Bill Evans, new Norah Jones Pick me up off the floor through Grado GS3000e reference cans Schitt Lyr gen 1 with 6922 Gold Lions. Linn LP12 table Rega RB800 arm Grado Opus3
I am aware the blue up to the gold are almost identical. The difference is in tolerances and diamonds l believe. I myself have a blue2 with a xtz stylus which performs flawlessly in my Yamaha GT2000.
Chris...no l have never done any the dismantling you speak of...l worked for JBL for 25 years outfitting recording studios...speakers are more my thing. You do have some nice gear. The 8mz is built to tighter tolerances than gold3...but 90% of golds ship with 8mz's.
John is tight lipped on this but the toletences are tighter and since this was the stylys used on a late 70's early 80's big buck Grado at the time l suspect the cantilever and stylus are more advanced.
The Opus3 and blue3 are not even close in refinement. You would have to move to a tlz replacement stylus to match the Opus 3...which is a$300usd stylus. But I do agree the blue especially in the third version punches way above its class and in my opinion out classes in my opinion the overrated...