Grado Prestige ME+ Mono Cartridge Reviews

4.5 Rating 2 Reviews

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Phone:

909.931.9686

Email:

joel.m@upscaleaudio.com

Location:

2058 Wright Avenue,
2058 Wright Avenue
California
91750

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“I've always felt that my 50's and 60's Mono pressings sounded lifeless compared to the Stereo versions. So, when I recently read that to get the most from a true Mono pressing one needs a Mono cart, I decided to give it a shot. I chose the Grado ME+ because of budget: I wanted a "true" Mono cart without spending over $400 for the Ortofon 2M Mono. So far, I think I did great--the ME+ gives my Mono pressings a clear, rich, bold sound they've never had before--it's night and day vs. any stereo cart I own. Plus, pops, clicks and crackles are almost non-existent, even with scratched LPs. I've docked the ME+ one star because the instructions are inadequate and setup is fiddly. The cart arrives in a loose metal sleeve (not pictured in the listing) with NO explanation what it's for. I had to contact one of the great guys at Upscale Audio, and he helped me figure it out (and HE had to call Grado!). Even so, the cart has a lot of wiggle room in the sleeve until fully tightened, making proper alignment really tricky. It took me three tries to get it just right, but now that it is, wow, what great sound. And its vintage appearance is pretty cool, too. In the end, it's the right cartridge at the right price. I can finally hear how full and rich a Mono pressing can sound.”