The Blue3 uses a four piece OTL cantilever that has a Grado specific diamond mounted on a brass bushing. Grado’s OTL, or optimized transmission line, technology provides an ideal transfer of signal from the surface of the LP to the generator of the system. This technology rejects unwanted resonances and lowers distortion preserving the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of the music. This also helps keep noise generated by the motor system in the cartridge to a minimum.
Grado’s OTL stylus/cantilever design makes records sound quieter, improves the height, width, and depth of the soundstage, and present more detail than previously obtainable.
The Blue3s are all hand assembled by Grado's team in Brooklyn, with some builders having over 25 years of experience. With the recent development of the highly received Lineage Series of cartridges, we were able to have a trickle down of technology and bring a new technique to the Blue3. This updated series of cartridges offers excellent tonal balance, dynamics, and realism, for a most rewarding reproduction of vocals and instruments. Their coil winding techniques, using ultra high purity copper wire which were honed during the development of the Lineage Series, have let the electrical circuits achieve unison between the four coils in each phono cartridge. This allows for a precise balance between channels and accurate stereo imaging.
As in all Grado phono cartridges, the Blue3 is powered by a twin magnet system that optimizes the balance between stereo channels. All internal magnetic circuit parts are held to extremely high tolerances creating the desired stereo imaging. Grado’s patented Flux-Bridger design allows the Blue3 to have one of the lowest effective moving mass generating systems while creating an excellent balance throughout the full frequency range.
- Frequency Response: 10-55
- Principal: MI
- Channel Separation at 1KHz: 30
- Input Load: 47K
- Output at 1KHz 5CM/sec.: 5mV
- Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
- Stylus Type: E
- Inductance: 45mH
- Resistance: 475
- Compliance CUs: 20
- Stylus Replacement: U
- Mounting: S/P