Grado Master 3 MI Cartridge

Grado Master 3 cartridge

The Grado Master 3 is positioned at the top end of the Grado Wood series and is aimed at vinyl listeners who want to combine the highest precision with a musically coherent reproduction. As a meticulously engineered moving iron cartridge, it combines high-quality materials, low moving mass, and a very precise tracking geometry – resulting in a sound that is particularly convincing due to its naturalness, clean dynamics, and credible spatial representation.

A crucial component of the Master 3 is the optimized resonance management of the cabinet , which directly benefits from developments within Grado's current top-of-the-line models. Together with the precisely crafted Jarrah wood body , this creates a mechanically stable platform that effectively controls unwanted resonances and audibly smooths the playback.

Inside, Grado's proven Moving Iron (MI) technology is at work. It combines the high output voltage of classic MM systems with the fine dynamics of high-quality, high-end cartridges. UHPLC coils made of long-crystal, oxygen-free copper are used, enabling low-loss signal transmission and ensuring precise, clean signal processing.

A key technical highlight of the Master 3 is its exceptionally lightweight , 5-part boron cantilever , whose reduced mass significantly improves tracking precision. This design particularly benefits impulse response, fine resolution, and spatial stability, especially during complex musical passages.

The Master 3 uses a nude elliptical cut for its diamond stylus, which allows for precise groove tracking and cleanly reproduces subtle musical details. The result is a balanced sound with high detail resolution, without analytical harshness or artificial emphasis on individual frequency ranges.

Difference between Grado Master 3 and Reference 3

Compared to the Grado Reference 3, both models share many key design features:

• Jarrah wooden case
• 5-piece boron cantilever
• UHPLC coils
• High output, low output and mono versions
• identical basic electrical data

The main difference lies in the diamond cut :

• Grado Master 3: nude elliptical diamond
• Grado Reference 3: True Ellipsoid Diamond

The more sophisticated True Ellipsoid stylus of the Reference 3 enables even more precise groove tracking, finer treble resolution, and greater detail. The Master 3, on the other hand, offers a more direct entry into Grado's upper echelon and impresses with a very well-balanced ratio of technical quality to investment.

Flexible connection options

The Grado Master 3 is available in various versions:

• High Output Version (4.8 mV) – for high-quality MM phono preamps
• Low Output / Statement Version (1.0 mV) – for MC phono inputs
• Mono version – for specialized mono applications

This allows the system to be easily integrated into a wide variety of high-quality analog chains.

Technical data

• Model: Grado Master 3
• Type: Moving Iron Pickup
• Weight: 10 g
• Recommended tracking force: 1.6 – 1.9 g
• Case: Jarrah wood
• Needle carrier: 5-part boron cantilever
• Needle cut: nude elliptical diamond
• Coils: UHPLC long-crystalline, oxygen-free copper
• Output voltage:
  • 1.0 mV (Low Output / Statement)
  • 4.8 mV (High Output / Reference)
• Frequency response: 10 – 60,000 Hz
• Needle compliance: 20 µm/mN
• Internal impedance:
  • 70 O (Low Output)
  • 660 O (High Output)
• Termination impedance: 10,000 Ω – 47 kΩ

For demanding analog systems

The Grado Master 3 is designed for listeners seeking precise, sonically authentic vinyl reproduction and who value high-quality mechanical construction. For those looking to position themselves between the Grado Sonata 3 and the Reference 3, the Master 3 offers a technically compelling and sonically exceptionally balanced solution.