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Grado Platinum 3 high output Phono Cartridge (MI) Brand new Grado Platinum 3, Timbre Series Moving Iron cartridge or sale.Bought it as a backup. Excellent sound stage, beautiful sound, but decided I don't need back up. Prefer MC cartridge.Shell optional ($50) brand new as well.Cartridge mounted used Dr.Feickert alignment tool for 250mm Jelco arm. Condition: Brand New Payment Method: EFT, Cash Region/State: (NSW) New South Wales/Australia By Astrosound 0 Comments Secure Ad AUD $500 Date: January 10Jan 10
At A$500 for a “new” Grado PLATINUM cartridge, this listing sits just under the 75th percentile (A$525) of recent AUD used comparables, but it’s effectively fair-to-slightly-ambitious when anchored to the median of A$433—especially since the official new price is only A$400–A$495 depending on region and configuration. Calling it “new” in an AUD condition note is misleading if it’s actually used; if truly new-in-box, it’s a modest premium over current retail, not a bargain.
The Grado Platinum is well-regarded for its wood-body (Australian Jarrah) resonance control, twin-magnet system, and resolution that rivals moving-coil cartridges at a fraction of the cost. It delivers warm, detailed sound with excellent midrange presence, making it a standout in the sub–A$500 tier. If this is original-owner, NOS condition with the original box and all accessories, it’s a solid buy for someone seeking high-end tone without the MC price tag—but only if the “new” claim is verified.
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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