Grado Cartridges

The Prestige model 78C uses a three-piece OTL cantilever technology, oxygen free wire in the coils and a specially designed, high polished conical/spherical 3 mil. diamond mounted in a brass bushing.

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The Prestige model 78E uses a modified four piece OTL cantilever technology, oxygen free wire in the coils and a specially designed, high polished, conical/spherical 3 mil. diamond mounted in a brass bushing.

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Black1 and Green1 have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. The Black1 and Green1 models use a three piece OTL cantilever technology, standard oxygen free wire in the coils and Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted in a brass bushing. The Green1 model is selected from the Black1 production run and meets higher test specifications. Approximately 15% of the production run will meet these standards and become Green1 models.

Frequency Response: 10-55
Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 30
Input Load: 47K
Output at 1KHz 5CM/Sec.: 5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
Stylus Type: E
Inductance: 45mH
Resistance: 475
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement F: U
Mounting: S/P
Weight: 5.5

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Blue1 and Red1 have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. The Blue1 and Red1 models use a four piece OTL cantilever technology, standard oxygen free wire in the coils and Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted on a brass bushing. The Red1 model is selected from the Blue1 production run and meets higher test specifications. Approximately 10% of the production run will meet these standards and become Red1 models.

All Grado Prestige cartridges have a fixed magnet and coils that generate a flux field axial pivot. A small generator disc is attached to the back end of the cantilever and moves within the lines of flux of the four coils and magnet generating a signal in response to stylus movement. The user-replaceable, elliptical diamond stylus is attached to the cantilever and moves within the four separate magnetic gaps which comprise what Grado calls a "flux-bridger" generator system. The generating element creates a flux increase in one gap while decreasing it in another to reduce distortion. According to Grado's literature, this design requires fewer coil turns, resulting in lower cartridge mass and electrical inductance. The cartridge is said to be insensitive to tonearm cable capacitance. The Grado cartridges are hand-built in the U.S.,and each cartridge is tested against Grado's standard for performance.

Frequency Response: 10-55
Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 30
Input Load: 47K
Output at 1KHz 5CM/Sec.: 5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
Stylus Type: E
Inductance: 45mH
Resistance: 475
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement F: U
Mounting: S/P
Weight: 5.5

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The Prestige model DJ100 uses a three-piece OTL cantilever technology, oxygen free wire in the coils and a specially designed, high polished, diamond mounted in a brass bushing.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The Prestige model DJ200 uses a modified four piece OTL cantilever technology, oxygen free wire in the coils and a specially designed, high polished, diamond mounted in a brass bushing.

This product is not eligible for discount.

For use with the Prestige Series DJ200i

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Silver1 and Gold1 have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. The Silver1 and gold1 models use a four piece OTL cantilever technology, ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire in the coils and Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted on a brass bushing. The Gold1 model is selected from the Silver1 production run and meets higher test specifications. Approximately 5% of the production run meet these standards and become Gold1 models.

What People are saying about the Gold... "The Prestige Gold's sound was readily identifiable, but after just a few seconds it didn't matter much, so engaging were the results."
— Wayne Garcia - The Absolute Sound

"It's a definite Best Buy!"
— Hi Fi Choice / Alan Sircom

"Beefheart's Clear Spot, the undoing of many an under-performing cartridges, didn't faze the Grado." — Hi Fi Choice / Alan Sircom "It was lively and detailed but never edgy on vocal sibilants, and didn't over-emphasis leading edges on acoustic guitar."
— Hi Fi Choice / Alan Sircom

"While the Prestige Gold cannot provide quite the same ultra-refined, take-you-to-the-mountaintop listening experiences that big buck moving coils can, it takes you a long way up the path toward analog excellence, and for a pennies-on-the-dollar price."
— Chris Martens / The Absolute Sound

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Black1 and Green1 have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. The Black1 and Green1 models use a three piece OTL cantilever technology, standard oxygen free wire in the coils and Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted in a brass bushing. The Green1 model is selected from the Black1 production run and meets higher test specifications. Approximately 15% of the production run will meet these standards and become Green1 models.

The Prestige Green is furnished with suitable mounting hardware and the unique tool required to separate stylus assembly from cartridge body. Separating the stylus assembly from the cartridge body with the tool can be tricky, so proceed with caution, lest you end up with the cartridge body in your hand and the stylus embedded in a nearby wall.

One review states: an there be anything much better? Well, there can: the Signature handily tops the Green in terms of the detail, depth and overload point. However, with a $60.00 list price, the Grado Prestige Green is a cartridge most people will find thoroughly enjoyable for nearly all kinds of music, especially if their system is very slightly laid back. At it's price, it simply can't be beaten! If you have a moderately-priced turntable lurking in your closet, pull it out, get a Grado prestige Green, install it and LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. You'll enjoy!

Frequency Response: 10-55
Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 30
Input Load: 47K
Output at 1KHz 5CM/Sec.: 5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
Stylus Type: E
Inductance: 45mH
Resistance: 475
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement F: U
Mounting: S/P
Weight: 5.5

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The Prestige model MC+ uses a three-piece OTL cantilever technology, oxygen free wire in the coils and a specially designed, high polished elliptical diamond mounted in a brass bushing.

