ACE S
ACE – S
Advanced Cartridge Engineering—or ACE for short—is the latest offering from the Swiss manufacturer. It combines features found in higher-end models, such as a cartridge based on the circuit used in the GLIDER S, and an anti-resonance housing designed in the same form as that used in the WOOD S model. Years of experience in manufacturing top-quality MC cartridges have allowed the engineers at BENZ MICRO to find the “golden mean” between the uncompromising solutions used in the WOOD S model and the technologically justified simplifications employed in the GOLDZ. The result is a cartridge that combines the features of top-of-the-line products with a price accessible to most audiophiles. A guarantee of the highest quality is the fact that the ACE S is hand-assembled at the company’s headquarters in Neuhausen, where the entire production process is identical to that used for the manufacturer’s reference systems.
Like the rest of the cartridges manufactured by BENZ MICRO, the ACE S features a moving-coil design. It is available with three different output voltage levels, allowing it to be optimally matched to your preamplifier or your individual preferences. Like the higher-end models, the ACE S is highly compatible with various types of tonearms, even those with high effective mass. This does not mean, however, that it is a universal cartridge that delivers excellent results in every setup. It is important to remember that the sound produced by a turntable is determined by the quality of all its components, not just the cartridge itself.
Compared to the previous version, the ACE S series cartridges feature a revised stylus groove (Micro Ridge) and an improved pickup with a suspension system.
Drawing on the finest traditions of BENZ MICRO, the ACE S delivers a sound full of vigor and life, allowing you to savor even the subtlest nuances of the composition and performance, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of the recording.
Technical Specifications:
| Parameter | ACE S L | ACE S M | ACE S H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Level | Low | Medium | High |
| Output voltage | 0.4 mV | 0.8 mV | 2.5 mV |
| Bracket / drill rod | 0.28 mm | 0.28 mm | 0.28 mm |
| Needle | Micro Ridge | Micro Ridge | Micro Ridge |
| Coil | cross | cross | cross |
| Needle Dimensions | 5 × 120 µm | 5 × 120 µm | 5 × 120 µm |
| Internal impedance | 12 Ω | 24 Ω | 90 Ω |
| Load Capacity | >100 Ω | >200 Ω | >1000 Ω |
| Weight | 8.8 g | 8.8 g | 8.8 g |
| Compilation | 15 µm/mN | 14 µm/mN | 14 µm/mN |
| Pressure force | 1.6 – 1.9 g | 1.6 – 1.9 g | 1.6 – 1.9 g |
| VTA | 20° | 20° | 20° |
| Channel Balancing | >0.5 dB | >0.5 dB | >0.5 dB |
| Channel Separation / 1 kHz | >35 dB | >35 dB | >35 dB |
| Frequency response ±1 dB | 20 – 20000 Hz | 20 – 20000 Hz | 20 – 20000 Hz |
Due to the manufacturing process, the electrical parameters listed above are average values