Pairing a Benz Gullwing SLR with the AMG V12

[Kuoppis]

This is however not reminiscence of German automobile craftsmanship from Zuffenhausen, as one might suspect. It’s a new cart for the Viella.





This cart does fit my choice of TT which has been around for a while, as it is Lukaschek’s masterpiece and has also been on the market for several years already. What I like about it is that it’s getting harder to come by, especially outside Europe. And it is still great.



Despite being launched several years ago, it received yet another TAS Editors’ Choice Award in 2017, has been listed as reference cart at many publications and is still top ranked. It was also used by Zesto Audio for the launch of their new Alasso Andros Step-up transformer at RMAF 2017 and will be used at Axpona 2018.



This is also a particular fact I do enjoy about vinyl: longevity. While there is every other day a new DAC-du-jour, this is not the case with vinyl. Technology has already matured for a couple more decades. Fits with my vinyl preference for 50’s-60’s Jazz.



Reason why this is a great cart to go with the V12 is that the 22 lbs high mass platter provides steadiness, a solid foundation and great bass, allowing to maximize the music with the Gullwing’s detail retrieval capability. Paired with a warmish and detailed phono cable this is a superb combination IMHO.



Like the Gullwing logo on the cart. And btw, the sound is superb.



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[Kuoppis]

A little Feikert treatment will do wonders for the sound.




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[Kuoppis]

How does it sound? In one word: incredible.



Of course it will need approximately 40 hours of burn-in, but the detail retrieval capability is just mesmerizing. The old saying proves true again, hearing things I did not hear before.

On a jazz box guitar you cannot only hear that steel strings are played, but also whether they are round-wound or flat-wound and whether the guitarist is playing light or heavy gauge. Bass is not just bass, it’s the strings, the grip, the sliding and vibration against the neck. Brass in drums is not just cymbals, it’s a thousand shades of shimmering with a variety of strokes, brushes etc.

I will try a couple of different loads, currently running it at 500 Ohms due to its relatively low output voltage of 0.35mV.


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[aKnyght]

very nice! sounds like a spectacular cartridge -- good to know your experience here.

btw: if your nyquist is feeling neglected, i might be able to find a caring home that is willing to adopt it. ;-)

[Kuoppis]

Thank you so much, I’ll let you know in case the Nyquist feels neglected .

But yes, the Gullwing is truly spectacular. It has a standing to keep up with, and so far it does its reputation justice. Let’s see how it runs in.


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[Mikado463]

Congrats on a superb 'Swiss Choice' ! another Benz-Micro fan here as well !

[Kuoppis]

Congrats on a superb 'Swiss Choice' ! another Benz-Micro fan here as well !

Thanks Dave, Swiss choice indeed .

Nice to have fellow Benz fans on the forum. I am looking forward to see how it develops during burn-in. I guess it will become a bit smoother but will hopefully not lose any of its detail retrieval capabilities.


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[Kuoppis]

Just had this Axpona update in my inbox from Zesto Audio:

We are proud to exhibit with our wonderful industry partners:
Marten Django L speakers, Fono Acustica cables, Merrill-Williams turntable, Stillpoint rack, Tri-Planar Tonearms, Benz Micro Gullwing MC cartridge and Ortofon Cadenza Mono cartridge.

So, Zesto continues to demo with the Gullwing in 2018 as well.

[cmalak]

I have the Benz Micro Glider SL but tore off the stylus and have not sent it in to get rebuilt but loved that cartridge. The Gullwing is it’s dearer brother so I am sure it sounds great.

[Kuoppis]

I have the Benz Micro Glider SL but tore off the stylus and have not sent it in to get rebuilt but loved that cartridge. The Gullwing is it’s dearer brother so I am sure it sounds great.

I think the Gullwing will be a very good cart for me, offering great detail with a very nice overall balance. Sorry to hear you broke your Micro Glider SL.

Since the cart arrived I have been listening to a number of records and every now and then going ‘ah, that’s what they’re playing’. Great synergy with the overall system.

Just finished this, a great joy to listen to the interplay of guitar and piano of the superb Mo-Fi re-issue:





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[Kuoppis]

Basic specs: Benz-Micro Gullwing SLR
- Output voltage: 0.35mV
- Recommended tracking force: 1.8–2.0 grams
- Weight: 7.8g

Running it at 1000 Ohms now, which would have been way too much for the Cadenza, but works great with the Gullwing. And at 2.0 grams tracking force.

Another nice thing is, the Gullwing is very quiet. Just music no other noises at all.

It has been quite popular with TAS reviewers:



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[cmalak]

Kuoppis...great cart and enjoy it in good health

[Kuoppis]

Thanks Cyril, I hope you’ll get your Benz repaired some day.

The Gullwing has opened up a new vinyl dimension for me. One that I thought was possible with my system, but which I had yet to reach.

[Kuoppis]

As a record this is pretty much lounge music from the piano bar. Wesseltoft is playing more serious tunes along with popular songs adapted for solo piano.



But when the record finished, I was just about to order another two fingers. The sound from the analog rig was so real, I could have sworn there is a grand piano in front of me in the room. The sound, timbre and dimensionality, along with the keyboard touch, dynamics and corpus reverb. So real.

Quite amazing.


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[Kuoppis]

There’s this funny story about Lukaschek.

It is being told (and there is a press article about it in German as well), that over the years Lukaschek has always tested all Benz Micro carts himself before they are released for sales.

While that is not a bad thing as such, as the story goes, he has always used only one album to test them: Going Home. Therefore he has listened an estimated 50.000 times to this album. Must be a good one, I guess.

As I found this story so funny, I also ordered the vinyl to test my Gullwing with it.



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[wisnon]

Congrats, now you have an AMG Benz! Just not the road driving kind! LoL

What is that instrument from Feikert for? I am a vinyl novice.

[audio.bill]

There’s this funny story about Lukaschek.

It is being told (and there is a press article about it in German as well), that over the years Lukaschek has always tested all Benz Micro carts himself before they are released for sales.

While that is not a bad thing as such, as the story goes, he has always used only one album to test them: Going Home. Therefore he has listened an estimated 50.000 times to this album. Must be a good one, I guess.

As I found this story so funny, I also ordered the vinyl to test my Gullwing with it.



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That is an exceptionally well recorded direct to disc album with great dynamics, perfect to use as a testing reference!

[Kuoppis]

Congrats, now you have an AMG Benz! Just not the road driving kind! LoL

What is that instrument from Feikert for? I am a vinyl novice.

Hi Norman, the Feikert Protractor is a high quality tool for cartridge setup.

In order to get the best sound from your vinyl system, setup accuracy is pretty crucial. There are a number of things to watch like exact alignment of the cart with the record surface relative to tonearm length, tonearm horizontal angle, cart VTA (vertical angle) and tracking force, anti-skating etc.

As the cart makes an arc when traveling over the record surface when you play it, angle to the vinyl groove will be different between start, middle and end of the record. The Feikert Protractor helps to adjust and optimize this very accurately.


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[Kuoppis]

That is an exceptionally well recorded direct to disc album with great dynamics, perfect to use as a testing reference!

That’s good to hear, I’m looking forward to listen to it in my setup.

I am not surprised though, Lukaschek definitely knows what he is doing . The Gullwing is absolutely superb.


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[Kuoppis]

This is part of the Benz purchase, finally arrived: the Lukaschek test recording.



As Bill indicated, superb recording quality, great dynamics and of course great play.


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