Grado
Timbre Series Sonata4 Phono Cartridge
$600.00 USDPay Over Time
Split your purchase into easy payments.
Fast approval with Klarna.
Select Klarna at checkout to split your purchase into smaller payments.
Features
Nude elliptical diamond for precise groove contact, clarity, and detail retrieval
Custom aluminum cantilever tuned for balanced, responsive playback
Moving iron flux-bridger design delivers ultra-low moving mass with speed and harmonic integrity
Internal signal path built with ultra-high purity 6N OCC copper for conductivity and consistency
Cryogenic treatment and internal damping reduce resonance and preserve signal integrity
Available in high-output (4.0mV) and low-output (1.0mV) for wide phono stage compatibility
Stereo and mono builds available (mono is special order)
Reshaped housing improves cantilever visibility for precise tonearm alignment
Eligible for Grado's Wood Cartridge Upgrade Program
What's in the Box?
Warranty
Sonata4 is part of the Grado Timbre Series, representing a refined balance of resolution, control, and musicality. Developed through decades of cartridge design, it delivers a highly engaging presentation while maintaining the tonal integrity that defines Grado cartridges. Built on Grado's moving iron design, Sonata4 provides a stable and responsive signal with low moving mass and long-term consistency.
Offered in both stereo and mono configurations, Sonata4 continues the evolution of Grado's wood body cartridges.
Performance
Sonata4 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, balance, and musical flow. Detail is resolved with precision while maintaining a smooth and natural top end. The midrange carries presence and texture, and low frequencies are delivered with control and definition.
Recordings are presented with coherence and stability, maintaining separation and imaging while preserving the character of the music.
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
Sonata4 features a nude elliptical diamond mounted to a custom aluminum cantilever. The nude elliptical profile offers effective groove contact and detail retrieval, while the custom aluminum cantilever is tuned to provide a balanced and responsive presentation. This combination supports clarity, control, and a natural overall character.
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 Sonata4 is housed in a Mediterranean Olive 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.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Physical Specifications | |
| Body | Mediterranean Olive Wood |
| Cartridge Weight | 9.4 grams |
| Technical Specifications | |
| Cantilever | Special Aluminum / Nude Elliptical Diamond |
| Compliance | 20μm/mN |
| Tracking Force | 1.6–1.9 grams |
| Capacitive Load Sensitivity | Non-sensitive |
| Cartridge Specifications | |
| Output (High) | 4.0mV @ 5cm/s (45°) |
| Output (Low) | 1.0mV @ 5cm/s (45°) |
| Inductance – High Output | 55mH |
| Inductance – Low Output | 6mH |
| Resistance – High Output | 660 ohms |
| Resistance – Low Output | 70 ohms |
| Input Load | 10k–47k ohms |
| Audio Specifications | |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz–60kHz (controlled) |
| Channel Separation | Average 30dB (10–30kHz) |
| Additional Information | |
| Available Builds | High Output Low Output Mono High Output Mono Low Output |