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From my private collection, this cartridge that I have treasured for a long time.Cardas Myrtle Heart Ruby (Benz Micro Ruby) Low Output MC Moving Coil Cartridge.This is a like new condition, sounds sweet, musical, works beautifully cartridge, excellent detail, stylus still sharp, cantilever and suspension is also in excellent condition. Used under 100 hours only.The Cardas Myrtle Heart Moving Coil Phono Cartridge, with it's Copper wound, square Ruby jewel plate, is a highly evolved cartridge that is extremely tough and reliable, as well as being one of the most musically pleasing of all cartridges. Its vented Myrtlewood body is a unique vibration damper for resonance control.The latest Cardas cartridges are the Myrtle Heart and the Myrtle Silver Heart. They are highly evolved cartridges built on a unique Benz chassis. A well seasoned Myrtle Heart cartridge performs well at a high input impedance of 47 k, if the system is quiet. A lower impedance of 500-1.5 k works if the system tends to hum or the cartridge is not broken-in. The Myrtle Heart has a standard output of 0.3 mV, which is within the capability of most modern high quality pre-amps.The character of the Cardas Myrtle Heart is lasting musicality. It is well engineered, strong and majestic. It brings the lasting luxury of detailed, life like music.Specifications:Body: Machined Vented MyrtlewoodCantilever: Solid Boron rod, 0.28 mm diameterStylus: Nude line-contact diamond, mirror polishedStylus Tip Radius: 5 x 120 µmVertical Tracking Angle: 20-22 degreesCoil: Square Ruby jewel plate, Copper wireWeight: 9.1 gramsOutput Voltage: 0.3 mV @ 3.54 cm/sInternal Impedance: 45 ohmsFrequency Response: 10-50,000 Hz ± 1 dBChannel Balance: Better than 0.5 dBChannel Separation: Better than 35 dB @ 1 kHzTracking Ability @ 315 Hz with a tracking force of 2 grams: >80 µmDynamic Compliance: 15 µm/mNRecommended Loading: 500-47,000 ohmsOptimum Tracking Force: 1.8-2.0 gramsRecommended Tone arm Mass: Medium to highOptimum working temperature: 23 degreesThis cartridge comes with all original wood box, Specifications & Measuring paper, Tools and screws.I have sold a lot of cartridges and got a lot of good feedback, please check them out.We guarantee that we will not sell cartridges that are not perfect, if you find that it is not suitable for you after receiving it. We have a full refund policy and you can return it, if you are not satisfied.And please take a look my other items.Thanks!WayneWayne's Audio
At US$1,690, this is very strong money for a Benz Micro Ruby if the cartridge is genuinely healthy and not near the end of its stylus life. The Ruby sits in the “serious audiophile moving-coil” tier, and on the used market these usually make sense when priced well below fresh-new replacement cost; at this level, it reads as a bargain rather than a stretch.
What makes it worth chasing is the Ruby’s reputation for speed, detail, and tonal refinement without sounding clinical. If the listing includes the original box, paperwork, and low hours from a careful owner, that adds real upside. The key caveat is cartridge life: with a used MC, condition and stylus wear matter more than cosmetics, so I’d want clear history or a seller who can speak to tracking hours and handling before pulling the trigger.
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.
See all Benz Micro listings on RADAR.
