Cartridges — Benz Micro GLIDER S

Benz Micro sells the Glider S, a Swiss-made open-air moving-coil cartridge, in three output versions - the SL, SM and SH. The original Glider arrived in 1993, a low-output Series 2 followed in 2000, and the S version appeared in 2008 before gaining the Micro Ridge stylus in 2009. Benz Micro builds the design around an open-air body, medium compliance and a 6.8 g weight so that it fits many different tonearms. The SL carried a US price of USD 1,200 in 2011, and the SM was listed at the same figure before it was discontinued. Later prices were GBP 995 in the UK and EUR 1,156.69 in Europe.

Key specs that matter

The SL produces 0.4 mV at 3.54 cm/sec from 12 ohm, the SM 0.8 mV from 24 ohm and the SH 2.5 mV from 90 ohm. Recommended loading is above 100 ohm for the SL, above 200 ohm for the SM and above 1,000 ohm for the SH. Compliance is 15 cu on the SL and 14 cu on the other two, and every version tracks at 1.6 to 1.9 g. All three carry a solid boron cantilever 0.28 mm in diameter and a Micro Ridge stylus with a 5 x 120 micron profile. For the SL the frequency response is quoted as 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz within 1 dB, with channel separation better than 35 dB at 1 kHz.

Engineering and use context

The generator is left exposed inside a gold-anodized aluminium structure, the open-air layout that gives the Glider its name and look. The S update brought a more refined boron cantilever, new lower-mass coil windings on the pure iron cross, and a revised pole piece and damper. A grooved rear pole piece works with the boron cantilever to improve compliance and trackability, and the stylus is a Gyger S type mounted in the Benz Dynascan arrangement. Running in takes around 40 hours, and the warranty against manufacturing faults lasts two years.

Pairing

The SL needs a moving-coil phono stage with 60 dB of gain or more. The SM is aimed at valve phono stages offering 45 to 58 dB, while the SH connects straight to a moving-magnet input with no moving-coil stage required. Medium-mass tonearms are the stated match for the light aluminium body.

Alternatives

For a heavier body built on the same open-air idea, Benz Micro offers the Gullwing SHR, a 0.7 mV moving-coil cartridge with a rhodium-plated brass frame.