Van Den Hul Colibri XGP/XGM

Matched crystal gold coils

P and M type suffix:

Each of the three above mentioned main versions of The COLIBRI are available with either:

A regular carbon-nylon plastic body. Total cartridge weight is 6 gram. Suitable for arms with an effective tone arm mass of 8 gram to 14 gram. The plastic bodied version carries the -P suffix in its name.

A metal body. Total cartridge weight is 7 gram. Suitable for arms with an effective tone arm mass of 10 gram to 14 gram. The metal bodied version carries the -M suffix in its name.

Our top model custom handbuilt phono cartridge, featuring matched crystal copper coils and 0.22 or 0.30mV/channel output. A version with matched crystal gold coils and 0.38 mV/channel output is also available.

As a result of phono cartridge builder A.J. van den Hul’s continuous research into improving his phono cartridge designs The COLIBRI has seen the light of day.

The COLIBRI is the improved successor to our GRASSHOPPER “BEAUTY” series of phono cartridges where many building components have been removed in a highly successful quest to return to the plain essence of phono transduction.

The result is an unbelievably straightforward sounding “clean and open” design, in all its aspects bearing much resemblance to the “Colibri” named tropical bird’s swiftness, elegance and beauty; Hence the cartridge’s name.

Compared to our GRASSHOPPER “BEAUTY” series the following differences stand out:

By minimizing and adapting the cartridge’s total magnetic circuit the related distortion and (Barkhausen) noise have undergone a considerable decrease. This opens up many subtle sound details that never have been heard before; Especially the decay of instrument sounds now stands out much more clearly in the music’s totality.

Due to the minimization of the cartridge’s total magnetic circuit the cartridge’s mass has been reduced. Together with the possibility to tune the cartridge’s static compliance on special customer demand it is now possible to use very light tonearms whilst maintaining a very good tracking ability.

By removing the frontpole is has been possible to apply an even shorter cantilever; This further improves the groove-modulation-transduction’s directness and accuracy.

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

The COLIBRI is available in three main versions:

XC Version: (X = cross shaped modulator, C = matched crystal Copper wire coils)

Low output all-round model

Output voltage: 0.22 mV/channel

Types available: XCP and XCM (P and M type suffix see *4)

XC-HO Version: (X = cross shaped modulator, C = matched crystal Copper wire coils, HO = High Output)

High output, most suitable for jazz music

Output voltage: 0.30mV/channel

Types available: XCP-HO and XCM-HO (P and M type suffix see *4)

XG Version: (X = cross shaped modulator, G = matched crystal Gold wire coils)

Medium output, most suitable for classical music

Output voltage: 0.38 mV/channel

Types available: XGP and XGM (P and M type suffix see *4)

Special customer demands/specifications:

Thanks to the many variations in materials available, it is always possible to build a unit to match the personal demands of the customer. With these personalized cartridges the wooden container can mention the name of the customer it has been specially built for. This option is exclusively available for The CANARY, The GRASSHOPPER III series, The GRASSHOPPER IV, The GRASSHOPPER “BEAUTY”, The CONDOR and The COLIBRI versions.

The customer demands/specifications that can be taken into account when building a personalized cartridge for instance are:

The tone-arm used, the preamp and load impedance used, a particular brand of records to be played, the type of music generally played (jazz being more dynamic and classical more spacious and detailed) and other personal/sound preferences.

- Expert chez Noir et Blanc