{"product_id":"grado-platinum4-phono-cartridge","title":"Grado Platinum4 Phono Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Grado Platinum4 is the second model in Grado's Timbre Series of wood-bodied moving iron phono cartridges, sharing the Sonata4's Mediterranean Olive housing and four-piece OTL aluminum cantilever but with tighter component tolerancing and more refined voicing. It sits between the entry-level \u003ca href=\"\/products\/grado-opus4-phono-cartridge\"\u003eOpus4\u003c\/a\u003e and the mid-range Sonata4, offering a meaningful step up in selection grading within the line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch5\u003eKey Features of the Grado Platinum4\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eElliptical Diamond Stylus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dual-radius contact profile for balanced tracking and tonal accuracy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAluminum Cantilever:\u003c\/strong\u003e Four-piece OTL design with 10% tip mass reduction over Prestige Series cantilevers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlux-Bridger Moving Iron Generator:\u003c\/strong\u003e Grado's patented design for low-mass, high-speed signal generation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOCC Copper Coils:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oxygen-free continuous-cast copper for cleaner signal transmission than standard copper windings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMediterranean Olive Wood Housing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Warm-toned hardwood body with natural damping characteristics, new to the \/4 generation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFour Output Configurations:\u003c\/strong\u003e High-output (4.0mV) and low-output (1.0mV) in both stereo and mono.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHand-Built in Brooklyn, NY:\u003c\/strong\u003e Assembled and voiced at Grado's Sunset Park facility.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch5\u003eAbout Grado Labs\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrado Labs has been building phono cartridges and headphones by hand in Brooklyn, New York since 1953. Four generations of the Grado family have refined the company's patented flux-bridger moving iron generator system, which delivers the speed and detail retrieval associated with moving coil designs while maintaining the higher output and simpler loading requirements of moving magnet cartridges. Every Grado cartridge is hand-assembled in the same Sunset Park facility where Joseph Grado first began his work over seven decades ago, then tested and voiced before it ships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch5\u003eMediterranean Olive Wood Housing\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNew to the \/4 generation, the Platinum4 and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/grado-sonata4-phono-cartridge\"\u003eSonata4\u003c\/a\u003e are housed in Mediterranean Olive wood, replacing the Australian Jarrah used in previous Timbre models. Olive wood's grain structure provides effective natural damping of mechanical vibrations, while its density contributes to stable tracking. The Platinum4 and Sonata4 share the same housing material and cantilever type, with the primary difference being component selection and voicing tolerances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- inline image --\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/5073\/8528\/files\/platinum4-inline-01.jpg?v=1778523340\" alt=\"Grado Platinum4 phono cartridge, Mediterranean Olive wood housing\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:1000px;height:auto;border-radius:12px;margin:16px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOlive's natural grain pattern means no two Platinum4 housings look identical. Grado treats this as a feature of the hand-built character of the line. The wood is sourced as billet and shaped to the \/4 generation's revised housing geometry, which carries flatter mounting surfaces and slightly tightened stylus-to-mounting-hole tolerances compared to the previous Timbre series. The result is easier alignment with most modern protractors and less rocking at the headshell interface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch5\u003eTimbre Series Positioning\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Timbre Series spans five models across two wood types and two cantilever materials. The Platinum4 and Sonata4 use aluminum cantilevers in Olive wood, while the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/grado-master4-phono-cartridge\"\u003eMaster4\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/grado-reference4-phono-cartridge\"\u003eReference4\u003c\/a\u003e step up to machined boron cantilevers in American Osage wood with five-piece OTL construction. The boron cantilever in the upper models provides greater stiffness and a 5% reduction in tip mass over the aluminum design. All five Timbre models share the same flux-bridger generator, OCC copper coils, and elliptical diamond stylus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- inline image --\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/5073\/8528\/files\/platinum4-inline-02.jpg?v=1778523344\" alt=\"Grado Platinum4 cartridge profile showing four-piece OTL cantilever assembly\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:1000px;height:auto;border-radius:12px;margin:16px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Platinum4's position in the line is a tier above the entry: it carries the same four-piece OTL aluminum cantilever as the Sonata4 and the same Mediterranean Olive housing, so the differences upstream of the boron-cantilever models come down to component tolerancing rather than architecture. For listeners weighing the jump from the Opus4, the Platinum4 brings denser wood, a more complex cantilever, and a quieter signal floor at the cost of $100. For listeners weighing the Platinum4 against the Sonata4, the difference is tighter grading within the same architecture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003ch5\u003eThe Flux-Bridger Moving Iron Generator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Timbre Series cartridge runs on Grado's flux-bridger moving iron generator, a patented design that sits between conventional moving magnet and moving coil topologies. In a moving iron generator, the coils and magnets stay fixed while a small, low-mass iron armature on the cantilever responds to groove modulations. Because the moving element is just iron, not a magnet or a coil pack, the system carries less moving mass than a standard MM and roughly comparable mass to many MC designs, which is what gives Grado cartridges their characteristic speed and transient detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe practical advantage is loading simplicity. Both high-output and low-output Timbre cartridges present an inductive load that any moving magnet phono stage can drive (high-output versions) or that any MC-capable stage can handle (low-output versions). There is no compromise on cartridge loading, no need for step-up transformers on the high-output models, and no exotic phono stage requirement. The flux-bridger architecture also makes Grado cartridges relatively tolerant of capacitance variation in the tonearm cable, which simplifies setup compared to some MM designs that depend on precise capacitive loading to flatten their response.