Grado Prestige Gold3 MI Cartridge

The Grado Prestige Gold3 is the flagship of the Prestige series: a moving-iron cartridge, hand-assembled in Brooklyn, with an elliptical diamond and high output voltage for any MM phono input.

Within the Prestige line, the Gold3 sits above the Green3 and Red3 – it's hand-selected from the units with the tightest tolerances and fine-tuned with a specially finished generator for maximum transparency.

Why the Gold3?

Grado builds its cartridges on the moving-iron principle: instead of a magnet or a coil, a tiny piece of iron moves. That keeps inductance around ten times lower than in classic MM systems – the result is a clean, open top end and good compatibility with cables and phono inputs.

The four-piece OTL cantilever (Optimized Transmission Line) with Grado's own diamond on a brass bushing transfers the groove signal with low loss and suppresses resonance. The Gold3 additionally uses a specially finished generator for lower distortion.

What you hear

The signature Grado sound: full, colourful and spacious, with punchy bass and a midrange that brings voices and instruments to life. The Gold3 renders it all with finer detail and more transparency than the smaller Prestige models. Recommended tracking force 1.5 g.

Who is the Gold3 for?

For anyone with a good turntable and an MM phono input who wants the best the Prestige series has to offer. Straight talk: if you only have an MC input with no MM option, you're better served with a moving-coil system – the Gold3 wants to see a 47 kΩ MM input.

Our verdict

The Gold3 is the crowning achievement of the Prestige series and a classic with character: straightforward to run, musical in result. If you want the full, lively Grado sound, this is the pick.

Technical Data

• Type: Moving-iron cartridge (MI), high output, replaceable stylus
• Series: Grado Prestige (flagship)
• Frequency response: 10–50,000 Hz
• Output voltage: 5 mV (1 kHz, 5 cm/s)
• Recommended load: 47 kΩ
• Recommended tracking force: 1.5 g
• Cantilever: Four-piece OTL construction
• Diamond: Elliptical, on brass bushing
• Generator: Specially finished, for lower distortion
• Mounting: Standard 1/2"
• Weight: approx. 5.5 g
• Manufacturing: Hand-assembled in Brooklyn, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Gold3, Red3 and Green3?

All three are moving-iron systems in the Prestige series with 5 mV and 47 kΩ. The Gold3 sits at the top: hand-selected, four-piece OTL cantilever and a specially finished generator for more transparency. Green3 and Red3 sit below it as the more affordable entry points.

Is the Gold3 an MM or MC system?

Technically it's a moving-iron system, but it's run like an MM: high output voltage (5 mV), 47 kΩ load, works with any MM phono input. The stylus is also user-replaceable – so you don't have to replace the whole cartridge once the diamond wears out.

Why buy the Grado Gold3 at HD Zürisee?

Because a cartridge only shows its potential with correct setup. HD Zürisee in Wädenswil is an authorised Grado dealer; we mount the Gold3 properly, set tracking force and anti-skating, and advise you on the right phono stage. Free shipping from CHF 190.

Goes well with

A matching turntable, more cartridges and the right phono preamp.