Part of my job as the editor of AudioEnz is to talk to hi-fi retailers about which products are particularly good and might be worth attention in the pages of this magazine. Being “on the caolfacc” gives a good hi-fi retailer a unique insight into the various pieces of hi-fi equipment that any reviewer simply cannot have.

I’m regularly told about speakers, amplifiers, CD players and even AV receives that are particularly good performers or have something of interest about them.

But I can’t remember the last time any hi-fi retailer mentioned a phono cartridge to me, until recently. Peter Munt, manager of Eastern Hi-Fi in Newmarket Auckland, started raving to me about the wooden bodied Grado cartridges, particularly the Sonata. I had been impressed with the lower-end Grado Prestige Gold and made a note to see if a Sonata could be made available for review. It was, and a couple of months later it arrived.

While the Prestige Gold used Grado’s standard plastic body – in use since Adam was a young audiophile – the upper ranges of Grado cartridges now use a wooden body. The Sonata is made out of mahogany. The cartridge body is threaded, which can make it easier to mount the cartridge on the tonearm.

Upper and Lower

There are two wooden body ranges in the Grado lineup; both have models with the same name. The Reference range is the high output, 4.5mV and the Statement range is the low output, 0.5 mV. So the Reference Sonata (the one under review) is the High output cartridge, while the Statement Sonata is the low output model.

I listened to the Reference Sonata mounted on a Rega RB300 tonearm. The Rega is mounted on my modified Thorens TD150 mk2 turntable. Amplication, including phono, is through my Plinus 8150 and speakers are the classic ES14.

While the Prestige Gold is a great cartridge for the money, the Sonata is a great cartridge full stop. And, particularly here in New Zealand, it is a great value for the money.

Bass through the Sonata was particularly good, I found – solid and powerful, with very good pace and timing. The broader midrange was simply wonderful. Vocals in particular came across very well, both tonally and very articulate.  I must admit that my reaction surprised me. The ability of this piece of hi-fi equipment to involve the listener in the music and want to continue listening is priceless.

Above all, the Sonata brought out the best aspects of good analog reproduction. The sense of momentum in the music, the sense of involvement, the sense that there were real people playing and singing – all areas that CD can struggle with some two decades on.

The Sonata is a refined and dynamic cartridge. It offers performance ahead of what you might expect for the price. Above all, the Sonata encourages you to play more of your LPs – and what greater recommendation can there be?