{"product_id":"benz-micro-zebra-h-moving-coil-tonabnehmer","title":"Benz Micro Zebra H MC Cartridge, High Output","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Benz Micro Zebra H is a high-output MC cartridge that, at 2.5 mV, works directly with a standard MM phono input.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt brings the Benz wood sound to everyone who doesn't own a high-gain MC preamp – or simply doesn't want one. Body, boron cantilever and diamond are the same as on the L and M; only the generator has more windings and delivers correspondingly more voltage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy the Zebra H?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA genuine moving coil with MM-compatible output is the most elegant shortcut to MC sound without extra electronics. The milled, vented zebrawood body and the bare, mirror-polished line-contact diamond with 3 × 60 µm radius remain unchanged – so you're not saving on the tracing stylus, only on the chain behind it. With 95 Ω internal impedance and a recommended load from 1 kΩ up, it feels at home on any clean MM input.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWarm, colourful, with the fusion Benz is known for in the midrange – without the detour via an expensive MC stage. Compared with a classic MM cartridge, the H delivers more fine detail, a calmer soundstage and noticeably more order in dense passages. The obvious step for anyone who wants to move from MM to MC level without rebuilding half the system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is the Zebra H for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor anyone with an MM phono input (47 kΩ) or an AV receiver without a dedicated MC section. \u003cstrong\u003ePlain talk:\u003c\/strong\u003e if you already own a top-class MC preamp, the Zebra L squeezes out a touch more resolution. So the H isn't the weaker Zebra – it's the one for the other kind of system. It just doesn't belong on a high-gain MC stage: there you'd overdrive the input.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most straightforward Zebra: MC construction, MM connection. For many systems, the most sensible variant, because it demands the least extra investment – and settles the question of the right phono stage along the way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical data\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eType: MC cartridge (High Output)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput voltage: 2.5 mV (at 3.54 cm\/s)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternal impedance: 95 Ω\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecommended load: 1 kΩ – 47 kΩ (MM input)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBody: zebrawood, milled and vented\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCantilever: boron, solid, 0.28 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiamond: line-contact, bare and mirror-polished, 3 × 60 µm radius\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenerator: pure iron cross armature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVTA: 20°\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrequency response: 20–20,000 Hz ±1 dB\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChannel balance: better than 0.5 dB\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChannel separation: better than 35 dB (1 kHz)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDynamic compliance: 15 µm\/mN\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTracking ability: 80 µm at 315 Hz and 2 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTracking force: 1.7–2.0 g (optimal 1.7–1.8 g)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecommended tonearm mass: medium to heavy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBreak-in time: around 40 hours\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 9.6 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes the Zebra H run on a normal MM phono input?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. With an output voltage of 2.5 mV, the Zebra H is designed for MM inputs and AV gear – you don't need a separate MC preamp. A load between 1 kΩ and 47 kΩ is recommended, so the usual MM value of 47 kΩ sits right in the middle of that window.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eZebra H or Zebra L – which is right?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat's decided by your phono stage, not the price. If you only have an MM or AV input, the H is right. If you have a low-noise MC stage from 60 dB up, the L teases out a bit more fine resolution. Construction, body and diamond are identical on both.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes a high-output MC sound worse than a low-output one?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo, just wired differently. High-output generators have more windings and therefore higher internal impedance, but in return you skip an entire amplification stage and a possible source of noise along with it. In practice, the result depends heavily on the quality of the respective phono stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow heavy is the Zebra H, and does it fit any headshell?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt weighs 9.6 g and is designed for medium-to-heavy tonearms. It sits without issue in a standard half-inch mount headshell; with very light arms you should check the resonance frequency. Send us your tonearm model and we'll give you a clear answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy buy the Zebra H at HD Zürisee?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause we look at your chain first and then recommend a variant – so you end up with the right Zebra, not the most expensive one. Mounting and alignment are handled on request by our technician Mauri in Wädenswil, and we manage the warranty properly as an authorised dealer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt suits \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/plattenspieler\"\u003eturntables\u003c\/a\u003e with an MM phono input and rounds off nicely with matching \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/kabel\"\u003ecables\u003c\/a\u003e. No phono input yet? Then you'll find what you need among the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/phono-vorverstarker\"\u003ephono preamps\u003c\/a\u003e. See the other cartridges at \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/benz-micro\"\u003eBENZ Micro\u003c\/a\u003e and under \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/alles-vinyl\"\u003eEverything Vinyl\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BENZ Micro","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53233030365520,"sku":null,"price":1785.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0932\/3262\/8048\/files\/benz-micro-zebra-h-mc-tonabnehmer-schraegansicht.png?v=1785439181","url":"https:\/\/hdzuerisee.ch\/en\/products\/benz-micro-zebra-h-moving-coil-tonabnehmer","provider":"HD Zürisee AG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}