Головки звукоснимателя — Benz Micro MC SILVER

The MC Silver is the entry point to the moving-coil range of Benz Micro, the Swiss cartridge maker with more than 30 years in phono cartridge production. It is a high-output design meant to run from ordinary moving-magnet phono inputs, and the current version is a Series 2 update with refined production methods, lower coil mass, a revised rear pole piece and stronger magnets than earlier units. US pricing has been USD 425, the UK price GBP 345 and EUR 377.80 in Europe.

Key specs that matter

Output is 2.0 mV at 3.54 cm/sec with an internal impedance of 120 ohm. The elliptical diamond stylus measures 0.3 x 0.7 mil and is carried on a cantilever made from an aluminium alloy tube. Dynamic compliance is 15 micron per mN, and tracking force runs from 1.8 to 2.2 g with 2 g as the recommended setting. Frequency response is quoted as 20 Hz to 25,000 Hz, channel separation as better than 30 dB at 1 kHz, and channel balance within 1.2 dB. The cartridge weighs 5.7 g.

Engineering and use context

The generator uses the Benz Micro cross coil armature, and the magnets combine neodymium, boron and iron in one hybrid system. Suspension relies on a soft butyl rubber O-ring damper, which the maker describes as aerospace suspension technology. Vertical tracking angle was reduced from 22 to 20 degrees in this generation, and the new rear pole piece raises generator efficiency. Benz Micro describes the body as medium weight with medium compliance, intended to work across a broad range of turntables and tonearms. Break-in is around 30 hours, the warranty lasts two years and a re-tip exchange allowance is available once the stylus wears.

Pairing

Recommended loading ranges from above 200 ohm up to 47 kohm, so a standard moving-magnet phono stage at 47 kohm is the intended partner and no step-up device or dedicated moving-coil stage is needed. This makes the cartridge a practical upgrade for turntables already connected to an integrated amplifier with a built-in moving-magnet input. The recommended tonearm mass is medium to high, even though the cartridge itself is light, which reflects its medium compliance rating. Because its output sits close to that of typical moving-magnet cartridges, the gain of an existing moving-magnet stage does not need to change when one is swapped for the MC Silver.

Alternatives

Owners with a moving-coil phono stage can consider the Benz Micro MC Gold, a 0.4 mV version with 20 ohm impedance and the same elliptical stylus.