Grado Timbre Sonata4 Phono Cartridge - Low Output

Grado Timbre Sonata4 Moving Iron Phono Cartridge

What You Need to Know

The Nude Stylus Changes Everything

The Grado Timbre Sonata4 Moving Iron Phono Cartridge marks a real turning point in Grado’s wood-body line: it’s where the stylus goes nude. Hand-built in Brooklyn with a hand-carved Mediterranean olive wood body, the Sonata4 mounts a nude elliptical diamond on a specially designed cantilever for audibly faster, cleaner, more detailed sound.

For serious listeners climbing the Timbre range, this is the step worth stretching for.

Nude Elliptical Diamond on an Upgraded Cantilever

Unlike the bonded styli on the Opus4 and Platinum4, the Sonata4’s nude elliptical is cut from a single piece of diamond—no metal shank, no glue joint, far less tip mass. Mounted to a specially designed aluminum cantilever, it responds to the groove faster and more faithfully.

You’ll hear crisper transients, sweeter highs, lower surface noise, and finer low-level detail.

Hand-Carved Mediterranean Olive Wood Body

Dense, fine-grained olive wood damps and tunes vibrational energy naturally, giving the Sonata4 the warm, organic, dimensional character that has made Grado’s wood cartridges famous. The 4 Series body is reshaped for better cantilever visibility and easier alignment.

Flux-Bridger Moving Iron Generator with 6N Copper

Joseph Grado’s patented flux-bridger design pairs fixed coils—wound with ultra-high-purity 6N OCC copper—with an ultra-low-mass moving iron element. Add cryogenic component treatment and internal damping, and the result is remarkable transparency and speed.

Three Versions: High Output, Low Output, and Mono

The Sonata4 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 Sonata4 rewards quality turntables with medium-mass tonearms and a good phono stage. 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.

Features & Specifications

Nude Elliptical Diamond Stylus
Single-piece diamond with far less tip mass for faster, cleaner sound.

Specially Designed Cantilever
Upgraded assembly transfers groove detail with minimal loss.

Hand-Carved Mediterranean Olive Wood Body
Natural tonewood damping for warm, dimensional, organic sound.

Flux-Bridger Generator with 6N OCC Copper Coils
Moving coil speed and transparency without the fragility.

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

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

Specifications

•          Type: Moving Iron (MI)

•          Stylus: Nude Elliptical Diamond

•          Cantilever: Specially Designed 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 Sonata4 compare to the Platinum4?
The Sonata4 upgrades to a nude elliptical stylus on a specially designed cantilever—the single biggest sonic step in the lower Timbre range, with faster transients and cleaner detail.

How does it compare to the Master4?
The Master4 steps up to a machined boron cantilever and a hand-carved American osage body for even greater speed, resolution, and dynamic authority.

Who is the Sonata4 designed for?
It’s ideal for dedicated vinyl listeners who want true audiophile-grade wood-body performance at a mid-tier price.

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