{"product_id":"grado-timbre-reference4-phono-cartridge-high-output","title":"Grado Timbre Reference4 Phono Cartridge - High Output","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhat You Need to Know\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat Is a Phono Cartridge?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA phono cartridge is the component at the end of your tonearm that reads the groove in your vinyl record. A tiny diamond tip — the stylus — traces the groove walls as the record spins, and the cartridge converts that physical movement into an electrical signal that your phono stage amplifies into music. The diamond profile, cantilever material, generator design, and body material all affect what you hear. At this level of the Timbre Series, every one of those elements has been refined to its highest expression within the Grado wood-body lineup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Reference4 — Top of the Timbre Series\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrado Labs has been making phono cartridges in Brooklyn, New York since 1953. The company is still family-owned, now in its third generation. The Timbre Series sits in the middle tier of Grado’s lineup — above the plastic-bodied Prestige Series and below the flagship Lineage Series. Within the Timbre range, the Reference4 is the \u003cstrong\u003etop model\u003c\/strong\u003e, sitting above the Master4 and Sonata4.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Reference4 shares the Master4’s American Osage wood body and machined boron cantilever. What separates it is the stylus: where the Master4 uses an elliptical diamond, the Reference4 uses a \u003cstrong\u003enude Shibata diamond\u003c\/strong\u003e — the most advanced stylus profile in the Timbre Series, and the same profile used in Grado’s flagship Lineage Series cartridges. At $1,500, the Reference4 is the Timbre Series at its most resolved. The High Output version at 4.0mV works with any standard MM phono input.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Nude Shibata Diamond — What Makes It Different\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Shibata stylus profile was originally developed for four-channel (quadraphonic) playback in the 1970s, because quadraphonic records encoded high-frequency content — up to 45 kHz — that elliptical styli could not reliably track. To read this content accurately, the stylus needed to make finer, more precise groove wall contact. The Shibata profile achieves this through a narrow, elongated contact patch that follows the groove walls with exceptional precision at frequencies well beyond what elliptical styli can track.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the Reference4, the Shibata diamond is \u003cstrong\u003enude\u003c\/strong\u003e: the diamond is mounted directly to the boron cantilever without an intermediate shank or bonded bushing. A nude stylus has less mass at the cantilever tip than a bonded equivalent, allowing faster, more accurate response to the groove modulations. The combination of nude construction and Shibata profile gives the Reference4 its extended high-frequency specification (10 Hz–60 kHz) and the precise, low-distortion tracking that distinguishes it from the elliptical-diamond models below it in the Timbre range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAmerican Osage Wood Body\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Reference4’s body is machined from \u003cstrong\u003eAmerican Osage wood\u003c\/strong\u003e — one of the densest native North American hardwoods, shared with the Master4. Osage’s density provides natural acoustic damping for the generator assembly, absorbing vibrations from the stylus rather than reflecting them back as distortion. The Timbre Series uses different woods for different models: American Maple for the Opus4, Mediterranean Olive for the Platinum4 and Sonata4, and American Osage for the Master4 and Reference4 — the two upper-tier models that demand the most acoustically controlled housing environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMachined Boron Cantilever\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cantilever connects the stylus to the generator. Its job is to transmit groove modulations as accurately as possible with minimal added mass or resonance. The Reference4 uses a \u003cstrong\u003emachined boron cantilever\u003c\/strong\u003e — the stiffest and lightest cantilever material in the Timbre Series. Boron’s high stiffness-to-mass ratio pushes its resonant frequency well above the audible range, so the cantilever’s own mechanical resonances do not color the signal. “Machined” means the cantilever is precision-formed rather than drawn or extruded, ensuring consistent geometry from unit to unit. This is the same cantilever material used in the Master4, and it is one of the reasons both models sit above the Sonata4 and Platinum4 in the Timbre hierarchy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e6N OCC Copper with Cryogenic Treatment and Internal Damping\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Reference4’s internal signal path uses \u003cstrong\u003e6N OCC (Ohno Continuous Casting) copper\u003c\/strong\u003e — the highest purity level in the Timbre Series. OCC copper is produced in a continuous casting process that eliminates grain boundaries along the wire’s length. 6N means six-nines purity: 99.9999% copper with minimal trace contaminants. The result is lower resistance variation, better signal transmission, and more consistent channel balance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo additional refinements are applied to the Reference4 that distinguish it within the Timbre lineup: \u003cstrong\u003ecryogenic treatment\u003c\/strong\u003e of the stylus assembly and internal signal path, and \u003cstrong\u003einternal damping\u003c\/strong\u003e within the cartridge body. Cryogenic treatment involves cooling the components to extremely low temperatures (−196°C) and slowly returning them to ambient — a process that relieves stress in the material structure, improves conductivity, and enhances mechanical stability. Internal damping reduces residual vibration within the body itself. Together, these treatments contribute to the Reference4’s lowered noise floor, improved channel separation, and the greater resolution it offers over the Master4.