Grado Gold4 Phono Cartridge

Available in 5-7 days

$260.00

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The Grado Gold4 is the top model in Grado's Prestige Series, pairing an elliptical diamond stylus with the most refined flux-bridger generator and coil winding in the Prestige lineup. It represents the best Grado offers in a standard-mount cartridge with a user-replaceable stylus, and serves as the natural stepping stone for listeners who want to hear Grado's moving iron technology before committing to the wood-bodied Timbre Series.

Key Features of the Grado Gold4

Elliptical Diamond Stylus: User-replaceable, dual-radius contact profile for balanced tracking.
Flux-Bridger Moving Iron Generator: Grado's patented design, with the tightest component grading in the Prestige Series.
OFC Copper Coils: Oxygen-free copper windings, hand-wound at Grado's Brooklyn facility.
4.0mV Output: Standard moving magnet level, compatible with any MM phono input.
User-Replaceable Stylus: Snap-in stylus assembly for easy replacement without sending the cartridge in.
Standard 1/2" Mount: Fits any standard headshell or tonearm.
Hand-Built in Brooklyn, NY: Assembled and voiced at Grado's Sunset Park facility.

About Grado Labs

Grado Labs has been building phono cartridges and headphones by hand in Brooklyn, New York since 1953. The company was founded by Joseph Grado, and four generations of the Grado family have since refined the company's patented flux-bridger moving iron generator system, which delivers the speed and detail retrieval associated with moving coil designs while keeping the higher output and simpler loading requirements of moving magnet cartridges. Every Grado cartridge is still assembled, tested, and voiced in the same Sunset Park facility where Joseph first began his work over seven decades ago. Nothing about the operation has been outsourced, automated, or moved offshore.

Prestige Series Hierarchy

All three Prestige cartridges share the same body, stylus type, and flux-bridger generator. The difference between the Green4 ($140), Red4 ($190), and Gold4 ($260) is in component selection and grading tolerances during hand-assembly in Brooklyn. The Gold4 receives the tightest tolerancing in the series, resulting in wider channel separation, lower distortion, and more refined frequency extension. All three use user-replaceable styli, so upgrading from Green4 to Gold4 later is as simple as swapping the stylus assembly. No need to send the cartridge in, no need to change loading on your phono stage, no need to alter tracking force.

Why Flux-Bridger Matters

Grado's flux-bridger generator pairs the low moving mass associated with moving coil cartridges with the 4.0mV output and standard MM loading of a moving magnet. The Gold4 works straight into the phono input on any integrated amplifier, receiver, or basic phono preamp. No step-up transformer, no specialized loading, no MC-capable phono stage required. For listeners running a budget or mid-range phono stage who want moving-coil-class transient speed without the loading complications, this is the most refined option Grado makes in a standard-mount, user-stylus-replaceable cartridge.

Upgrading from Prestige to Timbre

The Gold4 is the natural last stop before the Timbre Series. Moving to the Opus4 ($300) gets you a wood housing (North American Maple), OCC copper coils (vs. OFC), a three-piece OTL cantilever, and four output configurations to match any phono stage. The Timbre styli are not user-replaceable, but Grado offers a trade-in program for their wood-bodied cartridges so you're never stuck when the diamond wears.

The Listening Room Difference

We're a third-generation family business with a brick-and-mortar showroom in Chestertown, Maryland, and a reputation built on exceptional service and relentless passion for hifi. Whether you're visiting in person or ordering online, we bring decades of experience, personalized service, and honest guidance to every interaction. We don't just ship boxes. We help build systems, answer your questions like real humans, and make sure every detail of your setup is right, from the cables to the final connection. Our passion is helping you get the most out of your gear, with support that lasts well beyond the sale.

Grado Gold4 Specifications

Cartridge Type	Moving Iron (Flux-Bridger)
Stylus	Elliptical Diamond (User-Replaceable)
Cantilever	Aluminum
Output Voltage	4.0mV
Coil Wire	OFC Copper
Body Material	Polymer
Tracking Force	1.5 grams
Cartridge Weight	5.5 grams
Compliance	20 µm/mN
Mount	Standard ½" Mount
Origin	Hand-built in Brooklyn, NY, USA

What is Grado's flux-bridger moving iron design, and how is it different from moving coil or moving magnet?

Grado's patented flux-bridger is a moving iron generator. Unlike moving coil cartridges (which attach coils to the cantilever) or moving magnet designs (which attach a magnet), the flux-bridger uses a small iron element as the only moving component. This gives it the lowest effective moving mass of any cartridge type, combining the transient speed and detail of moving coil designs with the higher output voltage and simpler phono stage requirements of moving magnet cartridges. Every Grado cartridge uses this same core technology, refined to different tolerances across the Prestige, Timbre, and Lineage series.

What is the difference between the Green4, Red4, and Gold4?

All three Prestige cartridges share the same body, elliptical diamond stylus, flux-bridger generator, and OFC copper coils. The difference is in component selection and grading tolerances during assembly. The Green4 receives standard grading, the Red4 mid-tier, and the Gold4 the tightest tolerancing in the Prestige line. Tighter grading produces measurable improvements in channel separation and distortion. All three accept the same replacement styli, so you can upgrade performance by swapping the stylus assembly.

Can I replace the stylus myself?

Yes. All Prestige Series cartridges (Green4, Red4, Gold4) use snap-in stylus assemblies that you can replace at home in seconds. The styli are cross-compatible within the Prestige Series, so you can upgrade from Green4 to Gold4 performance by purchasing a Gold4 replacement stylus. Timbre and Lineage Series cartridges do not have user-replaceable styli and must be sent to Grado or traded in through their trade-in program.

What is the upgrade path from Grado Prestige to Timbre?

The Prestige Series (Green4, Red4, Gold4) uses aluminum cantilevers with user-replaceable styli. Moving to the Timbre Series, you get wood-bodied housings, OCC copper coils, and progressively refined cantilever assemblies. The Opus4 ($300) is the natural next step from the Gold4, offering a three-piece OTL cantilever in North American Maple wood. The Timbre Series styli are not user-replaceable, but Grado offers a trade-in program for wood-bodied cartridges.

What phono preamp do I need for a Grado Prestige cartridge?

Any phono preamp with a standard moving magnet (MM) input will work. The Prestige Series outputs 4.0mV at 47,000 ohm loading, which is the standard MM spec. This includes built-in phono stages on integrated amplifiers and receivers, as well as standalone phono preamps. No special gain or loading requirements.

Will a Grado cartridge hum on my turntable?

Grado cartridges can pick up electromagnetic interference from turntable motors, particularly on some direct-drive and unshielded-motor belt-drive models. This is a characteristic of moving iron designs, not a defect. Most turntables work fine with Grado cartridges. If you experience hum, it typically decreases toward the outer grooves and can often be resolved with proper grounding. Contact us at 410-239-2020 if you have questions about compatibility with your specific turntable.