Gold Note Vasari gold

The Vasari Gold is a moving magnet phono cartridge designed and hand-assembled in Italy by Gold Note. Positioned at the heart of the Vasari range, between the entry-level Red and the high-end Shibata, it combines a solid duralumin body, an aluminum cantilever, and an elliptical stylus. This meticulous construction, the result of advanced computer modeling, is designed to extract the maximum amount of information contained in the grooves of the vinyl while controlling unwanted resonances.

A duralumin body to control vibrations

The body of the Vasari Gold is machined from a solid block of 7000-series aluminum, an alloy in the duralumin family. This material, developed in the early 20th century for the aerospace industry, combines several metals: aluminum (predominant), copper, magnesium, and manganese. Heat treatment of this alloy gives it mechanical strength close to that of steel while maintaining a density of around 2.8 g/cm³, roughly three times lighter than steel.

In the context of a phono cartridge, this rigidity is particularly advantageous: it helps damp parasitic vibrations that could color the sound. The black body, adorned with a gold logo, has a discreet finish that contrasts with the photopolymer resin housing of the Vasari Red.

Integrated cantilever and elliptical stylus

The cantilever, the fine rod that connects the diamond to the generator, is made of aluminum here. Unlike older-generation cartridges where the cantilever was simply inserted into place, Gold Note mounts it directly into the metal body. This integration aims to reduce mechanical play and to transmit the information picked up by the stylus with minimal loss.

The finer lateral radius of the elliptical stylus allows it to sit deeper in the groove and better follow its sides, resulting in a more accurate reading of the engraved information, particularly in the upper frequencies.

Alnico magnet and copper coils

The generator of the Vasari Gold is based on moving magnet technology. In this type of cartridge, one or more permanent magnets are fixed to the end of the cantilever, between two fixed coils. The oscillations caused by the diamond tracking the groove modulate the magnetic field, inducing an electrical current in the coils.

Gold Note has opted for alnico magnets, an alloy of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt used since the early days of hi-fi. While rare-earth magnets (neodymium, samarium-cobalt) offer greater magnetic strength, alnico has characteristics that are valued in certain audio applications:

• Low magnetic resistance
• Stable flux in the face of temperature variations
• Reduced magnetic fluctuations during playback

Copper coil windings complete this generator. The combination of these elements delivers an output level of 4 mV, a comfortable value that ensures compatibility with virtually all MM phono preamplifiers on the market.

Mechanical parameters and compatibility

The Vasari Gold has a compliance of 10 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne, an average value that makes it compatible with most medium-mass tonearms, particularly the 9-inch arms found on mid- and high-end turntables. The recommended tracking force of 2 g is standard for an MM cartridge.

Weighing 9.5 g and with a mounting hole spacing of 9 mm, the Vasari Gold fits standard half-inch mount headshells (two screws spaced 12.7 mm apart). The mounting holes are threaded, a practical detail that simplifies installation by avoiding the need to handle tiny nuts.

On the electrical side, the 1000 Ω impedance and 500 mH inductance call for a 47 kΩ load, the universal standard for MM phono inputs. The specified channel separation of more than 22 dB is slightly higher than that of the Vasari Red (>20 dB).

Technical specifications

General information

• Type: moving magnet phono cartridge
• Housing: black duralumin with gold logo

Electrical specifications

• Output level: 4 mV
• Impedance: 1000 Ω
• Inductance: 500 mH
• Recommended load: 47 kΩ

Audio performance

• Frequency response: 15 Hz - 25000 Hz
• Channel separation: > 22 dB

Mechanical specifications

• Compliance: 10 × 10⁻⁶ cm / dyne
• Recommended tracking force: 2 g

Components

• Cantilever: aluminum
• Stylus tip: elliptical
  • Dimensions: 7.5 × 15.5 µm
• Coil wire: copper
• Magnet: alnico

Dimensions and weight

• Mounting hole spacing: 9 mm
• Weight: 9.5 g