Grado Timbre Sonata 4 Phono Cartridge

Grado Sonata4

The Grado Sonata4 is a phono cartridge from Grado’s Timbre Series, designed for those who seek resolution, control, and musicality in equal measure. First of all, it is based on Joseph Grado’s patented moving iron design, founded on the flux-bridger principle. This allows it to generate a precise signal with an extremely low moving mass, while the coil structure remains fixed. As a result, it delivers speed, control, and harmonic integrity without the fragility typically associated with traditional moving coil systems.

Furthermore, the body is crafted from Mediterranean olive wood, specifically selected to manage resonances and contribute to tonal balance. Thanks to the redesigned structure, cantilever visibility during setup is also improved, allowing for more precise alignment on a wide range of tonearms.

For tracking performance, the Sonata4 features a nude elliptical diamond mounted on a custom aluminum cantilever. This combination ensures excellent groove contact and natural detail retrieval. Moreover, its sonic presentation is characterized by clarity, balance, and musical fluidity: the midrange offers presence and texture, while the low frequencies remain controlled and well defined. The internal signal path uses ultra-high purity 6N OCC copper; at the same time, each cartridge undergoes cryogenic treatment and internal damping to reduce unwanted resonances.

Finally, as it is available in both High Output and Low Output versions, the Sonata4 adapts to a wide variety of phono stages.

Specifications

Body: Mediterranean olive wood
Cantilever: Special aluminum with elliptical diamond

Output:
High Output: 4.0 mV @ 5 cm/s (45°)
Low Output: 1.0 mV @ 5 cm/s (45°)

Inductance:
High Output: 55 mH
Low Output: 6 mH

Resistance:
High Output: 660 Ω
Low Output: 70 Ω

Input load: 10 kΩ – 47 kΩ
Cartridge weight: 9.4 g
Tracking force: 1.6 – 1.9 g
Compliance: 20 μm/mN
Channel separation: Average 30 dB (10 Hz – 30 kHz)
Controlled frequency response: 10 Hz – 60 kHz
Capacitive load sensitivity: Not sensitive