That Grado Opus3 Cartridge

[Punk_oldie]

Well.. A dozen records played now and it’s getting smoother and sweeter sounding with each one. Highs may be slightly rolled off but aren’t weak. Bass and midrange seem perfect.. Clarity is quite good!
I can only imagine how this one would sound with a Microline / micro ridge tip on it.. I may go that route when this tip is stuffed.
Anyway, I do like this cartridge!

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I too found the highs rolled off to begin with, but now, having had this cart for around 80 hours, it's excellent all round. As others have said, (and to my ears at least), for the price an absolute cartridge bargain.

 

[DavidTT]

If I removed the internals of the Opus from that wood block I bet I'd find the body from a Gold underneath, with some sort of epoxy/adhesive/potting material holding in the stylus assembly. Other than the permanent affixation of the stylus, it'd be very interesting to know any differences between the four-part Gold cantilever/stylus assembly and the one on the Opus.

In short, I would be surprised if the Opus isn't a Gold with a wood outer body affixed and the normal stylus glued in place. Have any listeners compared it to the Gold? If they sound very similar I'd rather have the replaceable stylus.

 

[CrSens]

The Opus3 highs are not really rolled off, it's more that on today's standards the highs are usually tilted up.

 

[CrSens]

If I removed the internals of the Opus from that wood block I bet I'd find the body from a Gold underneath, with some sort of epoxy/adhesive/potting material holding in the stylus assembly. Other than the permanent affixation of the stylus, it'd be very interesting to know any differences between the four-part Gold cantilever/stylus assembly and the one on the Opus.

In short, I would be surprised if the Opus isn't a Gold with a wood outer body affixed and the normal stylus glued in place. Have any listeners compared it to the Gold? If they sound very similar I'd rather have the replaceable stylus.

The Opus3 is slightly more open in treble and has slightly better tracking than Gold3. It is more suited for the better sound systems. Gold3 is the budget system antidote to somewhat bright, agressive and unrefined Orfofon Red and Blue, and a more dynamic budget alternative to slightly dynamically anemic AT's.

 

[Sgt Shultz]

The Opus3 is slightly more open in treble and has slightly better tracking than Gold3. It is more suited for the better sound systems.

I have a G1 with an 8MZ and it's not the equal in SQ of the older Reference Platinum so there's that.

I have several Prestige cartridges and when the Maidinator took out the Platinum the 8MZ was purchased thinking it would be a step up, it wasn't.

In my search I found my first NOS Grace cartridge, and as this was going on a Grace arm........ A few Grace later, some LOMC and the Platinum is still waiting for repair.

Whatever makes these wood body Grados so special is what it is, I say let's put a record on whatever we have and enjoy.

 

[CrSens]

I have a G1 with an 8MZ and it's not the equal in SQ of the older Reference Platinum so there's that.

I have several Prestige cartridges and when the Maidinator took out the Platinum the 8MZ was purchased thinking it would be a step up, it wasn't.

In my search I found my first NOS Grace cartridge, and as this was going on a Grace arm........ A few Grace later, some LOMC and the Platinum is still waiting for repair.

Whatever makes these wood body Grados so special is what it is, I say let's put a record on whatever we have and enjoy.

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It is possible you have a newer bonded 8MZ, which is not the same thing as 8MZ of old times. It really sounds good only on 8MR or 8MZ cartridges (the bonded production) it was made for, as an alternative to now very similar Gold stylus.

 

[Sgt Shultz]

It is possible you have a newer bonded 8MZ, which is not the same thing as 8MZ of old times. It really sounds good only on 8MR or 8MZ cartridges (the bonded production) it was made for, as an alternative to now very similar Gold stylus.

The 8MZ was purchased about 7yrs ago so I'm assuming it's the newer version.

But that was my point, the G3 is not the equal of the Opus 3 any more than the G1 with the current 8MZ would be.

I'm not saying the G1/8MZ sounds off in any way, the combination actually sounds quite nice, it's just not the equal of a wood body Grado.

The Prestige Blue/8MZ was no better if not quite the equal of the old tan body G1/8MZ

 

[cafe latte]

If I removed the internals of the Opus from that wood block I bet I'd find the body from a Gold underneath, with some sort of epoxy/adhesive/potting material holding in the stylus assembly. Other than the permanent affixation of the stylus, it'd be very interesting to know any differences between the four-part Gold cantilever/stylus assembly and the one on the Opus.