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The Prestige model ME+ uses a modified four piece OTL cantilever technology, oxygen free wire in the coils and a specially designed, high polished, elliptical diamond mounted in a brass bushing.

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Blue1 and Red1 have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. The Blue1 and Red1 models use a four piece OTL cantilever technology, standard oxygen free wire in the coils and Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted on a brass bushing. The Red1 model is selected from the Blue1 production run and meets higher test specifications. Approximately 10% of the production run will meet these standards and become Red1 models.

There may be some recordable response differences between this cartridge and it's more expensive brethren, but it's difficult to imagine more pleasing and musical performance. The Grado Prestige Red is proof that one does not have to spend large amounts of money for good sound from a phono cartridge. More expensive cartridges may well provide incremental improvements in one or more areas, but the Grado performs at a level where such improvements will be small. I recommend that you consider this $ensible cartridge, as it is good value for the price.

Frequency Response: 10-55
Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 30
Input Load: 47K
Output at 1KHz 5CM/Sec.: 5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
Stylus Type: E
Inductance: 45mH
Resistance: 475
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement F: U
Mounting: S/P
Weight: 5.5

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Silver1 and Gold1 have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. The Silver1 and gold1 models use a four piece OTL cantilever technology, ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire in the coils and Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted on a brass bushing. The Gold1 model is selected from the Silver1 production run and meets higher test specifications. Approximately 5% of the production run meet these standards and become Gold1 models.

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Master1 and Reference1 cartridges have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. All this is hand-assembled within a machined, new processed, Australian Jarrah wood housing. The Master1 and Reference1 models use a five piece OTL cantilever technology achieving an additional 5% tip mass reduction over the Platinum1 and Sonata1 models. The coils are wound with ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire. The Master1 model is mounted with Grado's specially designed nude elliptical diamond, and the Reference1 model uses Grado's true ellipsoid design diamond.

The Reference and the Master use a five-piece cantilever assembly of very low mass, and ultra-high-purity, long crystal, oxygen-free copper coil wire. The Master model is fitted with a nude elliptical diamond, the Reference uses a true ellipsoid tip. All parts used in the Master and Reference models are finished in-house and polished to an extremely high tolerance. Final assembly is by hand.

Frequency Response: 10-60
Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 40
Input Load: 47K
Output at 1KHz 5CM/Sec.: 2-5
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
Stylus Type: E
Inductance: 2mH
Resistance: 2
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement F: F
Mounting: S
Weight: 6.5

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Platinum1 and Sonata1 have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. All this is hand-assembled within a machined, new processed, Australian Jarrah wood housing. The Platinum1 and Sonata1 models use a modified four piece OTL cantilever technology achieving a 10% tip mass reduction over the Prestige series and ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire in the coils. The Platinum model uses Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted on a brass bushing, and the Sonata model uses Grado's specially designed nude elliptical diamond.

"Let me say straight out: like the Maggie 1.6QRs or the Goldman SRA, the Grado Platinum is one of those incredible bargains that doesn't just give you a "taste" of high fidelity but pretty much the whole enchilada for the price of, er, a whole enchilada."
— Fi magazine / Jonathan Valin Vol.3, No.11

"A prime advantage/disadvantage of phono reproduction is that every cartridge sounds different. Choosing one is like selecting wine, a process easy to get lost in. But if the cartridge is good enough, like Grado's Platinum, you'll get lost in the music."
— Audio / Ivan Berger Vol.82, No. 2

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Platinum1 and Sonata1 have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. All this is hand-assembled within a machined, new processed, Australian Jarrah wood housing. The Platinum1 and Sonata1 models use a modified four piece OTL cantilever technology achieving a 10% tip mass reduction over the Prestige series and ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire in the coils. The Platinum model uses Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted on a brass bushing, and the Sonata model uses Grado's specially designed nude elliptical diamond.

"After a week of warm-up, during which the Sonata was most notable for the solidity of its bass and power of itÕ³ subsonic bass, the sound started to become very musical."
— Andrew Marshall / Audio Ideas Guide / Canada

"For the extra money, the Reference Sonata represents a leap of performance beyond the Platinum and hints at what an expensive moving coil can do."
— Stereophile / Robert Reina Vol.21, No.6

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Master1 and Reference1 cartridges have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. All this is hand-assembled within a machined, new processed, Australian Jarrah wood housing. The Master1 and Reference1 models use a five piece OTL cantilever technology achieving an additional 5% tip mass reduction over the Platinum1 and Sonata1 models. The coils are wound with ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire. The Master1 model is mounted with Grado's specially designed nude elliptical diamond, and the Reference1 model uses Grado's true ellipsoid design diamond.

The Reference and the Master use a five-piece cantilever assembly of very low mass, and ultra-high-purity, long crystal, oxygen-free copper coil wire. The Master model is fitted with a nude elliptical diamond, the Reference uses a true ellipsoid tip. All parts used in the Master and Reference models are finished in-house and polished to an extremely high tolerance. Final assembly is by hand.

