{"product_id":"benzmicrorubyzh","title":"Benz Micro Ruby ZH MC Cartridge, High Output","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Benz Micro Ruby ZH is a handcrafted Swiss moving-coil cartridge with a boosted output voltage of 0.7 mV, a zebrano wood body and an iron-free ruby square-rod generator.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTechnically the ZH is the twin of the Ruby Z – same body, same ruby square plate, same Micro-Ridge diamond. The difference lies in the winding: more turns, double the output voltage. That makes the ZH suited to phono stages in the 50 to 60 dB gain range, typically tube phono stages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy the Ruby ZH?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause in practice the level question decides the sound more often than any sound description. If your phono stage lacks the headroom for a low-output MC, you get noise instead of resolution – and no ruby plate in the world will un-hear that. The ZH solves it at the source: 0.7 mV gives your stage enough to work with without overdriving it. The rest is the same mechanism as the Z – zebrano damps, the iron-free core keeps overtones clean, the boron cantilever transmits every impulse without detour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA high-output MC for phono stages with 50 to 60 dB gain, with its own individual measurement protocol from the factory. Zebrano body, ruby generator, Micro-Ridge profile at 5 × 120 µm, load from 400 Ω. At 10.2 g and 15 µm\/mN compliance, the ZH is a case for medium-heavy tonearms. Mounting, alignment and matching to your chain, we handle completely on request.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is the Ruby ZH suited for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHonestly: the ZH is the right choice if your phono stage is a tube stage or a moderately amplifying MC stage and you don't want to add a step-up transformer. One important point to note: with Benz, \"High Output\" means 0.7 mV – noticeably quieter than an MM cartridge's usual 4 to 5 mV. On an ordinary MM input with around 40 dB you'll therefore be short on level. If, on the other hand, you have a high-gain MC stage above 60 dB, you'll get the last bit of resolution out of the quieter Ruby Z.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ZH isn't a compromise, it's an adaptation to the reality of many systems. If you own a good tube phono stage and want to keep it, this gets you the full Ruby mechanism without rebuilding the electronics. There's one condition: the input must be low-noise. If it is, the ZH plays with the same composure as its quieter sibling – and you save yourself the step-up transformer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical data\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCartridge type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moving Coil (MC), High Output\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenerator:\u003c\/strong\u003e iron-free ruby square-rod (ruby plate as coil former)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOutput voltage:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.7 mV (at 3.54 cm\/s)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInternal impedance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 38 Ω\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended load impedance:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u0026gt; 400 Ω\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended phono gain:\u003c\/strong\u003e 50 – 60 dB\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStylus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Micro-Ridge (bare diamond), 5 × 120 µm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCantilever:\u003c\/strong\u003e solid boron rod\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody:\u003c\/strong\u003e zebrano wood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompliance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 15 µm\/mN\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTracking force:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.8 – 2.0 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10.2 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBreak-in time:\u003c\/strong\u003e approx. 40 h\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/strong\u003e individual measurement protocol, mounting screws, stylus brush\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich phono stage suits the Ruby ZH?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA phono stage with 50 to 60 dB of gain, according to Benz Micro – typically tube phono stages and MC stages with moderate gain. The load should be above 400 Ω. Tell us your device and we'll tell you whether level and load match up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I connect the Ruby ZH to a normal MM input?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGenerally not optimally. A standard MM input delivers around 40 dB and is designed for 4 to 5 mV – the ZH's 0.7 mV stays noticeably too quiet there. You need a stage with 50 to 60 dB gain or a switchable phono preamp with an MC setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's the difference between Ruby Z and Ruby ZH?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly the output voltage, and therefore the matching phono stage. Body, ruby generator, Micro-Ridge diamond, weight and compliance are identical. The Z delivers 0.35 mV and wants over 60 dB of gain, the ZH delivers 0.7 mV and feels at home between 50 and 60 dB.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long does the Ruby ZH take to break in?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 40 hours of operation. By then the suspension loosens up, the bass gets deeper, and the treble loses the last trace of hardness. You don't need to do anything special for this – just play records and don't judge the cartridge after the first side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy buy the Benz Micro Ruby ZH at HD Zürisee?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause with the ZH, level matching decides whether the cartridge shows its potential. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil check your phono stage, mount and align the cartridge, and match load and gain. Get in touch at 044 680 22 00, via WhatsApp at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/41765342200\"\u003e076 534 22 00\u003c\/a\u003e (text only, no calls), or at shop@hdzuerisee.ch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right amplification is under \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/phono-vorverstarker\"\u003ePhono preamplifiers\u003c\/a\u003e, the turntable to go with it under \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/plattenspieler\"\u003eTurntables\u003c\/a\u003e. More cartridges are in the \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/tonabnehmer\"\u003ecartridges\u003c\/a\u003e overview, care and alignment tools under \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/alles-vinyl\"\u003eAll Vinyl\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BENZ Micro","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52989490921808,"sku":null,"price":2295.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0932\/3262\/8048\/files\/benz-micro-ruby-zh-mc-tonabnehmer-schraegansicht.jpg?v=1785439179","url":"https:\/\/hdzuerisee.ch\/en-ch\/products\/benzmicrorubyzh","provider":"HD Zürisee AG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}