Best Grado VFM

[telecaster_]

As per the title really, I want to try a few different MM/HOMC carts this year and have never tried a Grado, so which of their lower budget (sub £250?) carts offers the best bang for buck?

[BMRR]

In my opinion, the Prestige Blue2 is probably the best bang for the buck. You get 95% of the performance of the Gold2, for about half the price.

[telecaster_]

Thanks I'll check out the blue.

As a rule what are the strengths of Grado carts? I'm looking for something that is outstanding at vocals, air, space, imaging and soundstage, not too worried about thunderous bass I'm looking more for that magical holographic sound.

[BMRR]

Grado carts are most famous for the way they render midrange musical content, particularly vocals. The founder of the company was an opera singer and that influenced the Grado "house sound" to a great extent.

[telecaster_]

Thanks.

Looking here at the UK prices the difference between a Blue 2 and Gold 2 is about 35% rather than half price, would you suggest stumping up for the Gold or stick with the Blue at those rates?

[BMRR]

That is interesting! In the US, the Blue2 is $125 and the Gold2 is $260.

If you can afford the Gold2, get it. :) The differences between the Blue/Red and the Silver/Gold are very minor and perhaps inaudible, but the Gold is gold, and who doesn't like gold? ;) :D

[telecaster_]

From what I can see, a Blue2 here is £135 ($170? ish) and a Gold2 £180 ($230? ish)

Strange that the Blue is considerably more expensive here, yet the Gold is cheaper :?

[BMRR]

What are the prices for the Black2 and Green2 there?

[KentT]

Grados are today, MI cartridges. Not MC. The Grado Prestige Blue2 is the sweet spot, the most Grado, for the least cash outlay.

[rewfew]

I went up one notch with the red. So far, very nice. Good bass and that mid-range magic. Top end hasn't fleshed out yet but I've hardly used it yet. If the stylus ever needed replacement. I'd use the blue. They all have the same stylus tip, the only variance to the line is 3 or 4 piece cantilever's.

[telecaster_]

What are the prices for the Black2 and Green2 there?

They're not commonly stocked so it's hard to get an accurate average price, but about £80/$105 for the Black 2 and £95/$125 for the Green 2.

I know they're MI and not MM I was just including them as the price point puts them up against many other MM carts I'm interested in trying which is why I included them.

[Boltman92124]

That is interesting! In the US, the Blue2 is $125 and the Gold2 is $260.

If you can afford the Gold2, get it. :) The differences between the Blue/Red and the Silver/Gold are very minor and perhaps inaudible, but the Gold is gold, and who doesn't like gold? ;) :D

So Grado says that The Black> Green and Blue> Red upgrades are because they take the top 10%? of the manufacturing run of the same cart right? What does that mean anyway? A Grado Green IS a Grado Black but performed better on the bench testing??

[BMRR]

Yes. A Green is a Black that performed slightly better than spec. A Red is a Blue that performed slightly better than spec. And a Gold is a Silver that performed slightly better than spec.

[AdlerW]

I went with the Silver because it's the least talked-about and I'm guessing therefore most seldom-purchased of the line and I love an underdog story :)

[Drewan77]

I have a Black2 & a Gold2.

Both have the same smooth & seductive midrange, strong & extended bass & a sweet, well balanced treble. If I was to compare & summarise, the Gold just has 'more so' of everything the Black possesses & with greater air & image separation within the soundstage.

I travel back & forth UK/USA & I purchased in America in case of quality issues/return. Both are fine however.

The difference isn't huge but these are excellent value cartridges. Some people experience hum but I don't (on a Technics SL1200G & I've also heard these on a 1200Mk2 and a 1600, also without hum)