Gold Note Vasari

The Gold Note Vasari is an entry point into Gold Note's cartridge range that refuses to behave like one — a moving magnet design of genuine high-end ambition, built in Florence to the same exacting standards that define the brand's flagship Tuscany and Machiavelli MkII cartridges. Available in two distinct variants, the Vasari Gold and the Vasari Red, it represents one of the most compelling propositions in affordable analogue replay: a cartridge conceived through computer modelling, refined through high-precision 3D printing, and built around an ultra-rigid aluminium cantilever that extracts information from the vinyl groove with a precision and agility that sets a new standard at this price point.

Two Models, Two Characters

The Vasari Gold is housed in a duraluminium body and fitted with an elliptical diamond stylus — a profile that traces the groove wall with considerably greater accuracy than a conical tip, recovering more of the recorded information and delivering superior high-frequency extension and stereo imaging. The Vasari Red takes a different path: its body is formed from a special ultra-dampening photopolymer resin, chosen for its exceptional ability to suppress resonance and unwanted vibration within the cartridge body itself, and is fitted with a conical diamond stylus. Both models share an output level of 4 mV — a generous figure that pairs naturally with any moving magnet phono stage input, including the Gold Note PH-10 and the Gold Note PH-5 Phono Stage.

Ultra-Rigid Aluminium Cantilever

At the heart of both Vasari variants is an ultra-rigid aluminium cantilever — naked in design, precision-machined, and selected for its ability to transmit stylus movement to the generator assembly with minimum distortion and maximum speed. The result is a cartridge that tracks the vinyl groove with extraordinary agility, recovering low-level detail and transient information that softer, less rigidly constructed cantilevers lose entirely. The custom-profiled diamond stylus fitted to each model is developed exclusively to Gold Note's own specifications — a bespoke component, not an off-the-shelf part.

Computer Modelling and 3D Printing

Gold Note's use of computer modelling and high-precision 3D printing in the Vasari's development is not a marketing claim — it is the engineering foundation upon which the cartridge's performance rests. Every aspect of the body geometry has been optimised to minimise internal resonance, maximise structural rigidity, and create the ideal mechanical environment for the generator assembly. The result is a cartridge whose performance significantly exceeds what its price would ordinarily suggest.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The Vasari is for the vinyl enthusiast who wants genuine high-end engineering without a high-end price — whether upgrading from a basic cartridge supplied with a budget turntable, or building a first serious analogue system from the ground up. It pairs naturally with Gold Note's own turntable range, including the Gold Note Pianosa and the Gold Note Mediterraneo, and rewards a quality phono stage — the Gold Note PH-10 being the natural partner within the Gold Note ecosystem. For those ready to take the next step in analogue performance, the Gold Note Donatello represents the logical upgrade path.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. We can advise on which Vasari variant suits your turntable, tonearm, and phono stage, and demonstrate the Gold Note cartridge range in our Norwich showroom. When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim — experienced specialists who can advise on this product and your whole system.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.