Benz Micro Empire MC 5

Very interesting - Thanks. I am using the Benz Micro Ebony High Output and think it's a killer.

I received this awnser form Starboy, thanks:

"I'll throw some info in no particular order....

1) Quotes from HIFI+ Issue 37

RG: When did you produce a cartridge to your own design, as opposed to copying someone else's?

VDH: That was in 1982, a cartridge called the DDT.

RG: The model screwed together metal body that looks like, the Benz Micro?

VDH: That's right it was originally by Benz Micro and he was going to pay me a royalty for each cartridge produced. However, he was injured in a car accident and forced as a result to sell his company. Mr Lucashek as a result did not feel himself bound by the agreement so I never received my royalties, but I continued to order the various parts and bodies from him. However we no longer shared technical information and I started to have internal elements made elsewhere, so from this point onwards, although the cartridges look externally similar their internal design started to diverge as we each followed our own development path.

2) Stereophile 1990 March
Close inspection of the Benz MC-3, the top model in the line, reveal a body shell identical (except in color) to that of the VDH MC-1 and MC-10. Swiss designer Ernst Benz has apparently been heavily involved in the design and build of the VDH pick-ups (The design appears to have been a collaboration effort of A.J. Van Den Hul and Ernst Benz) since the original MC-1000 (marketed in this country by Empire - at the same time owned by Benz - in the early 1980's)

The MC-One was clearly the MC-3 sonic stablemate, but the latter was just slightly better integrated and more transparent. Both are clearly class A pickups.

3) Ernst Benz was an engineer working and developing delicate instrumentation (such as accelerometers) for CalTech in the '60's, and later managed an industrial jewel company in Switzerland manufacturing timepiece and industrial jewels as well as sapphire phonograph needles. He formed his own company in the early '70's, with the desire to produce a superior diamond phonograph stylus. To further facilitate this, he developed a high temperature vacuum furnace for bonding diamond to sapphire (for which he was awarded a patent). Throughout the '70's, Benz Micro became one of the largest suppliers of diamond styli in the world, providing support for such companies as Ortofon, Philips, Pickering, ADC, Audio Technica, and Empire (which was later acquired by Benz).

In the '80's, Benz utilized his knowledge and specialized manufacturing skills in developing a series of extremely high quality moving coil cartridges. The introduction of the Benz Micro MC-3 in 1985 was pivotal for the company, as this cartridge was immediately recognized as one of the finest cartridges of its time.

My guess is when Benz took over Empire the model numbers were basically interchanged but were completely different transducers internally.

I own the the MC-3 and was tempted to purchase the Empire when I saw them on E-Bay. I also play a Supex 900 Super and I do agree that detail is not its strongest point but cohesive musicality is where it scores highly.

If I find out more I'll let you know..."

But still, anyone who knows anything about the Empire Moving coil cartridges from the 80´s and the early 90´s?