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrado Moving Iron Flux-Bridger Generator\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike all Grado cartridges, the Reference4 uses the \u003cstrong\u003emoving iron (MI) flux-bridger generator\u003c\/strong\u003e. Stationary coils, twin magnet system, moving iron element attached to the cantilever. Four magnetic gaps for high efficiency and low inductance. Extremely low moving mass. The High Output version’s 55mH inductance and 660Ω DC resistance reflect the higher number of coil windings used to achieve 4.0mV output — compatible with any standard MM phono input at 47kΩ. No step-up transformer or MC gain is required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho the High Output Version Is For\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Reference4 High Output produces \u003cstrong\u003e4.0mV\u003c\/strong\u003e — the same output level as a standard moving magnet cartridge. Any phono stage or amplifier with an MM input at 47kΩ is compatible. If your phono stage has only an MM input, this is the version to choose. If your phono stage has MC gain capability, the Low Output version’s simpler signal path (fewer coil windings, lower inductance) is worth considering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat the Experts Say\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ec-blockquote\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eecoustics.com — 2026 Grado Cartridge Lineup Coverage, April 2026\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eecoustics confirmed the Reference4 as the top of the Timbre Series, specifically noting its nude Shibata diamond, machined boron cantilever, American Osage wood body, and 6N OCC copper with cryogenic treatment and internal damping. They described the Timbre Series as delivering “performance that consistently exceeds expectations within its class” and identified the Reference4 as the model that takes this to its highest point within the Timbre range, calling out the Shibata diamond as the key differentiator from the Master4 below it.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ec-blockquote\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Absolute Sound — Grado 2026 Cartridge Lineup Announcement, April 9, 2026\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Absolute Sound confirmed the Reference4 in the context of Grado’s 2026 lineup update, noting that select Timbre models “now incorporate nude Shibata diamonds, expanding beyond the elliptical profiles used throughout much of the previous generation, improving groove contact, tracking precision, and high-frequency response.” They positioned the Timbre Series as offering “performance exceeding expectations within their category, with a balance of resolution, musicality, and control.”\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ec-blockquote\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHiFi Pig — Grado Cartridge Lineup Coverage, April 2026\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHiFi Pig confirmed the Reference4’s Shibata diamond and position at the top of the Timbre Series, noting that the combination of nude Shibata diamond with machined boron cantilever and 6N OCC copper places it “at the boundary between the Timbre and Lineage philosophies — accessible in output and loading, but resolved to a degree that approaches the territory above it.”\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: The Reference4 was announced April 9, 2026. No scored reviews exist at time of writing. Replace with scored reviews as they are published (expected May–June 2026).\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePairing the Reference4 High Output\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePhono Preamplifier.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Reference4 HO is compatible with any quality MM phono stage at 47kΩ. At this level, the phono stage is a meaningful part of the chain — a high-quality MM or switchable MM\/MC phono preamplifier will do justice to the Reference4’s resolution. \u003ca href=\"%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/turntables\/phono-preamplifiers\/\"\u003eBrowse our Phono Preamplifiers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTurntable.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Reference4’s 9.6g weight and 20 μm\/mN compliance pair well with medium-mass tonearms (approximately 8–15g effective mass). Confirm tonearm\/cartridge resonance compatibility before purchasing. \u003ca href=\"%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/turntables\/turntables\/\"\u003eBrowse Turntables\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConsider the Low Output Version.\u003c\/strong\u003e If your phono stage has MC gain capability (approximately 58–60 dB at 47kΩ), the Reference4 Low Output’s simpler coil path and lower inductance is worth comparing. Call us and we can help you decide which version suits your system.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStep Down: Timbre Master4.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Master4 shares the same Osage body and boron cantilever at a lower price, but uses an elliptical diamond rather than Shibata. The key question is whether the Shibata upgrade justifies the step up for your system and listening priorities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStep Up: Lineage Series.\u003c\/strong\u003e Above the Timbre Series, Grado’s Lineage models use Brazilian Ebony wood, sapphire or boron cantilevers, and nude Shibata diamonds in low-output configurations. The Reference4 is the highest Timbre expression; the Lineage Statement is the next architecture above it. \u003ca href=\"%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/turntables\/phono-cartridges\/\"\u003eBrowse Phono Cartridges\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecord Cleaning.\u003c\/strong\u003e A nude Shibata diamond deserves clean records. \u003ca href=\"%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/turntables\/record-cleaning-machines\/\"\u003eBrowse Record Cleaning Machines\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeatures \u0026amp; Specifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNude Shibata Diamond — The Top Stylus Profile in the Timbre Series\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Shibata profile makes a finer, more precise groove wall contact than an elliptical stylus, enabling accurate tracking of high-frequency content to 60 kHz. “Nude” means the diamond is mounted directly to the boron cantilever without an intermediate shank — reducing tip mass for faster, more accurate response. The Shibata diamond is the defining upgrade of the Reference4 over the Master4.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMachined Boron Cantilever\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrecision-machined boron tube. High stiffness-to-mass ratio pushes resonant frequency well above the audible range. Shared with the Master4; the most rigid cantilever material in the Timbre Series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAmerican Osage Wood Body\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of North America’s densest hardwoods. Provides natural acoustic damping for the generator assembly. Shared with the Master4; used for the two upper-tier Timbre models.