SKU: 70837156985

Grado Timbre Series The Reference 3 Cartridge

Sale price$897.75 Regular price$997.50
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Description

Grado Timbre Series The Reference 3 CartridgeGrado Timbre Series The Reference 3 Cartridge Body: Australian Jarrah Wood Cantileaver: Machined Boron Diamond Tip Output: High 4. 0mV @5 CMV (45) Low 1. 0mV @5 CMV (45) Inductance: High Output 55mH Low Output 6mH Resistance: High Output 660 ohms Low Output 70 ohms Input Load: 10k 47k ohms Cartridge Weight: 10 grams Tracking Force: 1. 6 1. 9 grams Compliance 20m mN Channel Separation: Average 30db 10 30k Hz Controlled Frequency Response: 10 60 KHz Non

Grado Timbre Series The Reference 3 Cartridge

  • Body: Australian Jarrah Wood
  • Cantileaver: Machined Boron / Diamond Tip
  • Output:
    High 4.0mV @5 CMV (45)
    Low  1.0mV @5 CMV (45) 
  • Inductance: 
    High Output 55mH
    Low Output  6mH
  • Resistance:
    High Output 660 ohms
    Low Output  70 ohms

  • Input Load: 10k-47k ohms
  • Cartridge Weight: 10 grams
  • Tracking Force: 1.6-1.9 grams
  • Compliance 20μm/mN
  • Channel Separation: Average 30db - 10-30k Hz
  • Controlled Frequency Response: 10-60 KHz
  • Non-Sensative to Capacitive Load
  • Builds: High Output, Low Output, Mono

‫Into the Woods‬

Achieving fantastic accuracy and control, the Reference3 does everything the Master3 can do - but does it better thanks to specialized intricate processes while being crafted.

Last Stop Before Lineage

Top of the Timbre

While similar to its younger sibling in a few aspects, the Reference3 has a much longer build time since it undergoes extremely unique processes only a few of our cartridges go through. This longer, more intricate practice produces a more colorful and deeper sound. When working in tandem with the special curing process and individual calibrations, we have the best cartridge in the Timbre Series.

Small Necessities.

The Materials

To make the Timbre Series work as a whole, we created a way for Jarrah, diamonds, and a twin magnet system to integrate with our Flux-Bridge™. We modified our four piece OTL cantilever technology to achieve a 5% tip mass reduction over the Prestige Series and use ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire in the coils. The Reference3 uses a specially Grado designed true ellipsoid diamond.

In the Details.

Extreme Precision

Grado has combined newly developed coil winding techniques with decades-old disciplines. A new two-step shielding process brings not only exact unison between the four coils but an unobstructed path for a cleaner signal. The music is allowed to travel undistorted through the coils, greatly reducing mechanical noise while improving tracking. There is an extreme clarity over the full frequency range, with absolutely no stridency or shrillness. Precisely hand tipped with a diamond, a great amount of care go into each cartridge we build.

The Sound of Wood.

Built from Jarrah

After the Reference3 cartridge is crafted, it is then placed inside a Australian Jarrah housing. Jarrah is necessary for the majority of Timbre Series with its ability to produce surgically precise clarity without losing any depth. Through a variation of thermal aging processes, the housing gains the ability to better dampen and control the resonant frequencies. 

With Love.

Hand-Built in Brooklyn

Each Reference3 is hand-built by our team in Brooklyn, as it has been for decades. After a specialized process that brings it to life, they are fine tuned for everything from entry-level turntables up to the highest-end stereo systems, the solid mass of the wood helps keep the Sonata3 steady and producing the Grado signature sound. We started building cartridges on a kitchen table in 1953, and every experience since then has led to the creation of the Reference3.

 

"The arrival of a cured mahogany cartridge identical to the one I already owned found me unprepared for the next vaulting leap in my listening education. Within a week of auditioning the 0.5 mv Statement Reference, I began to believe that both my new and vintage vinyl had received a rite of purification, cleansed and made better than new. It was also as though the tiny hairs in my inner ear had been degunked, and in a stroke my hearing was perfectly clear."

Lang Phipps, Audio Reviewer
Shipping Notes
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  • Delivery to the USA:
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Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
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SKU: 70837156985

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Burt
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
My perfect summer blanket
Color: Grey, Size: King (108" x 90")
I had 0 expectations for this blanket and I was pleasantly surprised. This blanket is very lightweight, much like the novelty throw blankets you find in the kids section. It's very soft, compared to chinchilla fur. Incredibly soft and it didn't make me hot. Nor did it keep me cool. For me, it's the perfect blanket for summer weather. So far, the quality seems really nice and it fits my needs as a king size.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2026
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jb
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
Soft, lightweight, warm and long blanket
Color: 04 - Cream, Size: Throw XL (50" X 70")
Very nice blanket. It's soft and long enough to cover you when laying on the sofa and warm. It also washes and dries well on warm water normal dry. I highly recommend this blanket
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Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2026
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Mike
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Bought in multiple colors! Fantastic material
Size: X-Large, Color: Light Green, Size: X-Large, Color: Light Green
I ordered this button-up for an upcoming beach vacation, and I’m honestly so impressed with the quality and feel of it. Right out of the package, the material felt soft, breathable, and exactly what you want when you know you’ll be spending long hours in the sun and heat. It’s incredibly lightweight without feeling cheap or flimsy, which was one of my biggest concerns when ordering. What I really love is how well it helps keep you cool. The fabric allows for great airflow, so you don’t feel like you’re overheating or sweating through it like you might with heavier shirts. Even just trying it on, I could tell it’s going to be perfect for hot, humid weather. The fit is also spot-on—not too tight, not too baggy—giving it a clean, relaxed look that works great for both casual outings and slightly nicer dinners by the beach. Overall, this shirt checks all the boxes: comfortable, breathable, stylish, and ideal for vacation wear. Already grabbing a few more colors
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2026
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MD Ochoa
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Slim but comfortable sizing looks upscale, wrinkle free from the dryer
Size: Medium, Color: Denim Blue
This is a very nice upscale looking shirt. It has great styling that is not over-sized. My husband normally wears a medium or large depending on the cut/style. He got a medium in this size and it is a perfect, comfortable fit. It arrived with some creases in the material from being folded in the packaging but it came out beautifully from the dryer. I'm happy he has a casual but nice shirt to wear when he takes me out to dinner!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2026
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S&J
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice and comfy, light duty and feel great.
Size: X-Large, Color: Light Green
What they may lack in "durability" i.e. very light and thin = not going to last all that long, they make up for in fit [yes even for wide shoulders], comfort and style. If you want them to last, suggest a gentle cycle and just take ot easy on them. They are light, thin, and airy. Nice summer shirt.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2026

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