Benz Ebony LP loading

Hello Stringreen, and merry Christmas to you, and all here.

How many hours have you figured you've logged on the Benz LP so far? Have you tried any VTA adjustments since going to 47K (I assume you have)

With my VPI SDS, one can keep track of hours played per given Cartridge. There is an hour meter within the Unit. All I did with mine, was see how many hours there was before my new Ruby 3 was installed, and just subtract that number from the total.

My new Ruby 3 sounded so bad when new, I certanly thought it was defective, it didn't even sound as good as my old Glider HO.

I estimate-guess (haven't looked at the SDS lately) my Ruby 3 has about 35 hours on it, and it's just starting to be a bit more enjoyable to listen to, and filling out some. Did you note a lengthy break-in with the Ebony H?

Do you know what gain setting you are currently set to with the Ayre?

The different resistors you ordered may help. Perhaps some middle of the road loading between 1000k-47K may do the trick? If ya got the Cardas Sweep-Burn LP, maybe run it for an hour, or so, I did with the Ruby for an hour, and its sound did seem to improve after.
Mark

Stringeen, with my Ruby 3, which possesses I believe the same gain, .34mv, I too am using 60db Gain on my Sutherland PhD. This is the highest gain setting on the Stock Gain Boards, but I do have the High Gain Boards, which are 62, 64, 66, 68, and did try these Boards when the Cartridge was brand spanking new.

It truthfully didn't seem like I was overdriving the Sutherland, or getting a too raw, or hot sound with just very minor gain differences, but I myself "may" go back to the drawing board trying these again, as well as trying a different loading, going from 1000K to 47K just for the hell of it?

The only logical conclusion I can come to..... Is that Benz, with thier new iteration of Cartridges perhaps did something that maybe sounds good on paper, (different materials for Cantilever Suspension, and/or the supposed improvement they made holding the Cantilever) but perhaps was a design-performance flaw?

If they did somehow screw up, doubtful they would be notifying customers to return thier Cartridges for exchange, etc.

While my Ruby 3, as you know is right beneath your LP, and sounds OK-pretty decent, IMO it neither knocks my socks off as of yet, which it should for the price, and IMO too, lacks some of the qualities (slam, midrange beauty, and balance) my much cheaper Benz Glider HO possessed.

Seems like this Cartridge does surprise me at times, depending on the recording, and seems a bit more "picky-particular" with recordings than the Glider was.
It seems to be said, that a low output MC perhaps puts a Phono Stage to a more critical test than a high output Cartridge does?

I would assume as well, after 150 hours of play, your Cartridge "should've" bloomed, and broken in by now? Mark

Hello Audioquest,
I got a little confused at the end of your post with VTF recommendations? I'm thinking the Benz LP requires identical VTF, to my Ruby 3, and going my memory here, factory suggested range is I believe 1.8g-2.2g, correct? Are you then suggesting going perhaps lighter than 1.8g? To like what? 1.7g, or 1.6g?

I'm currently at 1.9g with the Ruby 3, and perhaps will remain here a little bit longer until I have some more hours on it. Then, as Doug Deacon suggested in another thread, I'll begin backing off VTF slowly, and listen carefully. It's a PITA with the Expressimo Weight on my Arm, dealing with a locking Allen Screw on the Weight, and there's not much room left on the Arm Stub to try Doug's suggested O-Ring trick to ever so slightly. lighten VTF.

I'm not trying to in any way hijack this thread from Stringreen, but figuring since our Cartridges are "very close brothers", we both may have mucho in common, and both have something to gain by folk's suggested advice here. Thanks all, Mark