The latest LP S 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. The latest LP S Class was the first Benz Micro to use the new Micro Ridge stylus, now found on all Benz Micro Swiss-made cartridges.

The latest LP S 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. The latest LP S Class was the first Benz to use the new MicroRidge stylus, now found on all Benz Swiss-made cartridges.

Ruby Z upgrades this famous model to full “S Class” status. It features the new Zebra wood body, second only to Ebony for its resonance characteristics, offering bass weight and pitch definition, midrange linearity and high frequency clarity with a natural musicality. The new Micro Ridge stylus is featured, providing enhanced tracking, resolution and groove integrity.

The generator is based on the Ruby square plate and output is .35mV. The Ruby Z low output is best used with phono stages offering greater than 60dB gain, loaded at 400 ohms or higher. The Ruby Zebra cartridge weighs only 10.6 grams, making it ideal for a wide range of tonearms, including today’s state-of-the-art, and vintage models lacking the energy control, bearing designs, or counter-weight range

The new Benz Micro Ruby Z H phono cartridge Neuhausen-am-Rheinfall, Switzerland:

Albert Lukaschek, owner, Managing Director and Chief Designer of Benz-Micro products, introduces the new Benz Micro RUBY Z H higher output flagship phono cartridge. This special higher output version of the Benx Micro RUBY Z is a result of market demand for a higher output "true MC" based on the Benz Ruby non-ferrous generator.

After intense research into current magnetic materials, Herr Lukaschek chose a Hybrid Magnet consisting of neo-dymium, boron and iron. The strong magnetic properties of this Hybrid Magnet can only be applied to the non-ferrous Ruby core used in the Benz flagship cartridges. The super strong "H" magnet would cause magnetic saturation of iron cores used in the Benz Micro Glider, MC Reference and other models, as well as found in almost all other cartridge designs.

The Benz Micro RUBY Z H uses the new "DYNASCAN" ultra-profile diamond stylus, hand mounted to the Benz Micro solid boron rod cantilever. Cantilevers are laser cut to specification and the "DYNASCAN" is face bonded to the treated edge of the boron cantilever under high powered microscopes in a special "clean" environment. The ultra-low mass of this scanning end of the cartridge delivers low level resolution, tonal linearity and incredible dynamics.

The Benz Micro RUBY Z H uses all the other benefits of the BENZ MICRO RUBY 2 including mass reduced, diamond polished Ruby former; high purity, super fine copper wire; reinforced coil/cantilever coupler; and machined Bruyere wood body. The RUBY Z H has an output level of 0.7mV at 5cm/sec (.6mV at 3.54 cm/sec). The Benz Ruby Z now also features the "DYNASCAN" stylus, "H" magnet, revised coil windings and output of .45mV at 5cm/sec (.3mV at 3.54 cm/sec).

A Benz Micro classic, the Ebony H and Ebony TR cartridges have been re-introduced for a very limited production run. The Ebony body, cross-coil models include the Ebony H and Ebony TR, both featuring Micro Ridge or MR stylus.

The ultimate high-output moving coil, the Ebony H shares the same Ebody body as the Benz Micro LP S MR, and is used with MM type phono stages and a 47kohm input impedance. The Ebony TR is designed for use with a Step Up Transformer (SUT), featuring a .1mV output and a coil impedance of less than 5 ohms.

The Benz Micro Gullwing is a hybrid of the LP S class, Ruby, and Glider phono cartridges. The Gullwing SLR (S Class, L for low output [.35mV at 3.54cm/sec], and R for Ruby). The Gullwing is our homage to the Benz Micro Glider symbol and the classic Mercedes Benz 300SL.

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. The Gullwing is the only Benz cartridge other then the LP S with a frame machined from solid brass. The Gullwing frame is Rhodium plated for enhanced electrical characteristics and as further homage to the silver 300SL. The generator uses the square Ruby plate and oversized neodymium magnet similar to the Benz LP and Ruby. The SLR low output is best used with phono stages offering greater than 60dB gain, loaded at 400 ohms or higher.

