Grado Prestige ME+ Mono Cartridge (MI)

The Grado Prestige ME+ is a true mono cartridge: its coils are aligned so they only track lateral groove movement – exactly the movement that carries the music on mono records.

That sounds like a detail, but it's really the whole point. Anything happening vertically in the groove is noise on a mono recording. The ME+ simply doesn't hear it.

Why the ME+?

Switching a stereo system to mono helps a little. A true mono system doesn't pick up the noise in the first place. The ME+ also features Grado's four-piece OTL cantilever, oxygen-free copper in the coils, and a highly polished elliptical diamond with a 1-mil radius in a brass bushing.

What you hear

Quiet. Old mono pressings lose a significant chunk of their surface noise, voices stand firmer and more solid, and the bass fills out. If you have a sizeable mono collection, you'll often hear your records the way they were intended for the first time.

Who is the ME+ for?

For anyone with a meaningful mono collection – pre-1958 jazz, early classical, old blues and folk pressings. Honestly: it isn't intended for stereo records, so you'll need either a second cartridge or a second headshell. If you only have three mono discs on the shelf, save your money.

Our verdict

The ME+ is one of the few add-on purchases where the effect is immediate and audible without golden ears. A second cartridge sounds like a luxury – but for a real mono collection, it's simply the right tool.

Technical Specifications

• Type: Moving-iron mono cartridge (MM-compatible)
• Series: Grado Prestige
• Tracking: True mono, lateral modulation only
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 50 kHz
• Output voltage: 5 mV at 1 kHz (5 cm/s)
• Load impedance: 47 kOhm
• Recommended tracking force: 1.5 g
• Stylus: Elliptical diamond (1 mil), user-replaceable
• Mounting: Standard half-inch and P-mount
• Weight: 5.5 g
• Manufacturing: Hand-assembled in Brooklyn, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I also play stereo records with the ME+?

We'd advise against it. The ME+ only reproduces lateral groove movement, leaving the vertical information of a stereo groove unused – and the stylus geometry isn't designed for it either. A second headshell or a second tonearm makes sense; switching then takes a minute.

Does a mono cartridge really bring more than the mono switch on an amplifier?

Yes, noticeably so. The mono switch sums two channels after the noise has already been picked up. The ME+ never picks up the vertical noise information in the first place. The result is an audibly quieter background and a more stable center, especially with used pressings.

Why buy the Grado ME+ from HD Zürisee?

Because mono playback is a niche where advice matters more than any product description. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, we'll work out with you whether a second headshell, a second arm, or a system swap is the more practical route. Just get in touch.

Goes well with

The right phono preamp, more cartridges, and everything for vinyl.