Grado Timbre Platinum4 Phono Cartridge - High Output

Grado Timbre Platinum4 Moving Iron Phono Cartridge

 

What You Need to Know

 

Olive Wood Warmth, Refined Brooklyn Craft

 

The Grado Timbre Platinum4 Moving Iron Phono Cartridge steps deeper into Grado’s celebrated wood-body sound. Hand-built in Brooklyn, the Platinum4 pairs a hand-carved Mediterranean olive wood body with higher-purity 6N OCC copper coils, delivering a smoother, more resolved presentation than the entry Opus4.

It’s the point in the Timbre line where refinement starts to rival cartridges costing much more.

 

Hand-Carved Mediterranean Olive Wood Body

 

Olive wood is denser and finer-grained than maple, and Grado selects it for the Platinum4’s naturally warm yet more controlled resonance character. Like a fine instrument, the body damps and tunes vibrational energy for a rich, spacious, wonderfully organic sound.

The 4 Series body is reshaped for better cantilever visibility, making precise alignment easier.

 

Higher-Purity 6N Copper Coils

 

The Platinum4’s generator is wound with ultra-high-purity 6N OCC copper—a step above the Opus4—paired with a cryogenically treated, internally damped signal path. The result is lower noise, finer low-level detail, and cleaner separation between instruments.

 

Flux-Bridger Moving Iron Generator

 

Joseph Grado’s patented flux-bridger design keeps the coils fixed while an ultra-low-mass iron element moves in the magnetic field—delivering moving coil speed and detail with none of the fragility.

 

Three Versions: High Output, Low Output, and Mono

 

The Platinum4 comes in three versions: High Output (4.0mV), Low Output (1.0mV), and Mono. High Output works with any standard MM phono input; Low Output rewards higher-gain phono stages with even lower moving mass and finer detail; and the Mono version is purpose-built for dedicated mono record collections.

 

Hand-Built in Brooklyn, New York

 

Every Timbre Series cartridge is assembled and tested by hand at Grado Labs in Brooklyn, where the Grado family has been building cartridges since 1953.

 

Building Your System

 

The Platinum4 suits quality turntables with medium-mass tonearms. Choose high output for any MM phono input, or low output if your phono stage offers extra gain.

When the stylus eventually wears, Grado’s Wood Cartridge Upgrade Program lets you trade in any Grado wood cartridge toward a new one—protecting your investment for the long run.

 

Features & Specifications

 

Hand-Carved Mediterranean Olive Wood Body
Dense, fine-grained tonewood for warm, controlled, spacious sound.

6N OCC Copper Coils
Higher-purity windings for lower noise and finer detail.

Flux-Bridger Moving Iron Generator
Moving coil speed and detail without the fragility.

Three Available Versions
High Output (4.0mV), Low Output (1.0mV), or Mono for mono record collections.

Wood Cartridge Upgrade Program
Trade in any Grado wood cartridge toward a new one—regardless of condition.

Hand-Built in Brooklyn, USA
Assembled and tested at Grado’s family-owned factory, est. 1953.

 

Specifications

 

•          Type: Moving Iron (MI)

•          Stylus: Elliptical Diamond

•          Cantilever: Aluminum

•          Body: Hand-Carved Mediterranean Olive Wood

•          Output: 4.0mV (High Output) or 1.0mV (Low Output)

•          Versions: High Output, Low Output, Mono

•          Load Impedance: 10k–47k ohms

•          Mounting: Standard ½-inch

•          Tracking Force: 1.6–1.9 grams

•          Weight: 9.4 grams

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Do I need a special phono preamp?
The high-output version (4.0mV) works with any standard MM phono input. The low-output version (1.0mV) needs a phono stage with added gain—but unlike moving coils, it still loads at standard 10k–47k ohms.

How does the Platinum4 compare to the Opus4?
The Platinum4 upgrades to a Mediterranean olive wood body and higher-purity 6N copper coils, delivering greater refinement, lower noise, and finer detail.

How does it compare to the Sonata4?
The Sonata4 steps up to a nude elliptical stylus on an upgraded cantilever, eliminating the bonded joint for faster transients and cleaner high frequencies.

Who is the Platinum4 designed for?
It’s ideal for listeners who love the wood-body Grado sound and want a clear step up in refinement without a big jump in price.

 

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