The Kuzma CAR 40 is a low‑output moving‑coil phono cartridge that combines a massively inert body with advanced generator and stylus engineering to deliver neutral, wide‑bandwidth, low‑distortion vinyl playback.
Design and construction
The CAR 40 is built around a machined housing that combines aluminum and brass, giving the cartridge a rigid and well‑damped platform that helps drain energy into the tonearm and suppress resonances.
Its coils use high‑purity 4N silver wire, a step up within the Kuzma range that targets higher transparency and resolution compared with the copper‑wired lower models.
Stylus and generator
A boron cantilever supports a micro‑ridge diamond stylus, chosen for its excellent tracing accuracy, extended high‑frequency response, and even wear characteristics.
The cartridge is a low‑output MC design (around 0.3 mV), intended for use with high‑quality MC‑capable phono stages and step‑up solutions.
Key specifications
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Frequency response: 10 Hz – 40–45 kHz, depending on source specification.
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Recommended tracking force: 2.0 g, with trackability exceeding 70 µm at this force.
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Compliance: 10 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne (medium‑low, suited to higher‑mass arms like Kuzma’s 4Point).
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Internal impedance: 4–6 Ω, with recommended load >100 Ω on MC phono stages.
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Body mass: 17 g, to maximize mechanical coupling and resonance control.
Sonic Character
Reviews describe the CAR 40 as neutral and resolving, with superb imaging, wide and stable soundstaging, and a top end that is extended yet relaxed rather than etched.
Listeners often note strong dynamics, solid bass weight, and very good suppression of surface noise, making it well suited to revealing systems that prize natural timbre and long‑term listening comfort over overt “hi‑fi” spotlighting.