Grado's New Prestige Series 2 Updates Classic Grado Cartridge Line

Brooklyn, NY: Grado recently announced "a major step forward in their affordable Prestige Series of phono cartridges" with the Prestige Series 2—the entry level line's third upgrade since its 1953 introduction, when these were hand-built by Joe Grado on his kitchen table.

The Prestige Black2, Green2, Blue2, Red2, Silver2, and Gold2 continue this tradition, though while still hand-assembled in Brooklyn by the Grado team, they no longer do it on a kitchen table. Unlike "trickle down" economics, which does not work, "trickle down" technology does so the new Prestige line uses technology and building techniques first incorporated in the recently introduced (and costly) Lineage Series.

Grado claims for the new line "Excellent tonal balance, dynamics and realism for a most rewarding reproduction of vocals and instruments" thanks to Grado's improved winding techniques using high purity copper wire developed for the Lineage series, along with other improvements, including the development of a new outer housing damping technique that de-stresses the housing to allow for the dissipation of unwanted energy while effectively suppressing resonances.

More backgrounder from Grado:

"In 1953, the Grado family started building cartridges on their kitchen table. All 64 years of experience has led to the evolution of the Prestige Series of cartridges. From the Black2 to the Gold2, this series represents the unwavering dedication to sound that has been Grado Labs’ main focus since the very beginning. The Prestige Series is available immediately for $75 to $260.

AnalogPlanet has a Prestige Black2 in-house for review.

COMMENTS
my new username's picture

The Gold, at about $200, has been popular for years. I never took to it, preferring the earlier 8MZ. But maybe, just maybe, a Gold2 is better than that older Signature cart?

And ya gotta watch that motor noise. Mine always picked it up near the inner groves from my SOTA Comet.

JR465's picture

Hi Michael- Great to see that Grado continues to update their line. I remember you reviewed The Reference many years ago. Will you be reviewing The Reference2?

Best Regards
John

Rudy's picture

I would try another Grado if they would just get something better than an elliptical stylus in their carts in this series. There are still Grado's "twin-tip" replacement styli out there for the 8MZ, MCZ and TLZ cartridges, and those would fit. (They appear to be LPGear exclusives though.) A new Gold2 with the MCZ or TLZ upgrade would likely sound quite good.

Rudy's picture

...and strangely, no update to their Web site for the new series. They still list the Gold1, Silver1, etc. as current products.

simply me's picture

If only they'd design a cart for medium-heavy arms, I'd maybe try one, but their compliance has always been too high.

cement_head's picture

Had a Grado Prestige Black, and now have a Grado Prestige Gold 1 and really, really like the sound on my system.

cement_head's picture

Hi Mikey,

I'm eager to hear what you think of the Grado Prestige Black2 vs the Black1.

Regards,
Andor

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