Benz Micro Glider SL or Acoustical Systems Fidelis Cartridge

I had a Glider. Wonderful cartridge. There is always a balance with every component, no one can ever have it all. Inevitably something gets a little more emphasis than something else. Top end extension, bottom end, dynamics, whatever. Benz to my ear gets it just right. So you can always find something better for more money, but it will be hard to find something more pleasing, and even spending a lot more is no guarantee. 

That is why when I upgraded from the Glider it was to another Benz, the Ruby H. The last upgrade was to my current Koetsu Black Goldline. I cannot honestly say there was a distinct difference between any of these. What I mean is the Glider had everything the Koetsu has- detail, dynamics, extension, feeling, etc- just not nearly as much. This to me is a huge compliment on the Glider. 

One of the main things to watch out for in any component, cartridge or otherwise, is sins of commission. Nothing ever does it all. But if what it does is missing a little something, that is a whole lot easier to live with than if it is doing something it shouldn't. I never heard the Glider doing anything it shouldn't.

Highly recommended.

Thanks MC, I appreciate your candid straight forward answer, I haven't known many people with the Benz Glider, but you gave me an answer that I will definitely consider when I finally decide on a cartridge. 

I started out with a Glider L2, 15 years ago. It was wonderful, and I didn’t upgrade for 2 years. The current SL model will be even better. All Benz cartridges have a great sound - more leaning towards "musical, natural" than "analytical, technical". Not quite all the way to a Koetsu’s lush rich sound, but at least halfway there and with a nice vibrant energy up top (not too much though - it has nice clean treble) that is relatively attenuated on Koetsu. The Acoustical Systems looks interesting, but I think it’s going to be a LOT harder to find users with experience on that cartridge then a Glider. I didn’t even know it existed until now. I do have AS’s SMARTractor and it works great, so I’m sure they make a nice cartridge product too.