The Gullwing open air design is based on the Benz Glider, but is almost twice the weight due to the much heavier brass material and the very large Neodymium magnet. This is the most powerful magnet used in any moving coil design and can only be used with the non-ferrous Ruby square plate generator as an iron coil cartridge would be overloaded by the intense magnetic field. The Rhodium plated brass frame and mega-magnet gives the Gullwing a 12.2 grams weight vs. 6.8 grams for the Glider. When designed in 1993, the Glider’s weight was based on use for a very wide range of tonearms, one of the many reasons for its incredible success. The Gullwing is designed for today’s best tonearms, those with advanced energy control (sophisticated bearings and damping) and that can handle a high mass cartridge. The Gullwing uses the new MicroRidge stylus, now found on all Benz Swiss-made cartridges.

A re-introduction of a Benz Micro classic, the S Class models of the Wood Body SL (low), SM (medium) and SH (high), all incorporate the Benz Micro Ridge stylus coupled to 4th generation cross-coil-generator based cartridges, originally introduced in the early 1990s as the LO.4, MO.9 and H2O. Benz Micro’s Albert Lukaschek began researching increased performance and uniformity of his cross-coil 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 tracking. 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.

The 3 output levels are electrically identical to the low, medium and high versions of both Benz Micro Glider and ACE models, making these re-introduced Wood models the ideal upgrade path. The Wood SL is best suited for high gain phono stages with resistive loading greater than 120 ohms. The Wood SM is ideal for tube phono stages providing up to 56dB of gain and is typically loaded ay 47k ohms although 1kohm is also acceptable. The Wood SH can be used with MM type phono stages and a 47k ohms input impedance.

The famous Benz Micro Glider S, originally introduced in 1993, now features the Benz Micro Ridge stylus and is available in three outputs: L, M or H. Its open air design, medium compliance and 6.8-gram weight make it ideal on a very wide range of tonearms, one of the many reasons for its incredible success. The Glider SL is .4mV at 3.54cm/sec with a coil impedance of 12 ohms, perfectly suited for moving coil phono stages with 60dB or higher gain. The SM is .8mV and 24 ohms, designed for less efficient systems and tube phono stages with gains between 45 – 58dB. The SH (2.5mV at 3.54cm/sec) is among the best high output moving coils ever made, ideal for moving magnet type phono stages, low gain tube phono stages and AV systems. 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.

Conceived in 1996 as the most affordable Swiss hand-made moving coil phono cartridge, it took 5 years and a new factory to deliver the Advanced Cartridge Engineering (ACE) in 2001. Now the S Class models of the ACE SL (red), SM (clear), SH (blue) ($900 MSRP) all incorporate the Benz Micro Ridge stylus for the best performance/value ratio in phono cartridges, regardless of output level. The SL is .4mV at 3.54cm/sec with a coil impedance of 12 ohms, perfectly suited for MC phono stages with 60dB or higher gain. The SM is .8mV and 24 ohms, designed for less efficient systems and tube phono stages with gain between 45 – 58dB. The ACE SH (2.5mV at 3.54cm/sec) is among the best high output moving coils ever made, ideal for moving coil type phono stages, low-gain tube phono stages and AV systems. Music lovers can take advantage of industry leading programs in upgrading previous Benz Micro models or other brand cartridges to the new ACE S Class.

The entry models to the Benz Micro line provide the musicality we are famous for combined with affordability and a wide range of turntable/tonearm compatibility.

The Gold is a low output moving coil at .4mV at 3.54cm/sec, perfectly suited for moving coil phono stages with 60dB or higher gain. The Silver high output (2.5mV at 3.54cm/sec) is ideal for m type phono stages, low-gain tube phono stages and AV systems. These models let you enjoy the Benz Micro sound and provide an upgrade path to the Swiss hand-made cartridges.

The entry models to the Benz Micro line provide the musicality we are famous for combined with affordability and a wide range of turntable/tonearm compatibility.

The Gold is a low output moving coil at .4mV at 3.54cm/sec, perfectly suited for moving coil phono stages with 60dB or higher gain. The Silver high output (2.5mV at 3.54cm/sec) is ideal for m type phono stages, low-gain tube phono stages and AV systems. These models let you enjoy the Benz Micro sound and provide an upgrade path to the Swiss hand-made cartridges.