Benz Micro Frequently Asked Questions

Is Benz Micro Still In business?

Yes! Benz Micro has been in business and producing cartridges under the ownership and direction of Albert Lukaschek since 1994. Production has never stopped during this time, although between 2018 and 2020 there was no US distribution of Benz Micro cartridges in the USA. This temporary lack of availability led to rumors about the company being defunct, which were untrue. To this day production continues with many of the original employees still at the firm, and Albert still checking each cartridge individually.

Who is Albert Lukaschek?

Albert Lukaschek is the owner and chief engineer of Benz Micro Switzerland. Albert has operated Benz Micro since he took over the company in 1994 and continues to operate under very strict production standards to this day.

Who was Ernst Benz?

Ernst Benz was the founder and namesake of Benz Micro, who sold the company to Mr. Lukaschek in 1994. He was an engineer, watch maker, aviator, and long-time friend and advisor to Albert Lukaschek. Ernst passed away in 2014 at the age of 82.

Why are Benz Micro cartridges often on backorder?

Benz Micro cartridges are all truly hand-made. Every part must be finished, polished, tested, and assembled in-house. Coils in particular are painstakingly wound by hand to ensure each wire strand is perfectly aligned with the next. Finally, cartridges must sit for 2 weeks in order for suspension materials to “relax”, after which time Mr. Lukaschek personally auditions each cartridges and makes adjustments as needed. This is a slow process, and as such certain parts run out from time to time creating backorders.

Can I order the Benz ACE, or MC Gold/Silver?

No, unfortunately both the ACE and MC Silver/Gold product lines are discontinued

Can I have my old Benz cartridge repaired?

It depends. Sierra Sound does not directly facilitate the repairs of customer-owned cartridges. Rather than hold on to other people’s property for unknown times and with sometimes unclear costs, we instead offer a trade-in program in which you can purchase a brand new Benz Micro at a discount when trading in your old cartridge. Trade-ins are then sent back to Switzerland to be fully factory refurbished, after which they are returned to Sierra Sound. These “factory refurb” units can also be exchanged against your worn out or damaged cartridge, depending on availability, for approximately the cost of a repair. Availability of factory refurbs is always changing, so contact your dealer or Sierra Sound to find out the current options.

Is it true that Benz Micro cartridges don’t work well with Step up transformers?

This is a somewhat old piece of conventional wisdom, based on the relatively high coil impedance of some Benz Micro models such as the SLR, Ruby, and LP-S. These models use a special non-ferrous ruby plate generator, which requires more coil wingdings than usual to achieve the correct output, resulting in higher impedance. Many people prefer to use SUTs with lower impedance cartridges. Benz Micro makes both the Ref-S and Ebony TR (special order) with exactly this in mind, as these models use a traditional generator with very low impedance. All of this being said, there is a new way of thinking that de-emphasizes the importance of load impedance. While we don’t take an official position at Sierra Sound, we have broken the rules a number of times with apparent impedance mismatching, and have achieved excellent musical results.

How should I set VTA with Benz Micro cartridges?

Again there is some conventional wisdom that exists regarding Benz Micro and VTA. Many people prefer the sound of the cartridges with a slightly negative VTA. This means that the pivot area of the tonearm is slightly lower than the headshell, usually not by more than 1-2mm. However, as Benz Micro cartridges are all completely hand-crafted, there can sometimes be sample-to-sample variation that will result in better sound being achieved from either a neutral or slightly positive VTA setting. The final result will also depend on listener preference and system synergy. Our advice is to start by setting VTA at a neutral position, check tracking force, and then listen. Next, lower VTA slightly, always double checking tracking force after any change, and listen again. If tonal clarity and image focus increases, keep the new setting or repeat the adjustment by slightly lowering more. If the sound did not improve, adjust in the opposite direction until you hear the maximum clarity of tone. Always check tracking force as the final and most critical parameter of any setup.

What if I have other questions?

Please send us a message through our contact page!