Benz Micro Phono Cartridges

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Benz Micro Phono Cartridges

Albert Lukaschek of Benz Micro and Garth Leerer of Musical Surroundings announce a new series of phono cartridges, the S Class. Led by the new flagship LP S cartridge, introducing the SLR Gullwing and joined by new versions of the Wood Body, Glider and ACE cartridges, the S Class furthers the performance, selection and value of the Benz Micro line.

The continued evolution of the Benz cartridge line and the culmination of years of research and manufacturing refinements, the S Class incorporates new materials, advancements in moving coil and suspension design, and upgraded styli on the Benz Swiss hand-made moving coils.

The new LP S ($5,000 MSRP) incorporates a higher mass brass frame for improved coupling to tonearms, evolved ruby square plate generator and Ebony body. Brass, an alloy of copper and tin, complements Ebony, materials used for building musical instruments. The LP S has 50% more mass than the previous model for enhanced vibrational and resonant characteristics, thus revealing greater dynamic contrasts, deeper bass and increased resolution from all records.

Introducing the Gullwing at US$3,000 MSRP. SLR stands for “S” Class, “L” for low output (.35mV at 3.54cm/sec), and “R” for Ruby. There will also be a SHR "higher output" version at .8mV at 3.54cm/sec for tube phono stages with less than 60dB gain. Gullwing is our homage to the Benz Glider symbol. At first glance, it resembles the famous Glider, but the new Gullwing is derived from the highly regarded Benz Ruby and the new LP S. An open air design like the Glider, the SLR is the only Benz cartridge other then the LP S with a frame machined from solid brass. The Glider weighs 6.8 grams, the Gullwing 12.2 grams! The generator uses the square Ruby plate and oversized neodymium magnet similar to the Benz Ruby and LP. The Benz Dynascan S stylus, side bonded to a solid boron cantilever at the Benz Swiss factory by hand, complete this outstanding cartridge. Open, sweet, detailed and dynamic, the Benz SLR Gullwing is more than a “Super Glider”. Think of it as the “convertible sports coupe” version of the LP S.

The S Class models of the Wood Body SL (low), SM (medium) and SH (high), ($1,500 MSRP), Glider SL, SM, SH ($1,000 MSRP) and ACE SL, SM, SH ($700 MSRP) all incorporate the Benz Dynascan S stylus coupled to improved generators using new coil windings and refined pole pieces/damper designs. Albert Lukaschek began researching increased performance and uniformity of his crosscoil designs while developing the Benz Ebony H, L and TR models. Experimenting with the length of the solid Boron cantilever revealed how the elasticity of this very stiff material contributed to compliance and trackability. Development of a grooved rear pole piece for countersinking the o-ring damper, first introduced on the Benz Ruby square plate cartridges, was then adapted to the cross coil designs, given their lower contact area and damping characteristics. The lower mass coils and matched cantilevers of the new S Class retain their real world output levels and with their improved styli, offer higher performance. Music lovers are getting the best performance/value ratio in phono cartridges, regardless of output level. We offer industry leading programs in upgrading previous Benz models to the new S Class.

Benz-Micro S-Class Cartridges

	Output Voltage 3.54 cm/sec	Stylus Shape	Internal Ohms	Loading Range	Weight	Compliance	Tracking	Retail	Retip at factory
LP S-Class	0.36	5 X 120 µm	38	>400	16	15	1.8 - 2.0	$5,000	$800*
Ruby 3H	0.7	5 X 120 µm	80	>800	9.6	14	1.8 - 2.0	$3,500	$800**
Ruby 3	0.35	5 X 120 µm	38	>400	9.6	15	1.8 - 2.0	$3,500	$800**
Ebony H	2.5	5 X 120 µm	90	>1000	10.7	14	1.6 - 1.9	$3,500	$800**
Ebony L	0.26	5 X 120 µm	5	>50	10.7	14	1.6 - 1.9	$3,500	$800**
Ebony TR	0.1	5 X 120 µm	1	>10	10.7	14	1.6 - 1.9	$3,500	$800**
SLR Gullwing	0.35	5 X 120 µm	38	>400	12.2	15	1.8 - 2.0	$3,000	$800**
Ref S Copper	0.26	5 X 120 µm	5	>50	9	15	1.6 - 1.9	$2,500	$800**
Wood S H	2.5	5 X 120 µm	90	>1000	9	14	1.6 - 1.9	$1,500	$500***
Wood S M	0.8	5 X 120 µm	24	>240	9	14	1.6 - 1.9	$1,500	$500***
Wood S L	0.4	5 X 120 µm	12	>120	9	15	1.6 - 1.9	$1,500	$500***
Glider S H	2.5	5 X 120 µm	90	>1000	6.8	14	1.6 - 1.9	$1,000	$500^
Glider S M	0.8	5 X 120 µm	24	>240	6.8	14	1.6 - 1.9	$1,000	$500^
Glider S L	0.4	5 X 120 µm	12	>120	6.8	15	1.6 - 1.9	$1,000	$500^
ACE S H	2.5	5 X 120 µm	90	>1000	8.8	14	1.6 - 1.9	$700	$400^
ACE S M	0.8	5 X 120 µm	24	>240	8.8	14	1.6 - 1.9	$700	$400^
ACE S L	0.4	5 X 120 µm	12	>120	8.8	15	1.6 - 1.9	$700	$400^
MC Gold	0.5	.3 X .7 mil	20	>200	5.7	15	1.7 - 2.0	$375	$250^^
MC Silver	2.0	.3 X .7 mil	120	>1200	5.7	15	1.7 - 2.0	$375	$250^^
MC20E2/H	2.0	.3 X .7 mil	120	>1200	4	10	2.0 - 2.5	$250	$175^^
MC20E2/L	0.5	.3 X .7 mil	40	>400	4	10	2.0 - 2.5	$250	$175^^

* Price is for re-tip at Swiss factory (6-8 week turnaround). Exchange price for new LP is $2,000.

** Price is for re-tip at Swiss factory (6-8 week turnaround). Exchange price for new Ruby, Ebony, or SLR is $1,500. Exchange price for new Ref S is $1,200.

*** Price is for re-tip at Swiss factory (6-8 week turnaround). Exchange price for new Wood S is $900.

^Price is for re-tip at Swiss factory (6-8 week turnaround). Exchange price for new Glider S is $600; exchange for new ACE S is $525.

^^Exchange for new cartridge price.

The LP Ebony

The "Flagship" in the Benz line.

$5000

Ruby 3, Ruby 3H

The pinnacles of Benz engineering and performance.

The New Ebony H

World's best high output cartridge

Ref 2 Silver

The H2, M2, L2

Three output levels to match any system requirements, with the famous Benz wood-body sound.

The Glider

The price/performance king in affordable high end audio is now available in three output levels, the L2, M2, and H2.

The New ACE

Advanced Cartridge Engineering. Cost/performance breakthrough.

The MC-Gold, MC-Silver, MC20EII

Budget performers that retain more than a little of the famous Benz musicality and accuracy.

Benz Mono Cartridges: Now all Benz Swiss-made cartridges can be ordered in mono. The Lukaschek PP-1 T9 Phono Stage

Truly incredible performance approaching the best, in a compact package that will fit anywhere.

The new Benz Titanium Watch

Swiss precision, style and it's analog!