you might also inquire about a sample of MSL Hyper Eminent he had on offer. This was a special version with ruby cantilever supplied by MSL (regular Hyper has aluminum cantilever). Might be just what you’re looking for, perhaps it’s still available. |