Grado Statement SONATA-2 MC cartridge

After a number of years of good and faithful service, Grado's 'Wood' range has been discontinued and replaced! All 'Statement' models now feature the suffix 2!

These are Moving Iron cartridges with less coil wire and with a low output, just under 1 mV. In fact, they are not MC cartridges either …They are just 'Grados'!

Grado Statement Sonata-2: body

From the outside, the difference with the former Sonata version is obvious! The body is carved by hand from a beautiful block of Australian Eucalyptus wood.

It undergoes a process that hardens and stabilises it, thus reducing resonance.

This new variant is quite bulky and its dimensions (1.5 x 2 x 3 cm) also justify its weight of 10 g.

Grado Statement Sonata-2: features

Grado designed a new generator based on the OTL principle. It uses 4 OTL pieces, combined with ultra high-purity long crystal (UHPLC) copper coils.

The generator/stylus module of this series does not allow for the replacement of the stylus, like on an MC cartridge. It enables the development of a magnetic circuit designed in a single piece, allowing for a significant reduction of chassis resonance.

The stylus of this Statement Sonata-2 cartridge has a Nude Elliptical profile. It is mounted to a brass cantilever.

The manufacturing and assembly processes use very tight tolerances.

Grado Statement Sonata-2: association

The output level of 1.mV does not make it compatible with any old MM preamplifier!

Your preamp must have an adjustable gain (around 50 dB) as well as a loading of 47 000 Ohms.

Grado Statement Sonata-2: listening and review

It has the qualities of its high output counterpart, the Reference SONATA-2 MM cartridge. This low output variant is however finer, with more definition and subtlety.

The sound is less projected and less expressive…

This Grado Statement Sonata-2 MC cartridge is more neutral and subtle than its high output counterpart.

We highly recommended it!