Cartridge Loading

what is the suggested range from Benz?
You may want to start with 1k since that is the stock load from a Benz phono amp.
However, everyone above is right. MC cartridges can "potentially" sound the best, but only if the right work is done.They are not plug and play.This is one of the reasons that MC builders also make their own step-up or phono section. So if you bought a Benz Lukushek you would probably be alright, but not necessarily optimized.
Loading is all part of what I call "the charm of analog".
With a good analog rig, there is so much to do;VTA,VTF,azimuth,loading,are all part of the fun.And all worth the trouble.
Indeed, some of us, see this as a opportunity to experiment and strive for more knowledge and better sound.

If you want plug and play,get a CD player.
but you will lose the charm,,and the sound.

have fun it's a hobby

e

I agree with Dertonarm.

I am currently experiencing my first go at loading with a lomc.
I have a Benz Gold on a VPI HMW 19/Audioquest-Jelco arm going to a NAD PP2.the rest of the system is:
Audio Alchemy DLC line stage
Hafler 220 power amp
Acoustat model 2 electrostatics
Morrow Audio MA1 interconnects
Anti Cable speaker cables

The NAD comes with a load of 100ohm.I did some research and found out that the load resistors are in R50 and R60 on the PCB. I replaced the 100ohm with 1kohm.The sound was immediately much better.So being the warm blooded American boy I am I tried 10kohms.
Now we are really talking good here. I know this gear is old and/or cheap, but my ears are not inexperienced and I think this is one of the best sounds I have heard EVER!
The inner details are as good as I have ever heard.
The dynamics are much more dynamic,there is so much more texture and refinement.Still smooth, still has bass heft and authority only more controlled and defined.
The sound stage is wider,taller, and much deeper.I believe that a big part of this is that the sound floor is significantly lower.
I call this, beginners luck.But never the less, if the charm of vinyl had not beckoned,I would never had done it, and had missed out on so much enjoyment.
This is why we do this hobby.

e

Listen and learn.
I decided to try going back down on the loading.I went back to 1k after going all the way up to 47k.
While listening to choral music;I started noticing that every time a word ended with "s" it had a strident snake like sound.So I went down to 10k then 1k.The snakes went away and the mids jumped right out!

Next stop 450k.

e

Just changed my whole setup. I just finished building a SUT MC tranformer(I plan on starting a string on DIY SUT). The setting that I am using comes to 200 ohm.
This transformer just took my analog rig to another level.
Much better dynamics,lower sound floor,more extended frequency response.Individual instruments and voices are much more coherent.
Micro and macro details like I have never had.
This is fun.
It feels like I have a whole new library of music to listen to.
Sorry for going a little off topic,but analog is so much fun.

e

George,I forgot to answer your question. Of course there is no simple answer but I will say that the Lukashek phono stage by Benz comes loaded at 1000ohm.So that might be a good place to start.

e

I have been told by a friend with a Benz Lukashek phono stage that the stock loading is 22k.If so I stand corrected.