{"product_id":"benz-micro-zebra-l-moving-coil-tonabnehmer","title":"Benz Micro Zebra L MC Cartridge, Low Output","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Benz Micro Zebra L is a low-output MC cartridge in a solid zebrawood body, handmade in Switzerland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt combines the body of the Ruby Z series with the generator of the classic Wood models – the combination Benz has always stood for: warm, colourful, full-bodied, without sweeping details under the rug. At 0.4 mV, the L is the most uncompromising variant in the Zebra family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy the Zebra L?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZebrawood is denser than the usual cartridge body woods, and that's exactly the point: the milled, vented body controls resonances instead of just masking them. Add a solid 0.28 mm boron cantilever and a bare, mirror-polished line-contact diamond with a 3 × 60 µm radius – a combination that sits deep in the groove without ever turning hard. The pure iron cross armature delivers the typical Benz warmth. 0.4 mV in plain terms means full fine resolution, provided a low-noise MC stage stands behind it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA large, calm soundstage with cleanly layered edges, midrange with substance, and bass that has contour rather than just weight. The Zebra L never works in an analytical, cold way – it draws you in instead of showing off the technology. Classical, jazz and acoustic vocals are its home turf, but densely mixed rock doesn't unravel on it either.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is the Zebra L for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor vinyl fans with a low-noise MC phono stage offering around 60 dB of gain or more, and a medium-to-heavy tonearm. \u003cstrong\u003ePlain talk:\u003c\/strong\u003e if you only have an MM input or a modestly sized phono stage, go for the Zebra M or H instead. At the wrong input you throw away exactly the calm and dynamics you bought the L for in the first place – and end up blaming a noise that the cartridge never caused.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wood-sound classic in its most accessible form: plenty of Benz character, easy to pair, and good-looking enough that you'll be reluctant to hide it under the headshell. If your phono stage plays along, the L is the Zebra variant with the most headroom upwards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical data\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eType: MC cartridge (Low Output)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput voltage: 0.4 mV (at 3.54 cm\/s)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternal impedance: 12 Ω\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecommended load: 100 Ω – 47 kΩ\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\u003eWhat phono stage does the Zebra L need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA genuine MC phono stage with around 60 dB of gain or more and a load between 100 Ω and 47 kΩ. With an output voltage of 0.4 mV, the Zebra L is a low-output cartridge – a plain MM input simply doesn't deliver enough level. Which load value suits your chain is something we're happy to work out with you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's the difference between Zebra L, M and H?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly output voltage and internal impedance: L delivers 0.4 mV at 12 Ω, M 0.8 mV at 24 Ω, H 2.5 mV at 95 Ω. Body, boron cantilever, line-contact diamond and generator principle are identical. So the choice depends on your phono stage, not on sound character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes the Zebra L fit my tonearm?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith a weight of 9.6 g and a dynamic compliance of 15 µm\/mN, it's designed for medium-to-heavy tonearms – which covers the large majority. With very lightweight arms, it's worth checking the resonance frequency. Tell us your tonearm and we'll run the numbers with you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long does the Zebra L need to break in?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBenz states around 40 hours of playing time until the suspension reaches its final state. During this phase, bass and imaging noticeably open up. So don't judge the cartridge after the first side of a record – it needs a few evenings to settle in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy buy the Zebra L at HD Zürisee?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause a cartridge only shows what it's made of with the right phono stage and clean alignment. We work with you to find the right combination, our technician Mauri handles fitting and alignment on request, and you buy from an authorised dealer in Wädenswil instead of anonymously online.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA low-noise \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/phono-vorverstarker\"\u003eMC phono preamp\u003c\/a\u003e, a high-quality \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/plattenspieler\"\u003eturntable\u003c\/a\u003e and a clean \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/kabel\"\u003ephono cable\u003c\/a\u003e all go well with it. You'll find more models at \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/benz-micro\"\u003eBENZ Micro\u003c\/a\u003e, all cartridges under \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/tonabnehmer\"\u003eCartridges\u003c\/a\u003e and the rest of the chain under \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/alles-vinyl\"\u003eEverything Vinyl\u003c\/a\u003e. Not sure about the combination? Call us or send us a message.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BENZ Micro","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53233029710160,"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-l-mc-tonabnehmer-schraegansicht.png?v=1785439173","url":"https:\/\/hdzuerisee.ch\/en\/products\/benz-micro-zebra-l-moving-coil-tonabnehmer","provider":"HD Zürisee AG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}