Cartridges — Benz Micro RUBY SR GULLWING

Benz Micro makes the Gullwing in Switzerland and sells it as the SLR and SHR, where S marks the S Class, L or H the output level and R the Ruby generator. Benz Micro calls it a hybrid of the LP S Class, Ruby and Glider cartridges, and describes the name as a homage to the Benz Glider symbol and the classic Mercedes Benz 300SL. The UK price was GBP 2,795 including VAT, and cover against manufacturing faults lasts two years.

Key specs that matter

The SLR produces 0.34 mV, and the SHR 0.7 mV at 3.54 cm/sec, both from an internal impedance of 38 ohm. Weight is 12.2 g, compliance 15 cu and tracking force 1.8 to 2 g for either version. The stylus is the Micro Ridge type with a 5 x 120 micron profile, which Benz Micro now fits to all of its Swiss-made cartridges.

Engineering and use context

Like the LP S Class, the Gullwing uses a frame machined from solid brass, rhodium plated for its electrical properties and to set it apart visually from the gold-plated aluminium Glider. The maker describes the SHR as an S Class high-output cartridge with an open-air layout like the Glider, and both versions follow that pattern, but the brass is far heavier than the aluminium it replaces. The generator combines the square Ruby plate with the very large neodymium magnet used on the Ruby. That magnet can only be paired with the non-ferrous Ruby plate, because a coil wound on iron would be overloaded by such an intense field. Choosing between the two versions therefore changes only the electrical output, while the brass frame, magnet, stylus and mechanical figures stay identical.

Pairing

The SLR is best used with phono stages giving more than 60 dB of gain, loaded at 400 ohm or higher. The SHR is aimed at valve phono stages in the 50 to 60 dB gain range, and at that output it can run into a 47 kohm load, which means a valve phono stage without switchable moving-coil loading can still be used. The maker lists the same minimum load for the SHR as for the SLR, so the 47 kohm setting falls well inside its range, and by mass the cartridge sits between the light Glider and the heavy LP-S when matching a tonearm.

Alternatives

For a lighter tonearm, the Benz Micro Glider SM is a 0.8 mV moving-coil cartridge weighing 6.8 g.