Benz Micro LP S MC Cartridge, Reference

The Benz Micro LP S is the brand's reference model: a handcrafted Swiss moving-coil cartridge whose vented ebony body sits in a solid brass frame.

From the outside it looks almost identical to the smaller LP – the same aged ebony, the same iron-free ruby square-rod generator, the same boron cantilever. The difference lies in the frame: the LP S rests in a machined brass chassis that brings it from 10.7 to 16.4 g. That extra five and a half grams of mass isn't cosmetic – it's the whole concept.

Why the LP S?

Because mass in a cartridge means calm. The heavy frame absorbs the energy the generator pushes back into the body instead of passing it on to the tonearm. You hear that where it gets difficult: in loud tuttis, in the inner grooves, in the low bass. Midrange gains saturation, the soundstage layers in depth rather than just width.

What you get

A low-output reference cartridge with 0.34 mV for a first-class MC phono stage: vented ebony in a solid brass frame, iron-free ruby generator, Micro-Ridge diamond on a 0.28 mm boron cantilever. Because of the high mass, we work out the tonearm combination in advance and can mount it completely on request.

Who is the LP S suited for?

Honestly: the LP S is for vinyl enthusiasts looking for a cartridge for life, who have invested in a first-class phono stage. Anyone who only occasionally plays a record is more credibly served by the lighter LP. And not every tonearm balances 16.4 g with the standard counterweight – something better clarified beforehand rather than after.

Our verdict

The LP S isn't a cartridge you swap out again in two years – it's an end point. The brass frame is the only real difference from the LP, and it changes more than 5.7 grams would suggest. If you bring a first-class phono stage and a medium-to-heavy tonearm, you get calm and substance at reference level. The rest of the chain, however, needs to keep up.

Award: Stereophile Recommended Components, October 2010.

Technical data

• Cartridge type: Moving Coil (MC), Low Output (Reference)
• Generator: iron-free ruby square-rod
• Output voltage: 0.34 mV (at 3.54 cm/s)
• Internal impedance: 38 Ω
• Recommended load impedance: > 400 Ω (datasheet: 500 – 47,000 Ω)
• Stylus: Micro-Ridge (bare diamond), 5 × 120 µm
• Cantilever: solid boron rod, 0.28 mm
• Body: vented, machined ebony in a solid brass frame
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 50 kHz (±1 dB)
• Channel separation: > 35 dB (1 kHz)
• Channel balance: < 0.5 dB
• Tracking ability: 80 µm (315 Hz, 2 g)
• Compliance: 15 µm/mN
• Tracking force: 1.8 – 2.0 g (datasheet range up to 2.2 g)
• VTA: 20°
• Break-in time: approx. 40 h
• Weight: 16.4 g
• Included: individual measurement protocol, mounting screws, stylus brush, storage box

Frequently asked questions

How do I recognise the LP S if it looks so similar to the LP?

By the frame and the weight. The LP S sits in a solid, machined brass chassis and weighs 16.4 grams; the LP has no frame and weighs 10.7 grams. In product photos both look almost identical because the ebony body is the same. On a tonearm scale, the difference is immediately there.

Which tonearm suits the Benz Micro LP S best?

Because of the 16.4 grams of self-mass and the medium compliance of 15, the LP S harmonises with medium-to-heavy tonearms. Light arms push the resonance frequency out of the favourable window and don't control the energy. We work out the combination with your arm before you order.

How do I set the tracking force on the LP S?

Benz specifies 1.8 to 2.0 grams as the optimum. The datasheet gives a usable range up to 2.2 grams, rarely needed. We measure with a precision scale at record height and listen through the window. We're happy to do the fine adjustment in Wädenswil on request.

How long does the LP S need to break in?

About 40 hours. Fresh out of the box the suspension still sounds taut, and bass and space open up only gradually. Just play records normally during this time – no special break-in ritual needed. After that, the sound stays stable for years.

Why buy the Benz Micro LP S at HD Zürisee?

Because a reference cartridge only comes into its own with a clean setup. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil check tonearm compatibility beforehand, mount it, adjust tracking force, VTA and azimuth, and tune the chain. Call us at 044 680 22 00 or write via WhatsApp to 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Goes well with

A reference cartridge wants a matching turntable – found under Turntables – and a phono stage that amplifies 0.34 mV noise-free: Phono preamplifiers. Alternatives are in the cartridges overview, the brand's full range under BENZ Micro, care and brushes under All Vinyl.