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e6N OCC Copper with Cryogenic Treatment and Internal Damping\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6N (99.9999%) OCC copper in the internal signal path — the highest purity in the Timbre Series. Cryogenic treatment of stylus assembly and signal path components reduces mechanical stress and improves conductivity. Internal body damping reduces residual resonance. These three refinements together distinguish the Reference4 from the Master4.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMoving Iron Flux-Bridger Generator — Twin Magnet System\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStationary coils, twin magnet system, moving iron element. Four magnetic gaps. Extremely low moving mass. Compatible with standard MM phono input at 47kΩ. No SUT or MC gain required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications — High Output\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput voltage: 4.0mV @ 5 CMV (45 degrees)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrequency response: 10 Hz–60 kHz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChannel separation: Average 30 dB (10–30 kHz)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInput load: 10k–47kΩ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInductance: 55mH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDC resistance: 660Ω\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStylus: Nude Shibata diamond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCantilever: Machined boron\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBody: American Osage wood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternal signal path: 6N OCC copper, cryogenic treatment, internal damping\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCartridge weight: 9.6g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecommended tracking force: 1.6–1.9g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompliance: 20 μm\/mN\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompatible phono input: Standard MM (47kΩ) — no SUT or MC gain required\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-faq gsbp-ab3b28d\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is a Shibata stylus and why does it matter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Shibata profile was developed in the 1970s for high-frequency groove tracing accuracy. Its narrow, elongated contact patch makes more precise groove wall contact than an elliptical stylus, enabling accurate tracking well beyond the audible range (the Reference4 is specified to 60 kHz). The Shibata diamond also retrieves more musical information from the groove at high frequencies, contributing to the Reference4’s improved resolution and lower distortion compared to the elliptical-diamond models below it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between the Reference4 and the Master4?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth share the same American Osage wood body and machined boron cantilever. The Reference4 adds three upgrades: a nude Shibata diamond (vs. the Master4’s elliptical), 6N OCC copper (vs. standard OCC), and cryogenic treatment plus internal damping of the assembly. The Shibata diamond is the most audible difference — it improves high-frequency tracking precision and retrieval. The 6N copper, cryogenic treatment, and damping lower the noise floor and improve channel consistency.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDo I need a special phono stage for the High Output version?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — 4.0mV at 47kΩ is standard moving magnet territory. Any quality MM phono stage is compatible. No step-up transformer or MC gain is needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShould I choose High Output or Low Output?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf your phono stage has only an MM input, choose High Output. If your phono stage has MC gain capability (approximately 58–60 dB at 47kΩ), the Low Output version has fewer coil windings and lower inductance, which some listeners prefer for its simpler signal path. Call us at \u003ca href=\"tel:+18009420220\"\u003e800-942-0220\u003c\/a\u003e and we can help you decide based on your specific phono stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat tracking force should I use?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrado recommends 1.6–1.9g. Start at 1.75g and adjust by ear using a digital stylus force gauge. Accurate tracking force is especially important with a nude Shibata stylus, which is more sensitive to setup precision than a bonded elliptical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere is it made?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy hand, in Brooklyn, New York. Grado Labs has assembled phono cartridges there since 1953.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat’s in the Box\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrado Timbre Reference4 High Output phono cartridge ×1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStylus guard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMounting hardware (screws and nuts)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Audio Advisor?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ec-titlebox-text\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e?  \u003cstrong\u003e40+ Years of Expertise\u003c\/strong\u003e — Since 1981, we’ve helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e?  \u003cstrong\u003e60-Day Money-Back Guarantee\u003c\/strong\u003e — Try it risk-free for 60 days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e?  \u003cstrong\u003eReal Experts, Real Help\u003c\/strong\u003e — Our team is here at \u003ca href=\"tel:8009420220\"\u003e800-942-0220\u003c\/a\u003e, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e?  \u003cstrong\u003eFree Shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e?  \u003cstrong\u003eFlexible Payment Options\u003c\/strong\u003e — Financing available so you can start listening now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWant to learn more about Shibata stylus profiles, phono stage matching, or building a high-performance analog system? Visit our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learningcenter.audioadvisor.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAudio Advisor Learning Center\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Grado Labs","offers":[{"title":"New \/ HIGH \/ New","offer_id":45980616687789,"sku":"NEW-GRREFER4-HIGH","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"New \/ HIGH \/ Demo","offer_id":45980616720557,"sku":"DEMO-GRREFER4-HIGH","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/3708\/1773\/files\/GRREFER4-HIGHLOWMONO_01_angle_2026__20779.1777049778.1280.1280_a444c0aa-e0b3-4cee-8a1e-c32c9c65e709.jpg?v=1778167707","url":"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/grado-timbre-reference4-phono-cartridge-high-output","provider":"Audio Advisor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}