MM Grado Cell REFERENCE-3

After many years of good, beautiful, and loyal service, the "Wood" range from Grado is discontinued and replaced! All "Reference" models now carry the suffix 3!

Of course, the "Reference," quite simply, is called Reference-3!

Grado Reference-3: body

From the outside, the difference with the previous version is striking!

The body is hand-carved from a magnificent parallelepiped of Australian Eucalyptus. It undergoes a treatment that hardens and stabilizes it, thus limiting resonances.

This new version is quite massive, and its dimensions (1.5 x 2 x 3 cm) also justify its weight, which increases to 10g! Compared to the 6 grams of its predecessor!

Grado Reference-3: features

Grado has designed a new generator based on the OTL principle. It uses 5 OTL parts, combined with a very pure OFC copper winding with long crystals (UHPLC).

This generator/stylus module of this series does not allow stylus replacement, unlike a MC cartridge. This allows for a magnetic circuit designed as a single piece, enabling a significant reduction in chassis resonances.

The diamond of this Grado Reference-3 cartridge is specifically cut for Grado from a real diamond, following an ellipsoidal profile. It is supported by a boron cantilever that helps reduce the mass of the moving assembly.

The manufacturing and assembly techniques involve very tight tolerances. Each cartridge is individually made and tested.

Grado Reference-3: test and listening

The output level of 4.8 mV allows this Grado Reference-3 to be paired with all MM phono inputs on the market.

All the qualities that made the Grado Reference famous are found here: timbre quality, dynamics, and "swing"!

The tonal balance favors substance and presence. The bass note sustain and articulation are remarkable. The coloration is less pronounced than in previous series.

However, definition and transparency are much higher, both in the bass and across the rest of the spectrum. The midrange remains as rich and full as ever, which helps make the reproduction very realistic.

The treble is very fine, silky, and without any harshness.

This Grado Reference-3 MM cartridge is part of what the Brooklyn manufacturer does best! And as such, it is certainly one of the best MM cartridges (sorry, "Moving iron") available today!