Timbre Series Reference4 Cartridge

Reference4 is part of the Grado Timbre Series, representing a refined balance of resolution, control, and musicality. Developed through decades of cartridge design, it brings a high level of performance to a wider range of systems while maintaining the tonal integrity that defines Grado cartridges.

Built on Grado’s moving iron design, Reference4 delivers a stable and highly responsive presentation with low moving mass and long-term consistency.

Offered in both stereo and mono configurations, Reference4 continues the tradition of Grado’s wood body cartridges.

Performance

Reference 4 is available in both high and low output configurations, allowing for compatibility across a wide range of phono stages.

Its presentation is defined by clarity, refinement, and control. Detail is resolved with precision while maintaining a smooth and composed top end. The midrange carries natural presence and texture, and low frequencies are delivered with definition and authority.

Complex passages are handled with ease, maintaining separation and spatial stability. The overall balance remains even and composed, allowing the structure of the recording to come through naturally.

Moving Iron Design

All Grado cartridges utilize a moving iron design built on Joseph Grado’s patented flux-bridger principle.

This approach allows the cartridge to generate a precise signal with extremely low moving mass, while keeping the coil structure fixed. The result is a presentation that combines speed, control, and harmonic integrity without the fragility often associated with traditional moving coil systems.

Diamond & Cantilever

Reference 4 features a nude Shibata diamond mounted to a machined boron cantilever.

The Shibata profile is highly effective at retrieving detail from the groove, offering exceptional contact and resolution while maintaining a natural, unforced presentation. Paired with a machined boron cantilever—known for its low mass and responsive behavior—the system delivers clarity, speed, and stability across the frequency range.

Coil & Internal Structure

The internal signal path is built using ultra-high purity 6N OCC copper, selected for its conductivity and consistency.

Each cartridge undergoes cryogenic treatment and internal damping to reduce unwanted resonance and preserve signal integrity.

Housing

The Reference4 is housed in an American Osage wood body, selected for its ability to help control resonance and contribute to the cartridge’s tonal balance. The reshaped housing improves visibility of the cantilever during setup, allowing for more precise alignment while supporting compatibility across a wide range of tonearms.

Wood Cartridge Upgrade Program

Grado wood body cartridges are supported through our Wood Cartridge Upgrade Program.

This program allows you to move from your current Grado wood cartridge to another model, with a pricing accommodation provided through the program. The program applies exclusively to Grado wood body cartridges, and pricing is based on the model being purchased.