There was once a catch phrase, “No one ever got fired by hiring IBM” which was an analogy for playing it safe, and getting known performance and support. It does not exactly transfer to the vinyl world, but somehow it came to mind when reviewing this cartridge. It is a safe bet, a cartridge of known quality that performs well in any system, with a single caveat. It is hard to imagine anyone being dissatisfied with it.The Grado Silver1 is fast, detailed, has excellent clarity and resolution with a touch of characteristic Grado warmth, and is altogether musically satisfying - Soundadvice
The Prestige series of cartridges are designed for high output and excellent stability under severe use. A considerable tip mass reduction results in a frequency response to 50 kHz and beyond and tracking forces from 1-2 grams. Acclaimed by experts as virtually the finest pickups in the world at their price.
Prestige models available in both 1/2" mount and P-mount. All styli in the Prestige series are user replaceable.
The Silver2 uses a four piece OTL cantilever with a Grado specific elliptical diamond stylus mounted on a brass bushing. A machined turned generator is used to achieve a lower distortion and greater transparency.
What's the difference between Gold2 and Silver2?
Approximately 5% of the Silver2 production runs meet higher test specifications. The cartridges that exhibit these specs are hand-selected to become a Gold2.
Grado’s OTL, or optimized transmission line, technology provides an ideal transfer of signal from the surface of the LP to the generator of the system.
This technology rejects unwanted resonances and lowers distortion preserving the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of the music. This also helps keep noise generated by the motor system in the cartridge to a minimum.
Grado’s OTL stylus/cantilever design makes records sound quieter, improves the height, width, and depth of the soundstage, and present more detail than previously obtainable.
The Silver2 are all hand assembled by our team in Brooklyn, with some builders having over 25 years of experience. With the recent development of the highly received Lineage Series of cartridges, we were able to have a trickle down of technology and bring some new techniques to the Silver2.
This updated series of cartridges offers excellent tonal balance, dynamics, and realism, for a most rewarding reproduction of vocals and instruments. Our coil winding techniques, using ultra high purity copper wire which were honed during the development of the Lineage Series, have let the electrical circuits achieve unison between the four coils in each phono cartridge. This allows for a precise balance between channels and accurate stereo imaging.
As in all Grado phono cartridges the Silver2 is powered by a twin magnet system that optimizes the balance between stereo channels. All internal magnetic circuit parts are held to extremely high tolerances creating the desired stereo imaging. Grado’s patented Flux-Bridger design allows the Silver2 to have one of the lowest effective moving mass generating systems while creating an excellent balance throughout the full frequency range.
The development of the Epoch in the Lineage Series gave us an in-depth experience with using an outer housing as a damping device. This led to the creation of a process which de-stresses the chassis and dissipates unwanted energy & resonant frequencies, allowing the desired signal to travel freely.
Frequency Response: 10-60
Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 35
Input Load: 47K
Output at 1KHz 5CM/sec.: 5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
Stylus Type: E
Inductance: 45mH
Resistance: 475
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement F=Factory: U
Mounting: S/P
Weight: 5.5
