Oracle Audio Corinth Reference Phono Cartridge

The Oracle Audio Corinth Reference is a low-output moving coil cartridge built by Benz Micro Switzerland exclusively for Oracle. Its zebrawood body, square ruby coil plate, and nude line-contact diamond on a solid boron cantilever extract detail that most cartridges in this range leave in the groove. Frequency response stretches from 10Hz to 50kHz, giving it headroom that keeps the top end open and effortless without thinning out the midrange.

Key Features of the Oracle Audio Corinth Reference

• Benz Micro Switzerland Build: Designed and manufactured by one of the most respected cartridge makers in the world, exclusively for Oracle Audio.
• Zebrawood Body: Vented, machined zebrawood housing controls resonance without deadening the signal, giving this cartridge its distinctive tonal character.
• Solid Boron Cantilever: 0.28mm boron rod transmits stylus motion with minimal energy loss and excellent rigidity.
• Nude Line-Contact Diamond: Mirror-polished, fine line-contact profile (3 x 60 μm) reads deeper into the groove wall for superior detail retrieval and lower distortion.
• Square Ruby Jewel Coil Plate: Low-mass coil assembly mounted on a ruby jewel plate for precise alignment and minimal moving mass.
• Extended Bandwidth: 10Hz to 50,000Hz frequency response covers the full audible range and well beyond.
• Low Output (0.34 mV): Requires a quality MC phono stage for proper gain. Pairs naturally with Oracle's own PH200 MkIII or PH100 MkIII.

Oracle and Benz Micro: A Purpose-Built Partnership

Oracle Audio doesn't rebrand off-the-shelf cartridges. The Corinth Reference, Corinth, and Thalia are all designed from the ground up by Benz Micro in Switzerland specifically for Oracle's turntable platform. Every element, from the generator assembly to the body material, is selected to complement the Delphi MkVII's suspension and bearing characteristics. The result is a cartridge that works as part of a system rather than a standalone component dropped into an arbitrary setup.

Corinth Reference Body and Resonance Control

The vented zebrawood body is what separates the Corinth Reference from the rest of Oracle's cartridge lineup. Zebrawood is denser and more rigid than the ebony used in the standard Corinth and Thalia, which shifts the resonant frequency higher and tightens bass definition. The venting pattern machined into the body allows the internal air volume to breathe, preventing pressure buildup that can color the sound. At 16.4 grams, the Corinth Reference is heavier than its siblings, making it a better match for medium to high-mass tonearms.

Generator Assembly

The heart of the Corinth Reference is its low-output moving coil generator. The coils are wound on a square ruby jewel plate, a technique Benz Micro uses in their highest-tier designs. Ruby is extremely hard and dimensionally stable, which means the coil geometry stays precise over the life of the cartridge. The solid boron cantilever connects the nude line-contact diamond directly to this assembly, keeping the mechanical path short and rigid. Output is 0.34 mV at 3.54 cm/s with 38 ohms internal impedance, so it wants a proper MC-capable phono stage with enough gain to work without excessive noise.

Explore the Oracle Audio Cartridge Lineup

The Corinth Reference is the flagship of Oracle's three-cartridge lineup. All three are built by Benz Micro Switzerland, but each targets a different system and listener:

• Oracle Audio Thalia - High-output moving coil (2.5 mV) with ebony body. Works with MM phono stages, making it the most versatile entry point into Oracle's cartridge range.
• Oracle Audio Corinth - Low-output moving coil (0.4 mV) with ebony body. Same generator philosophy as the Corinth Reference but at a lower price point.

The Listening Room Difference

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Oracle Audio Corinth Reference Specifications