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From my private collection, this cartridge that I have treasured for a long time.Benz Micro Ebony-H High output MC Moving Coil CartridgeThis cartridge is in very good operational and cosmetic condition, the sound is detailed, fast, and dynamic, stylus still sharp, cantilever and suspension is also in excellent condition. Used under 250 hours.BENZ MICRO EBONY H/M/L – SWISS MADE HIGH-END MC CARTRIDGEFounded by original designer Ernst Benz in the 1980s, Benz Micro earned recognition throughout the world as one the top cartridge manufacturing companies. In 1994 Albert Lukaschek took over and after 20 years, Benz Micro announced their focus on the upper end Swiss hand-made phono cartridges.Benz Micro’s current production team represents the ” best of the best ” for it’s state-of-the-art phono cartridge production.Benz Micro EBONY HThe Ebony MC Cartridges is Benz Micro’s high-end cross-coil generator based cartridge with Ebony.Each cartridge uses the best materials, such as Ebony wood body, Micro Ridge stylus and the most advanced coil windings for their application, with its exotic aged Mozambique Ebony casing influencing the cartridge’s sonic signature resulting in a deep and rich bass to mid-bass response. The Ebony H is BENZ MICRO’s top of the line high output moving coil and the best they ever made, ideal for moving magnet type phono stages, low gain tube phono stages and high-end A/V systems.While typical low-output moving coils require a dedicated MC phono stage, the Ebony H has a high output of 2.5mV, which matches the standard 47k-ohm input impedance and gain requirements of a normal MM phono stage.The Benz Micro Ebony H can be used directly with a standard moving magnet (MM) phono stageYes, it works with an MM stage.Review & Awards:The Absolute Sound Editor’s Choice Awards 2010 (March 2010)Benz Micro Ebony LThe Absolute Sound Editors’ Choice Awards 2009 (September 2009)Benz Micro Ebony LThe Absolute Sound 2008 Editors Choice Awards:Benz-Micro Ebony LAV Guide – (Oct 2008)Benz Micro Ebony L MC CartridgeThe Absolute Sound – Jim Hannon – (March 2008)Benz-Micro Ebony HThe Absolute Sound 2007 Editors’ Choice Awards 2007Benz-Micro Ebony L (Cartridges, $2000 and up)The Absolute Sound – Paul Seydor – (June 2007)Benz Ebony LSpecifications:Body: Vented Machined Ebony WoodCantilever: Solid Boron Rod: 0.28mm diameterStylus: Nude Line-Contact diamond, mirror polishedStylus tip radius: 5 x 120 umVertical Tracking angle (VTA): 20 degreesCoil: Pure iron crossWeight: 9.6 gramsOutput voltage: 2.5 mV @ 3.54 cm/sInternal impedance: 95 ohmsFrequency Response; 20-20,000 Hz +/- 1dBChannel Balance: Better than 0.5dBChannel Seperation: Better than 35dB @ 1kHzTracking ability at 315Hz at a tracking force of 2 grams: 80umDynamic Compliance: 15 um/mNRecommended Loading: 1000-47,000 ohmsRecommended Tracking Force: 1.8-2.2 gramsOptimum Tracking Force: 1.8-2.0 gramsRecommended tonearm mass: Medium to highOptimum working temperature: 23 degreesThis cartridge comes with original wood box, Specifications, Measuring paper, Bubble level, Tools, and screws.I have sold a lot of cartridges and got a lot of good feedback, please check them out.And please take a look my other items.Thanks,WayneWayne's Audio
A notably refined, high-end moving-coil cartridge rather than an ordinary phono accessory, the Benz Micro Ebony is priced fairly at US$2,480. That exactly matches the median of three recent comparable listings and the 75th-percentile figure, so it is not a bargain, but neither is it clearly overpriced—assuming the stylus and cantilever are in verified condition.
Its appeal is a spacious, natural presentation with excellent tonal texture, fast transient response, articulate bass, and strong soundstage scale. The Ebony’s low-output variants need a suitably capable phono stage—typically around 60 dB or more of gain, with appropriate loading—and setup deserves care. At this price, prioritize documented hours, stylus inspection or professional measurement, original packaging, and any test results; a clean, lightly used example with those assurances would be a sound buy.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Benz Micro is a Swiss hi-fi brand best known for phono cartridges. It traces its roots to the 1980s, when Ernst Benz founded the company and began building a reputation for precision cartridge design. The brand later came under the stewardship of Albert Lukaschek, and production has remained centered in Switzerland, where Benz Micro emphasizes hand-built manufacturing and careful finishing.
Its core product line is moving-coil phono cartridges, with some historical references to earlier moving-magnet and stylus-related work. Benz Micro is not an all-round electronics brand: it does not primarily compete in amplifiers, speakers, DACs, or headphones, but rather focuses on the analog front end for turntables and tonearms. That specialization is part of its identity and appeal.
In the market, Benz Micro sits firmly in the high-end, niche-boutique category. It is widely regarded among analog enthusiasts as a serious cartridge maker, valued for detail, refinement, and musicality. It is not a mass-market label, and its products are aimed at knowledgeable vinyl buyers seeking premium Swiss-built performance.
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