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch5\u003eOCC Copper Coil Wire\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Timbre Series uses oxygen-free continuous-cast copper for the generator coil wire, the same OCC copper specification used across the entire \/4 generation. Continuous-cast copper is drawn through a heated mold in a single, unbroken process, producing long crystal grains aligned with the wire's length. The result is a wire with fewer grain boundaries per inch than conventional oxygen-free copper, which translates into more consistent electrical behavior across the audio band and improved channel-to-channel matching when paired coils are wound from the same batch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCoil wire matters more in moving iron designs than it does in many MM cartridges because the generator's output is directly tied to the coil's electrical characteristics. Grado specifies OCC across every Timbre model precisely because consistency at the coil is one of the cleanest ways to lock in repeatable performance unit to unit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch5\u003eHigh-Output, Low-Output, Stereo, Mono\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Timbre cartridge ships in four configurations: high-output stereo (4.0mV), low-output stereo (1.0mV), high-output mono, and low-output mono. The high-output 4.0mV version pairs with any standard MM phono input, the same input that handles the vast majority of installed phono stages. The 1.0mV low-output version is intended for MC-capable phono stages or step-up transformers; the lower output trades some absolute gain for a potentially quieter noise floor and (depending on the phono stage's MC topology) more headroom on dynamic passages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mono configurations are true mono generators with the coils summed at the cartridge, not a stereo cartridge with a mono switch in the preamp. For collectors with significant pre-1958 mono LPs, a true mono cartridge eliminates vertical groove noise that a stereo pickup will reproduce as rumble or surface hash, and it improves apparent resolution on the playback of mono pressings. The mono variants are marked Special Order and No Returns, consistent with how most cartridge manufacturers handle true-mono SKUs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch5\u003eTracking Force and Compliance\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll five Timbre models share the same tracking-force window of 1.6 to 1.9 grams, with most installations dialing in at 1.75 grams as a starting point. Compliance is specified at 20 µm\/mN, which places the Timbre Series squarely in the medium-compliance range that pairs comfortably with most modern tonearms. Effective mass between 9 and 14 grams at the headshell is the sweet spot. Cartridge weight runs 9 grams across the aluminum-cantilever models (Opus4 through Sonata4) and steps up to 10 grams on the Master4 and Reference4, so headshell weight is the main variable to balance during arm matching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor VTA, start parallel to the record surface and adjust by ear once break-in is past the first 20 to 30 hours. Cartridges in this category typically need that early use time before the suspension settles into its working stiffness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eThe Listening Room Difference\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe'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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch5\u003eGrado Platinum4 Specifications\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCartridge Type\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003eMoving Iron (Flux-Bridger)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eStylus\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003eElliptical Diamond\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCantilever\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003eAluminum (4-Piece OTL)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOutput Voltage\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003e4.0mV (High Output) \/ 1.0mV (Low Output)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCoil Wire\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003eOCC Copper\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBody Material\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003eMediterranean Olive Wood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTracking Force\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003e1.6 - 1.9 grams\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCartridge Weight\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003e9 grams\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCompliance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003e20 µm\/mN\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMount\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003eStandard ½\" Mount\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConfigurations\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003eHigh-Output Stereo, High-Output Mono, Low-Output Stereo, Low-Output Mono\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:12px;width:34%;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:12px;width:66%;\"\u003eHand-built in Brooklyn, NY, USA\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Grado","offers":[{"title":"High-Output Stereo","offer_id":42681461407840,"sku":"GRADPLATINUM4HOST","price":400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"High-Output Mono","offer_id":42681461440608,"sku":"GRADPLATINUM4HOMO","price":400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Low-Output Stereo","offer_id":42681461473376,"sku":"GRADPLATINUM4LOST","price":400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Low-Output Mono","offer_id":42681461506144,"sku":"GRADPLATINUM4LOMO","price":400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/5073\/8528\/files\/grado-platinum4-hero.jpg?v=1775507516","url":"https:\/\/listenroom.com\/products\/grado-platinum4-phono-cartridge","provider":"The Listening Room","version":"1.0","type":"link"}