This listing is for a Van den Hul - Black Beauty. This a NOS that has been kept under temperature control and has never been used. Th Black Beaty is custom handbuilt phono cartridge, featuring matched crystal gold coils and 0.50 mV/channel output. The BLACK BEAUTY Special-X is a resolution improved version of the GRASSHOPPER IV GLA, which refinements were only possible to be created after having switched to the entirely metal free and extremely revealing The THIRD ® loudspeaker cable in Mr. van den Hul’s audio system.
The BLACK BEAUTY Special-X’s refined body is made of black PolyCarbonate with about the same construction as the GRASSHOPPER IV GLA. The BLACK BEAUTY Special-X sets new sonic standards in analog reproduction. From Stereophile :
“The Black Beauty has a little more Koetsu in its soul than the 'Hopper IV, along with an equal dollop of vdH family values like extension, linearity, speed, transparency, imaging prowess, and air. The vdH is no Koetsu, however, and that works both ways. If anything, other than its close relation the 'Hopper IV, the Black Beauty reminds me of the Wilson-Benesch Analog, a cartridge close in price and similar in sound. Of the two, the new van den Hul gets the nod for its refinement and top-to-bottom integration.”
Worldwide ship for the item via FedEx 3 days international service will be $40. Buyer pays Paypal fees or remittance charges. I’ll double box for safe shipping.
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