Grado Epoch4 Phono Cartridge

A flagship Lineage Series low-output moving iron cartridge with Brazilian Ebony body, sapphire cantilever, nude Shibata diamond, 1.0 mV output, and stereo or mono configuration

The Grado Epoch4 is the top model in Grado’s Lineage Series, built for analog systems where resolution, tonal density, and control all matter. It uses Grado’s patented moving iron flux-bridger design to deliver the speed and detail often associated with moving coil cartridges, while retaining the fixed-coil stability and long-term consistency that define Grado’s cartridge architecture.

With a 1.0 mV output, the Epoch4 is designed for high-gain phonostages and serious vinyl front ends. It is available in stereo and mono versions, giving listeners a reference-level Grado cartridge for either standard LP playback or dedicated mono record collections.

Flux-Bridger Moving Iron Design

All Grado cartridges are based on Joseph Grado’s patented flux-bridger moving iron principle. In the Epoch4, that design keeps the coil structure fixed while using an extremely low-mass moving system to generate signal from the groove. The result is a cartridge that combines speed, harmonic density, and low-level detail without the fragility or aging concerns often associated with traditional moving coil designs.

Sapphire Cantilever and Nude Shibata Diamond

The Epoch4 uses a nude Shibata diamond mounted to a sapphire cantilever. The Shibata profile provides a large, precise contact area with the groove wall, allowing the cartridge to retrieve fine detail while maintaining a smooth, composed top end. The sapphire cantilever adds rigidity and stability, helping the stylus assembly preserve timing, clarity, and extension across the cartridge’s wide frequency range.

Brazilian Ebony Body

The Epoch4 is housed in a Brazilian Ebony wood body, chosen for both resonance control and tonal character. Grado has refined the body shape to reduce mass, improve tonearm compatibility, and make the cantilever easier to see during setup, helping with accurate alignment.

Carefully Controlled Internal Structure

Inside the cartridge, Grado uses ultra-high-purity OCC copper with gold plating for the signal path. Components are cryogenically treated during preparation and final assembly, and the internal structure is carefully damped to reduce unwanted resonance and vibration. The goal is a cartridge that tracks complex musical information with separation, stability, and dynamic ease.

Specifications

Body: Brazilian Ebony wood

Cantilever: Sapphire

Stylus: Nude Shibata diamond

Output: 1.0 mV @ 5 CMV, 45°

Controlled Frequency Response: 5 Hz–75 kHz

Channel Separation: Avg. 30 dB, 10 Hz–30 kHz

Input Load: 10–47k ohms

Inductance: 8 mH

Resistance: 95 ohms

Tracking Force: 1.6–1.9 g

Compliance: 20 μm/mN

Cartridge Weight: 10.5 g