reyneman
03-18-2003, 05:51 PM
This is a tough review, as I don't know how much of my opinion of this cartridge is due to the arm/table and how much is due to the cartridge, but here goes. Remember, my opinion in my system.
The Silver is mounted to an RB600 arm on a Rega P-25 TT, running through the built-in phono pre of a MF A-300.
Compared to any of my other cartridges, the Silver gives much more detail while being more forgiving of surface noise (Hey- a lot of my albums went through college with me, and I wasn't what you would call "overly sensitive" to their handling)(party down, bro).
The Silver has a detailed but not etched top, extremely accurate mids, and well controlled lows. For example, while listening to Diana Krall, all the emotion in her voice, all the stage noises around her, are heard in a natural presentation that gives a great "you are there" feeling, while nothing is emphasized or unnatural.
Listening to different blues artists, you get the full emotional effect, the poorly played and well played instruments, details aplenty, while maintaining a truely musical presentation.
I have two copies of Joe Cocker's album "With a Little Help From My Friends", bought approximately 10 years apart (A&M). I had worn out my original copy (well, 'beat it up and out' is more accurate) and wanted to replace it. I rarely listened to the second copy, putting it down to me 'evolving' past old Joe. With the Benz, I could easily tell that the newer copy was compressed and poorly produced, and was able to hear the better dynamic and overall presentation of the music from the older disc, even through the surface scratches.
Which brings up another point- the Benz is detailed, yet seems to present a 'quieter' presentation than any other cartridge I have owned.
My overall impression- smooth, dynamic, controlled, but overall the most musical and involving cartridge I have ever owned.
I highly recommend you give a listen in your system if you are in the market- at their price points, I have found Benz cartridges to be hard to beat
The Silver is mounted to an RB600 arm on a Rega P-25 TT, running through the built-in phono pre of a MF A-300.
Compared to any of my other cartridges, the Silver gives much more detail while being more forgiving of surface noise (Hey- a lot of my albums went through college with me, and I wasn't what you would call "overly sensitive" to their handling)(party down, bro).
The Silver has a detailed but not etched top, extremely accurate mids, and well controlled lows. For example, while listening to Diana Krall, all the emotion in her voice, all the stage noises around her, are heard in a natural presentation that gives a great "you are there" feeling, while nothing is emphasized or unnatural.
Listening to different blues artists, you get the full emotional effect, the poorly played and well played instruments, details aplenty, while maintaining a truely musical presentation.
I have two copies of Joe Cocker's album "With a Little Help From My Friends", bought approximately 10 years apart (A&M). I had worn out my original copy (well, 'beat it up and out' is more accurate) and wanted to replace it. I rarely listened to the second copy, putting it down to me 'evolving' past old Joe. With the Benz, I could easily tell that the newer copy was compressed and poorly produced, and was able to hear the better dynamic and overall presentation of the music from the older disc, even through the surface scratches.
Which brings up another point- the Benz is detailed, yet seems to present a 'quieter' presentation than any other cartridge I have owned.
My overall impression- smooth, dynamic, controlled, but overall the most musical and involving cartridge I have ever owned.
I highly recommend you give a listen in your system if you are in the market- at their price points, I have found Benz cartridges to be hard to beat