Grado Epoch4

Epoch4 Description Epoch4 represents the highest level of performance within the Grado Lineage Series. Developed through decades of cartridge design and refinement, it reflects a continuous pursuit of musical accuracy, control, and resolution. Built around Grado’s patented moving iron flux-bridger system, Epoch4 delivers the speed and detail associated with moving coil designs while maintaining the tonal density, stability, and longevity that define Grado cartridges. Offered in both stereo and mono configurations, Epoch4 is designed for systems where nothing is left to chance. Specifications Body - Brazilian Ebony Wood Cantilever - Sapphire/Shibata Diamond Output - 1.0mV @ 5 CMV (45 degrees) Controlled Frequency Response - 5 Hz - 75 KHz Channel Separation - Avg. 30db, 10-30K Hz Input Load - 10-47k ohms Inductance - 8mH Resistance - 95 ohms Cartridge Weight - 10.5 grams Tracking Force - 1.6 -1.9 grams Compliance - 20 μm/mN Performance Epoch4 is a low output moving iron cartridge designed for use with high-gain phono stages. Its presentation is defined by clarity, separation, and control. Detail is revealed without exaggeration, with a top end that remains smooth and composed. The midrange carries natural weight and texture, while low frequencies are delivered with authority and precision. Complex recordings are resolved with ease, maintaining separation and spatial accuracy without collapsing the soundstage. The overall balance allows the character of the recording to come through naturally. Flux-Bridger Moving Iron Design All Grado cartridges utilize a moving iron design built on Joseph Grado’s patented flux-bridger principle. This approach allows the cartridge to generate a precise signal with extremely low moving mass, while keeping the coil structure fixed. The result is a presentation that combines speed, control, and harmonic integrity without the fragility often associated with traditional moving coil systems. The design also ensures long-term consistency, maintaining performance over time without degradation of the internal signal path. Diamond & Cantilever Epoch4 features a nude Shibata diamond mounted to a sapphire cantilever. The Shibata profile is highly effective at retrieving detail from the groove, offering exceptional contact and resolution while maintaining a natural, unforced presentation. Paired with a sapphire cantilever—known for its rigidity and resistance to deformation—the system delivers clarity, extension, and stability across the frequency range. Coil & Internal Structure The internal signal path is built using ultra-high purity OCC copper with gold plating, chosen for its conductivity and long-term reliability. Each cartridge undergoes cryogenic treatment during both component preparation and final assembly, helping to stabilize materials and optimize performance. The internal structure is carefully damped to reduce unwanted resonance and vibration, allowing the cartridge to extract information from the groove with minimal interference. The result is a signal that remains coherent, balanced, and dynamically responsive. Housing The Epoch4 is housed in a Brazilian Ebony wood body. Beyond its visual presence, the wood plays a role in controlling resonance and contributing to the cartridge’s tonal balance. The structure has been refined to reduce mass while improving compatibility across a wider range of tonearms. The form also improves visibility of the cantilever during setup, allowing for more precise alignment. Wood Cartridge Upgrade Program Grado wood body cartridges are supported through our Wood Cartridge Upgrade Program. This program allows you to move from your current Grado wood cartridge to another model, with a pricing accommodation provided through the program. The program applies exclusively to Grado wood body cartridges, and pricing is based on the model being purchased. For details and current pricing, please contact us and state the model you are interested in purchasing.