Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Grado reference platinum Phono Cartridge by digiphobe

Model:	reference platinum
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$300
Description:	moving iron cartridge
Manufacturer URL:	Grado
Manufacturer URL:	Grado

Review by digiphobe ( A ) on February 04, 2005 at 14:15:20
IP Address: 216.232.102.181

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for the reference platinum

I purchased this cart new from an authourized dealer and it now has 50+ hours on it, so we'll consider it 'run in'.

I'm using it on a Basis 1400/ rb300 with cable mod. I'll start by saying that I've never encountered such a huge change in dynamic ability over a break-in period for any given component; out of the box this cart sounded dynamicaly stunned with bass that was fuzzy and ill defined. after 15+hours it was beginning to play on -song and just got more improved as time went on.

This cart represents good sound/value; the bottom octave is deep and well defined, the mids are resolving, sweet and forgiving; only harsh on the very worst recordings .(not even the Grado will pollish a turd) The highs are sweet and "there" - a little laid back for sure, but they do exist. I even hear some resemblance of air.

To compare with the goldring 1022gx, I'd say the grado's highs are much less splashy, the midband more developed and the grado has a fuller bottom end. I've also owned the clearaudio Virtuoso, which surprisingly enough is less preferable to me; too analytical but it did have nicer top octave.(same story with the Glyder) The Grado has more meat on the bone- fuller, warmer sounding.

I play all types of music and the Grado doesn't prefer any one type, it sounds good on the most agressive to the most subtle.

And hum? there are no issues with hum, not on my rig. The only noise is the surface noise on some of the LP's that are poorly pressed; something we all have to overlook.

So is this cartridge a giant killer?..........No, but it'll punch the lights out of anything in it's price class and then some. What we have here is a cartridge that has few minor flaws, but overall sounds real good and always, always sounds musical.

Product Weakness: very slight veiling on some material, laid back treble, although that may be a good thing depending on system.
Product Strengths: Dynamics, palpability, lushness, articulate bass

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	naim 150
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	112, flatcap2, stageline
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	basis 1400
Speakers:	ACI Opals
Cables/Interconnects:	naim
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	mostly pop, jazz, rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	25ft x 15ft x 8ft
Room Comments/Treatments:	n/a
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	n/a
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	very slight veiling on some material, laid back treble, although that may be a good thing depending on system.
Product Strengths:	Dynamics, palpability, lushness, articulate bass