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Commercial Grado Statement Platinum Series 2 Phono Cartridge (MM) The Statement Series of wooden cartridges are a fixed coil design, hand-crafted at Grado Labs in Brooklyn. An intricate procedure of curing is done between production steps to achieve optimal sonic quality. This series generator/stylus module is not replaceable* allowing a one-piece magnetic circuit and a reduction of chassis resonances. The Statement Series utilizes manufacturing and assembly techniques of fantastic accuracy and precision, and the result is virtual perfection. Should be used only with the finest equipment. Reco
A fair listing at the top end of the pack: A$343 sits just under the A$348 median and comfortably inside the recent A$232–A$442 range, so this reads as market-level rather than a bargain. It is not cheap enough to call a steal, but it is close enough to fair value that a clean example would be easy to justify.
What makes it interesting is the model’s reputation for a lively, detailed presentation and strong tracking when set up correctly, which is why Grado cartridges keep a following among listeners who value energy and drive. The upside here is simple: if the stylus, cantilever, and generator are healthy and it comes with the original packaging or proof of light use, A$343 is a sensible buy for a well-regarded moving-magnet cartridge.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Grado Labs, a family-owned American audio pioneer, traces its roots to 1953 when Joseph Grado, a former watchmaker and Audio Hall of Famer, founded the company in Brooklyn, New York. Starting in his family's kitchen—once a fruit store—he and his brother John developed the world's first moving coil stereo phono cartridge, patenting it in 1959 and earning a reputation for precision engineering that propelled millions of units into recording studios and homes worldwide. Still handcrafting products in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, under third-generation leadership, Grado embodies enduring Italian-American ingenuity in high-fidelity sound.
The brand focuses primarily on phono cartridges and headphones, categories where it has defined benchmarks for decades. Early ventures included speakers, turntables, and wooden tonearms before concentrating on cartridges in 1963; by the late 1980s, Joseph Grado pioneered high-end dynamic headphones that rivaled top speaker systems in dynamics, pitch control, and bass. Today, iterative lines like the Prestige, Signature, "E," and "X" series deliver open-back designs prized for their natural timbre and detail, all assembled by hand without venturing into amplifiers, DACs, or speakers.
Grado occupies a niche boutique position in the high-end market, revered by audiophiles for its uncompromised, value-driven performance and vintage-inspired warmth. Free from corporate gloss, its handmade Brooklyn products command loyalty among discerning buyers seeking authentic vinyl playback and headphone immersion, blending collector appeal with modern relevance in an era of digital dominance.
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