Gold Note Vasari Gold MM Cartridge

The Gold Note Vasari Gold is a moving-magnet cartridge with an elliptically ground diamond, an aluminium cantilever and a duralumin body, made in Italy.

Within the Vasari series it's the middle tier – the step up from a solid entry point to real fine detail, without you having to touch the rest of your phono chain. If you already have an MM input, this upgrade needs nothing more than a screwdriver and a steady hand. Or us.

Why the Vasari Gold?

Two components make the difference from the Vasari Red. First, the elliptical cut at 7.5 × 15.5 µm: it sits narrower against the groove wall than a spherical cut and so catches high-frequency information that a conical diamond rides over. Second, the duralumin body instead of resin – highly rigid, well damped and heavier, which keeps the generator system calmer. Add copper coils and an Alnico magnet: proven technology, cleanly executed.

What you hear

More air and more contour than the Red, with the same easy-going nature. Cymbals sound like metal instead of noise, voices sit more precisely in the soundstage, the bass stays dry. With 4 mV and channel separation above 22 dB, it's uncomplicated to run and tracks accurately – a cartridge you can listen to for hours without it wearing you out.

Who is the Vasari Gold for – and who isn't it for?

For anyone who wants more resolution from a decent deck and deliberately stays with MM. Bottom line: on a very basic entry-level deck without an adjustable tonearm, it can't show its potential – the Red does the job just as well there. And if you're after the very last bit of top-end finesse, look straight to the Vasari Shibata instead.

Our verdict

The Vasari Gold is the sensible sweet spot of the series: audibly finer than the Red, without the effort of an MC system. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil fit it cleanly, set tracking force, azimuth and anti-skate, and tell you honestly whether the step up is really worth it on your deck.

What the trade press says: “The clear winner in terms of value is the Vasari.” – Henry Venema, TNT-Audio, 2024.

Technical data

• Principle: moving magnet (MM)
• Output voltage: 4 mV
• Internal impedance: 1000 Ω
• Recommended load impedance: 47 kΩ
• Inductance: 500 mH
• Recommended tracking force: 2.0 g
• Stylus cut (diamond): elliptical, 7.5 × 15.5 µm
• Cantilever: aluminium
• Compliance: 10 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyn
• Frequency response: 15–25,000 Hz
• Channel separation: over 22 dB
• Coil wire: copper · Magnet: Alnico
• Mounting: standard 1/2 inch, 9 mm hole spacing
• Stylus insert: replaceable (Gold Note Vasari Gold TIP)
• Body: duralumin, black with gold logo
• Weight: 9.5 g

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the Vasari Gold and the Vasari Red?

The cut and the body. The Gold has an elliptical diamond and a duralumin body weighing 9.5 grams, the Red a conical diamond in a photopolymer body weighing 7 grams. Output voltage, impedance, load, compliance and tracking force are identical for both.

Can the Vasari Gold's stylus be replaced?

Yes. Gold Note offers a matching replacement stylus insert for the Vasari Gold, the Vasari Gold TIP. So you keep the body and only replace the worn part – one of the practical advantages of an MM system over an MC. We'll order it for you and check the alignment at the same time.

Do I need a special phono stage for the Vasari Gold?

No. With 4 mV output voltage and a 47 kΩ load, it's a classic MM system and runs on any MM phono input – whether built into the amplifier or as a separate stage. An MC-capable preamplifier or a step-up transformer is explicitly not required.

Does the Vasari Gold fit my turntable?

If your tonearm has a standard half-inch mount with 9 mm hole spacing and is designed for around 9.5 grams of cartridge weight, it fits. On very light tonearms it's worth a quick look at the counterweight – just ask us, we'll check that in advance.

Vasari Gold or Vasari Shibata – which is worth it?

The Shibata resolves finer highs, separates the channels better and reaches up to 30,000 Hz instead of 25,000 Hz. In return, its cut reacts more sensitively to imprecise alignment. On a well-adjustable arm the Shibata is worth it; on a simple arm the Gold is the safer choice.

Why buy the Gold Note Vasari Gold at HD Zürisee?

Because a cartridge only shows what it can do once it's correctly mounted and aligned. We fit the Vasari cleanly, set tracking force, azimuth and anti-skate, and advise you on the right phono stage. In Wädenswil you have your own in-house technician for this – even after the purchase.

Goes well with

A cleanly adjustable tonearm on the matching turntable is half the battle. If your amplifier still needs a phono input, you'll find one under phono preamplifiers. For clean grooves, record cleaning is worthwhile, and further cartridges are listed under cartridges.