In short, I would be surprised if the Opus isn't a Gold with a wood outer body affixed and the normal stylus glued in place. Have any listeners compared it to the Gold? If they sound very similar I'd rather have the replaceable stylus.

I have an Opus out of its body, I will post a pic later.
The Opus is available in low output, the gold is not. The Opus tracks better and has better highs so something is different apart thr woos body.
Chris

 

[cafe latte]

I have an Opus out of its body, I will post a pic later.
The Opus is available in low output, the gold is not. The Opus tracks better and has better highs so something is different apart thr woos body.
Chris

Here, one on left is Opus 3

 

[mprince]

If I removed the internals of the Opus from that wood block I bet I'd find the body from a Gold underneath, with some sort of epoxy/adhesive/potting material holding in the stylus assembly. Other than the permanent affixation of the stylus, it'd be very interesting to know any differences between the four-part Gold cantilever/stylus assembly and the one on the Opus.

In short, I would be surprised if the Opus isn't a Gold with a wood outer body affixed and the normal stylus glued in place. Have any listeners compared it to the Gold? If they sound very similar I'd rather have the replaceable stylus.

Sure, maybe you should take your conspiracy theories somewhere else, this thread is an attempt to celebrate this cartridge, not to crap on someone else's experience with it...

 

[DavidTT]

Sure, maybe you should take your conspiracy theories somewhere else, this thread is an attempt to celebrate this cartridge, not to crap on someone else's experience with it...

Erm, OK. You're a grumpy little elf, and before you accuse of 'conspiracy theories' you may want to learn a bit more about Grado cartridges and maybe even look at the picture posted one post above yours. Hobbyists considering Grado carts (of which I'm a fan) and making their way through threads like this can decide for themselves whether discussion/comparison with the Prestige carts is worth their time or not. It's not yours to assess.

 

[Morgan D]

Here, one on left is Opus 3

Do they look the same to you Chris ?

 

[cafe latte]

The stylus is melted into place and of course the low output is very different to the high output. I have not bothered to try and remove the stylus yet to see if the basic stylus is the same. The glue is very rubbery and toffee like so the glue alone will improve damping. This cant be the only difference though as the tracking ability and highs are better with the Opus 3 and the Opus 3 has better separation too which leads me to think the coating on the coils is better on the Opus bodies.
Chris

 

[cafe latte]

Do they look the same to you Chris ?

I will pull the body off a series 2 gold later and take some better pics.
Chris

 

[mprince]

Erm, OK. You're a grumpy little elf, and before you accuse of 'conspiracy theories' you may want to learn a bit more about Grado cartridges and maybe even look at the picture posted one post above yours. Hobbyists considering Grado carts (of which I'm a fan) and making their way through threads like this can decide for themselves whether discussion/comparison with the Prestige carts is worth their time or not. It's not yours to assess.

I've had several Graco cartridges, and I am far from grumpy. Plus, I've never seen a 6'4" elf haha

 

[ripblade]

The stylus is melted into place and of course the low output is very different to the high output. I have not bothered to try and remove the stylus yet to see if the basic stylus is the same. The glue is very rubbery and toffee like so the glue alone will improve damping. This cant be the only difference though as the tracking ability and highs are better with the Opus 3 and the Opus 3 has better separation too which leads me to think the coating on the coils is better on the Opus bodies.
Chris

"The stylus is melted into place....."

Can you elaborate, please? It's fused into the body with heat? Or is it glued in with a solvent?

Edit: I can see the nubs are missing...

 

[cafe latte]

I will pull the body off a series 2 gold later and take some better pics.
Chris

Gold 2 and the Opus 3. The Opus has painted coils and much thicker wire

 

[cafe latte]

"The stylus is melted into place....."

Can you elaborate, please? It's fused into the body with heat? Or is it glued in with a solvent?

Stylus is melted in like a plastic weld.
Chris

 

[ripblade]

Stylus is melted in like a plastic weld.
Chris

Thanks for the clarification. The coils are potted, too, it looks. The structural weaknesses are being addressed. It seems as though the wood body is window dressing. Nice window dressing....

 

[cafe latte]

Thanks for the clarification. The coils are potted, too, it looks. The structural weaknesses are being addressed. It seems as though the wood body is window dressing. Nice window dressing....

I agree to some extent, I think the body is window dressing, but the glue used to glue the body is I feel is a good damper so the body being there is a good cavity for damping material.
Chris