AUDIO ORIGAMI BLOG

Benz Micro LP-S

The Heavyweight Romantic MC Cartridge


We’ve lived with the LP-S for about a year now, and it never stays off our turntables for long - its charm is undeniable and its character downright addictive. We’ve held off writing about it until now though, because it’s not the simplest cartridge to set up, and it truly shines only with a phono stage that offers loading in the 500–1,000 ohm range. With that caveat in mind, let’s dive into the review.


When a cartridge tips the scales at over 16 grams, you know it’s not designed to play it safe. The Benz Micro LP-S is just that: a statement piece from Switzerland that combines precision engineering with an unapologetically lush voicing. Wrapped in ebony and anchored by a hefty brass frame, the LP-S has a physical and sonic gravitas that sets it apart in today’s MC cartridge landscape.



The sound: warm, lush, and endlessly deep


The LP-S doesn’t strive for hyper-clinical neutrality. On the contrary, it is voiced for seduction. Midrange textures have a warmth and saturation that recall tube amplification at its best. Strings are resinous and full-bodied, vocals glow with human presence, and pianos resonate with harmonic weight. The soundstage isn’t just wide - it’s deep, with layers that recede naturally into the acoustic, creating a holographic, wrap-around sense of space.


Bass is powerful and full, but here’s where setup becomes critical. Out of the box, some listeners may find the bottom end a touch too ripe. The solution? Loading at 1,000 ohms or higher. Benz recommends anything over 400 ohms, but in practice, we found that pushing the load up to 1 kΩ reined in bass bloom, sharpened the timing, and added a measure of agility to the LP-S’s presentation.



A cartridge that grows on you


The LP-S is also a “grower.” At first listen it may seem a bit "dull" compared to ultra-analytical MCs. Give it time...literally. It takes a solid 50-75 hours of play before the suspension fully loosens, the tonal colours saturate, and the sound blossoms into something truly special. With break-in complete, the LP-S becomes a cartridge that encourages long listening sessions, never fatiguing and always musical.



Setup notes


Its 16-gram body and medium compliance make it happiest in medium-to-high mass arms. We found that tracking at around 1.95 grams locks in the best balance of control and ease, though a careful ±0.05 g adjustment can make all the difference. VTA is best set level and loading should be experimented with. Start at 500 ohms, then move up into the 1 kΩ region and beyond until bass and treble balance click into focus.


If the bass still sounds a little bloomy, raise the VTA by about 2 mm - you’ll find it tightens up nicely.



THE VERDICT


The Benz LP-S isn’t about surgical detail or the analytical dissection of records. Instead, it’s about immersion - a richly coloured, deeply dimensional presentation that pulls you into the music and refuses to let go. It’s the kind of cartridge that makes you want to listen all night and into the morning, simply because everything feels more alive, more human, and more emotionally engaging.


Yes, it demands care in setup and at least 50 hours of run-in before it reveals its full potential, but the rewards are immense: a soundstage of cavernous depth, timbres drenched in tonal colour, and bass that balances warmth with definition once properly loaded.


At £2,700, it represents something of a bargain in today’s high-end cartridge market. Many competitors at two or three times the price can sound cooler, leaner, and far less engaging. In the right arm, with the right phono stage, the LP-S proves itself not just a fine cartridge, but one of the most musically satisfying transducers you can own.




Specifications: Benz Micro LP-S


  • Type: Low-output moving coil
  • Output voltage:  0.34 mV
  • Internal impedance: 38 Ω
  • Recommended load: >400 Ω
  • Stylus: MicroRidge, 5 × 120 µm
  • Cantilever: Solid boron, 0.28 mm
  • Body/frame: Ebony wood with brass frame
  • Weight: 16.4 g
  • Compliance: 15 µm/mN
  • Tracking force range: 1.8–2.2 g
  • Tracking ability: 80 µm @ 315 Hz, 2.0 g
  • Frequency response: 10–50,000 Hz ±1 dB
  • Channel balance: ≤0.5 dB
  • Channel separation: ≥35 dB @ 1 kHz
  • Optimum arm mass: Medium to high
  • Break-in period: ~50 hours
  • Warranty: 2 years