The Cartridge That Sounds Too Good to be True
Newly Upgraded for Even Better Performance
Grado's Prestige Black and Prestige Green cartridges are built exactly the same, which means they are both built beautifully. The difference between the two models (and the lower price of the Black) is that the Green model is selected from the Black production run and meets higher test specifications.
Approximately 15% of the production run will meet these standards and become Green models. So grab a Grado Prestige Black, save on the price of the identically-made Green, and enjoy great sound at an exceptionally low price.
Newly Redesigned Black1
The newly redesigned Green1 and Black1 cartridges have had their coil design reconfigured, and the effective moving mass of their generating system has been reduced by 17%. This decrease in stylus mass allows for enhanced tracking with improved imaging, giving a quicker, more accurate reproduction of the music.
The Green1 and Black1 models use a three-piece OTL cantilever technology, oxygen free copper wire in the coils and Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounted on a brass bushing.
The Green1 model is selected from the Black1 production run and meets higher test specifications. Approximately 15% of the production run meet these standards and become Green1 models.
Other Enhancements
Grado has recently made a number of upgrades to the Prestige series to take cartridge performance to the next level.
In the cartridge body, Grado has cut back on the number of turns of wire in the coils. The resulting shorter signal path increases the speed and lowers signal distortion, thus improving the accuracy of the signal.
Grado has also improved the control of the resonance of the coils. The company's engineers took the lessons they learned from Grado's wooden body cartridges and found a way to incorporate the benefits into the Prestige series. The 'potting' of the coils decreases vibration, lowering noise and distortion within the coils.
All of these enhancements have contributed to the world famous Grado sound: the warm, smooth, full bodied, non-fatiguing, and rich sound qualities.
"Admirable Detail and Treble Extension"
In its special Awards 2003 issue, England's leading audiophile journal Hi-Fi Choice recognized the excellence of Grado's Prestige Black, citing this high-value cartridge for its "admirable detail and treble extension, with good bass and ambience, too."
"Tonal Accuracy and Excitement"
"The Grado brought out most of the tonal accuracy and excitement and, though I have heard better reproduced, that was only with cartridges costing 10 times the price," notes John Borwick in England's Gramophone magazine.
"If you thought a true "high-end" cartridge had to cost $100 or more, then you've never heard the Grado Prestige Black," reports Anthony Chiarella in Vol.64, No. 8 of Opera News.
Advanced Design and Technology
Designed for high output and excellent stability under conditions of heavy use, the Black isn't a cartridge you have to treat like a family heirloom. The experts can't believe the performance that this inexpensive wonder delivers. The Black uses a three-piece OTL cantilever technology, standard oxygen-free wire in the coils, and Grado's specially designed elliptical diamond mounting on a brass bushing. A considerable tip mass reduction results in a frequency response to 50 kHz and beyond, plus tracking forces from one to two grams. | 
