Benz Micro Ruby Z MC Cartridge, Low Output

The Benz Micro Ruby Z is a handcrafted Swiss moving-coil cartridge with low output voltage, a zebrano wood body and an iron-free ruby square-rod generator.

It sits at the top of Benz Micro's Ruby line: a body machined from zebrano, a ruby square plate as the coil former, and a Micro-Ridge diamond on a boron cantilever. Each unit is handmade and comes with its own measurement protocol.

Why the Ruby Z?

Because it brings together two things that rarely come together: calm and resolution. The zebrano body absorbs micro-vibrations before they return as hardness in the treble. The ruby core is non-magnetic and light, keeping moving mass low and the cartridge fast on transients. The Micro-Ridge profile at 5 × 120 µm sits deep in the groove and pulls substance rather than sibilance even out of the inner grooves.

What you get

A low-output MC with 0.35 mV that demands a strong, low-noise MC phono stage: Benz specifies over 60 dB of gain and a load from 400 Ω. Add 10.2 g of self-weight and a compliance of 15 µm/mN – a combination that works cleanly on medium-heavy 9- to 12-inch-class tonearms. On request we handle mounting and alignment completely: tracking force, VTA, azimuth, overhang.

Who is the Ruby Z suited for?

Straight talk: the Ruby Z is for people who want to hear detail musically integrated rather than dissected. If your rack only holds a phono stage with modest gain, invest there first – otherwise the best of this cartridge disappears into the noise floor. If you have a stage in the 50 to 60 dB range and don't want to rebuild, you're simply better served by the louder Ruby ZH. And the wooden housing likes a stable room climate: right above the radiator is not a good spot.

Our verdict

The Ruby Z is one of those cartridges after which, two record sides in, you stop paying attention to the technology. Voices and acoustic instruments stand firmly in the room without anyone artificially sharpening their contours. The equation only works out with a matching phono stage, though – that's not fussiness with a low-output MC, it's physics.

What the trade press says: "The Ruby Z not only delivers on the excellence suggested by its cost, but also outperforms its predecessor in every way, with improvements extending to tracking, musicality, and soundstaging." – TONEAudio Magazine, Lawrence Devoe, 2012.

Technical data

• Cartridge type: Moving Coil (MC), Low Output
• Generator: iron-free ruby square-rod (ruby plate as coil former)
• Output voltage: 0.35 mV (at 3.54 cm/s)
• Internal impedance: 38 Ω
• Recommended load impedance: > 400 Ω
• Recommended phono gain: > 60 dB
• Stylus: Micro-Ridge (bare diamond), 5 × 120 µm
• Cantilever: solid boron rod
• Body: zebrano wood
• Compliance: 15 µm/mN
• Tracking force: 1.8 – 2.0 g
• Weight: 10.2 g
• Break-in time: approx. 40 h
• Included: individual measurement protocol, mounting screws, stylus brush

Frequently asked questions

What phono stage does the Ruby Z need?

A low-noise MC phono stage with more than 60 dB of gain, according to Benz Micro. With 0.35 mV output voltage, the Ruby Z is a classic low-output MC: too little gain costs you dynamics and adds noise. Alternatively, a step-up transformer in front of an MM input works.

What load resistance does the Ruby Z need?

Benz Micro specifies more than 400 Ω, open-ended upward. In practice, the most coherent balance of soundstage width and bass weight often sits between 500 and 1000 Ω. The exact value depends on your phono stage – we'll set it for you on request.

How long do I need to break in the Ruby Z?

Expect around 40 hours of playing time. In this period the damping elements loosen up and the treble opens fully. Fresh out of the box the cartridge can sound a bit reserved and taut in the bass – that settles on its own, no action needed.

Does the Ruby Z suit my tonearm?

At 10.2 g and 15 µm/mN compliance, the Ruby Z fits most medium-heavy arms in the 9- to 12-inch class, for example from Rega, SME or Jelco. It only gets tricky with very light arms. Tell us your turntable and we'll work out the resonance frequency.

Why buy the Benz Micro Ruby Z at HD Zürisee?

Because an MC cartridge lives on setup, not on the datasheet. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil we mount the Ruby Z, adjust tracking force, VTA and azimuth, and match load and gain to your phono stage. Call us at 044 680 22 00, write via WhatsApp to 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls), or to shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

The right turntable is under Turntables, the phono stage you need under Phono preamplifiers. More cartridges from the brand are in the BENZ Micro overview, everything for the black groove under All Vinyl.