Cartridges — Benz Micro MC-GOLD

The MC Gold is a moving-coil pickup with low output made by Benz Micro, the Swiss company founded by Ernst Benz in 1970, which turned to phono cartridges in the early 1980s and has been led by Albert Lukaschek since 1994. Together with the MC Silver it formed the entry point of the range, intended as a first step for listeners who might later move up to the brand's hand-made Swiss models. It sold for USD 600 in North America and is now listed as discontinued.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is 0.4 mV at 3.54 cm/s, from an internal impedance of 20 ohm. The generator is a cross-coil design, and the stylus is an elliptical diamond with a 0.3 x 0.7 mil tip, carried on a cantilever made of aluminium alloy tubing. Frequency response runs from 20 Hz to 25,000 Hz, and channel balance is held within 1.2 dB. Dynamic compliance is 15 µm/mN, and the body weighs 5.7 g. Tracking force is 1.8 to 2.2 g, with 2 g named as the optimum, and at that force the cartridge is specified to track more than 60 µm at 315 Hz. Vertical tracking angle is 23 degrees. Its sibling MC Silver uses the same stylus, body weight and compliance but a 120 ohm winding for 2 mV, so the two differ mainly in the generator.

Engineering and use context

The MC Gold belongs to the Series 2 generation, whose changes centred on the moving parts and the magnetic circuit. Coil mass was reduced so the armature responds faster, the suspension uses a custom butyl rubber O-ring damper of aerospace grade, and a hybrid neodymium magnet raises field strength. Benz Micro asks for about 30 hours of play before the suspension settles and gives a 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects. Some packages came with a screwdriver, mounting screws and a brush for fitting.

Pairing

A moving-coil phono stage with 60 dB of gain or more is the intended partner, since a standard moving-magnet input will not lift 0.4 mV to line level. Loading can be set anywhere from 200 ohm up to 47 kohm, so both dedicated MC inputs with adjustable resistance and step-up transformers fall within range. With medium compliance and a light body, the maker points to medium to high effective mass tonearms, which covers most conventional pivoted arms on belt and direct-drive decks.

Alternatives

The Benz Micro Glider S in its L version is a current moving-coil alternative, pairing a similarly low output with an open aluminium body of 6.8 g.