Norman Audio

Benz Micro Glider S Phono Cartridge

“It’s not just the superlative tonal balance and unstoppable trackability of the medium output (0.8mV) Glider SM that allows it to cop the Affordable Phono Cartridge of the Year honors, there’s also the Glider’s addictive inner detail and reassuring dash of warmth and pure lusciousness in the lower mids and bass. Don’t forget a presence and a treble range that are enriched with air and harmonic delicacy but steer completely clear of the dreaded etch and dryness of many mc’s, past and present. For those searching for the business end of a playback system that’s as musically expressive as it is honest, the Glider will set any system soaring.” – Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound, on the Glider SM, the 2009 Affordable Phono Cartridge of the Year

The famous Benz Micro Glider S, originally introduced in 1993, now features the Benz Micro Ridge stylus and is available in three outputs: L, M or H. Its open air design, medium compliance and 6.8-gram weight make it ideal on a very wide range of tonearms, one of the many reasons for its incredible success. The Glider SL is .4mV at 3.54cm/sec with a coil impedance of 12 ohms, perfectly suited for moving coil phono stages with 60dB or higher gain. The SM is .8mV and 24 ohms, designed for less efficient systems and tube phono stages with gains between 45 – 58dB. The SH (2.5mV at 3.54cm/sec) is among the best high output moving coils ever made, ideal for moving magnet type phono stages, low gain tube phono stages and AV systems. The lower mass coils and matched cantilevers of the new S Class retain their real world output levels and with their improved styli, offer higher performance.

Specifications

Output Voltage (3.54 Cm/sec)2.5 (Glider SH), .8 (Glider SM), .4 (Glider SL)
Stylus ShapeMicro Ridge
Internal Ohms90 (Glider SH), 24 (Glider SM), 12 (Glider SL)
Loading Range>1,000 (Glider SH), >240 (Glider SM), >120 (Glider SL)
Weight6.8 grams
Compliance14 (Glider SH), 14 (Glider SM), 15 (Glider SL)
Tracking1.6 – 1.9 grams

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