"The cartridges arrived today. Thank you very much!! Listening to the Statement Reference now…yowzers!! Sweet, this is what vinyl is all about. All the boys here are very impressed!"
— John Wood - Executive VP - Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab

"The Statement Reference is used by Musical Fidelity Sound Lab in their cutting room and in their mastering suite."
— John Wood - Executive VP - Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Master1 and Reference1 cartridges have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. All this is hand-assembled within a machined, new processed, Australian Jarrah wood housing. The Master1 and Reference1 models use a five piece OTL cantilever technology achieving an additional 5% tip mass reduction over the Platinum1 and Sonata1 models. The coils are wound with ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire. The Master1 model is mounted with Grado's specially designed nude elliptical diamond, and the Reference1 model uses Grado's true ellipsoid design diamond.

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Platinum1 and Sonata1 have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. All this is hand-assembled within a machined, new processed, Australian Jarrah wood housing. The Platinum1 and Sonata1 models use a modified four piece OTL cantilever technology achieving a 10% tip mass reduction over the Prestige series and ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire in the coils. The Platinum model uses Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted on a brass bushing, and the Sonata model uses Grado's specially designed nude elliptical diamond.

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Platinum1 and Sonata1 have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. All this is hand-assembled within a machined, new processed, Australian Jarrah wood housing. The Platinum1 and Sonata1 models use a modified four piece OTL cantilever technology achieving a 10% tip mass reduction over the Prestige series and ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire in the coils. The Platinum model uses Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted on a brass bushing, and the Sonata model uses Grado's specially designed nude elliptical diamond.

"...the Sonata does a great job in reproducing the bassYes, the midrange was excellent. The upper octaves of the Grado Sonata did extend to the limits of my test records and sound very smooth. Very nice indeed!"
— Anthony H. Cordesman - Audiophile Voice

"And though the Sonata showed consistent excellence with stereo staging and imaging, one always sensed a truth to the recording, without exaggerated effect."
— Wayne Garcia - The Absolute Sound

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The newly redesigned Master1 and Reference1 cartridges have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. All this is hand-assembled within a machined, new processed, Australian Jarrah wood housing. The Master1 and Reference1 models use a five piece OTL cantilever technology achieving an additional 5% tip mass reduction over the Platinum1 and Sonata1 models. The coils are wound with ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire. The Master1 model is mounted with Grado's specially designed nude elliptical diamond, and the Reference1 model uses Grado's true ellipsoid design diamond.

"The Statement Reference is used by Musical Fidelity Sound Lab in their cutting room and in their mastering suite."
— John Wood - Executive VP - Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab

"As a long time Grado user, I was quite shocked at what I heard; all of the Grado virtues, but with a lot more warmth and silkiness and much better dynamic contrast -- including a lower noise floor."
— Hi Fi News / Ken Kessler

This product is not eligible for discount.

GRADO RE-MAKES THEIR STATEMENT1! After years of careful thought and painstaking design Grado is very pleased to offer their upgraded flagship phono cartridge. We are so proud of this cartridge and believe that it has so much to say about Grado technology, that it was named the GRADO STATEMENT1. The STATEMENT1 utilizes reconfigured gold coil wires, a lower mass faster generating system, a boron cantilever and a diamond cut specially for Grado. All this is hand-assembled within a machined, new processed, Australian Jarrah wood housing. The output for the STATEMENT1 measures at 0.5 mV. The lowest output ever offered by Grado. The low frequency information and its portrayal of bass dynamics are solid, powerful and authoritative. The midrange is rich, complex and highly believable. Its top-end seems to extend forever with speed and remarkable delicacy. Imaging is detailed and precise with a sound stage that wraps its arms around you and draws you into the music. Michael Fremer commented in his Analog Corner, "It is among the finest cartridges I've ever heard at any price", Stereophile 3/99, pg. 41. While Jonathan Valin stated, "I'm going to keep the Statement in my reference system" The Absolute Sound, Issue 118. Anyone who was impressed with our previous top-of-the-line effort, the Grado REFERENCE, will have their eyes opened wide after listening to the GRADO STATEMENT1!

"I'm having way too much fun listening to my best LPs to worry about the technical stuff. You have to listen to music sometime, and the Grado Statement 1 has transported me to phono Shangri La. If you can scrape together the dough or even if cost is no object, buy the Grado Statement 1 and don't look back. It will redefine your analog experience and is a world beater design. Moving coils move over, there's a new kid in town. The Grado Statement 1 is state of the art and most highly recommended. Way to go Grado!"
— Positive Feedback / Robert H. Levi

"The Statement consistently did a fine job of reproducing detail, and it was able to do so during both loud and complex passages."
— Ultimate Audio / Jack English Vol.4, No.1

This product is not eligible for discount.

This product is not eligible for discount.

The only entry level high end turntable that is made in America!

The new entry high end level turntable featuring a new incredibly low friction in the spring loaded sapphire Gimballed bearings! This table was inspired and in memory of Sheila Weisfeld cofounder and owner of VPI Industries for 35 years.

The Traveler is the culmination of VPI refined engineering and technology providing quality sound and easy usability at a more affordable price.