{"product_id":"benz-micro-ebony-l-mc-tonabnehmer-low-output","title":"Benz Micro Ebony L MC Cartridge, Low Output","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Benz Micro Ebony L is a handcrafted Swiss moving-coil cartridge with low output voltage and a body made of solid ebony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBenz Micro builds its cartridges by hand in Switzerland. For the Ebony series, designer Albert Lukaschek winds a low-impedance cross-coil generator and sets it into a body machined from Mozambique ebony. The dense natural wood absorbs resonances, and the low internal impedance of 5 Ω keeps the background quiet – provided the phono stage behind it is a good match.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy the Ebony L?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause it renders tonal colours as naturally as only a few cartridges manage. The mirror-polished Micro-Ridge diamond (5 × 120 µm) reads the finest structures out of the groove, and the rigid boron cantilever transmits every movement to the coil without delay. Voices and wooden instruments gain body and warmth without details falling by the wayside. If you thought your record collection was tapped out, this cartridge is happy to prove you wrong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA low-output MC cartridge for high-quality MC phono stages, each unit shipped with its own individual measurement protocol from the Swiss workshop. Ebony body, iron cross-coil, bare Micro-Ridge diamond on solid boron cantilever. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil we're happy to mount and align the cartridge on your tonearm on request – including matching it to your phono stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is the Ebony L suited for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStraight talk: the Ebony L is for people who find many modern MC cartridges too technocratic and cool – here, naturalness comes first. At 0.26 mV it needs a low-noise MC preamp with decent gain; anyone with only a simple combined input won't get the full picture and is better served by the Ebony M or H. On medium-to-heavy tonearms it performs at its best, on very light arms the matching gets sporty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Ebony L is the sensible recommendation for anyone who finds many modern MC cartridges too cool-sounding. Ebony and the low-impedance cross-coil generator render tonal colours warm and calm without leaving details behind – provided a low-noise MC preamp stands behind it. If you value naturalness over analytics, this cartridge will keep you at the record player, relaxed, for a long time.\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), Low Output\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenerator:\u003c\/strong\u003e low-impedance iron cross-coil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOutput voltage:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.26 mV (at 3.54 cm\/s)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInternal impedance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5 Ω\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended load impedance:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u0026gt; 50 Ω\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, 0.28 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mozambique ebony\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChannel separation:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u0026gt; 35 dB (1 kHz)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompliance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14 µm\/mN\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTracking force:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.6 – 1.9 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVTA:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20°\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10.7 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOptimal operating temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 23 °C\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\u003eWhat tracking force is ideal for the Benz Micro Ebony L?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBenz specifies 1.6 to 1.9 g. In our workshop in Wädenswil we usually set the cartridge towards the upper end, around 1.8 g – that's where tracking and dynamics are best balanced. We're happy to do the fine adjustment on your tonearm for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDo I need an MC phono stage for the Ebony L?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. With 0.26 mV output voltage and 5 Ω internal impedance, the Ebony L belongs on a low-noise MC input. Benz recommends a load from 50 Ω upwards. On a pure MM input it stays too quiet – there, the Ebony H is the right variant of the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does the Micro-Ridge stylus profile mean?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Micro-Ridge diamond has a very narrow, elongated contact area that mimics the shape of the cutting stylus. That lets it pick up even the finest information from the groove and spread the tracking force over a larger area – more detail and, at the same time, less wear on your records.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy buy the Benz Micro Ebony L at HD Zürisee?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause an MC cartridge lives on being set up correctly. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil we mount the Ebony L, adjust tracking force, VTA and azimuth, and match it to your tonearm and phono stage. Call us at 044 680 22 00 or write via WhatsApp to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/41765342200\"\u003e076 534 22 00\u003c\/a\u003e (text only, no calls).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right turntable is in our \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/plattenspieler\"\u003eturntables\u003c\/a\u003e, the amplification it needs in \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/phono-vorverstarker\"\u003ephono preamplifiers\u003c\/a\u003e. More cartridges from the brand are in the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/benz-micro\"\u003eBENZ Micro\u003c\/a\u003e overview, alternative cartridges in the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/tonabnehmer\"\u003ecartridges\u003c\/a\u003e list, and care accessories under \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/alles-vinyl\"\u003eAll Vinyl\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BENZ Micro","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52989490659664,"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-ebony-l-mc-tonabnehmer-schraegansicht.jpg?v=1785439144","url":"https:\/\/hdzuerisee.ch\/en\/products\/benz-micro-ebony-l-mc-tonabnehmer-low-output","provider":"HD Zürisee AG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}