I can't afford wine or beer. The way I feel at present I'd get drunk every day!!!!!!

I never ownee an M3D before although a few floated around the shops, but as you found, the N3D stylus isn't quite the same as the N21D we both use and enjoy.

Of course you have a great system to fully exploit what the CR7 can do, but my system with active pro monitors was well able to reproduce the slight losses of the analogue recording medium - one of the "absolutes" I was referring to

The absolutes I tried to work towards was what was in the original recording and to get as close to this as the mastering engineer would allow me. In recent times I've relaxed a bit and don't want the "clear, unvarnished, under-a-microscope" vibe of the small active ATC's I still have, much preferring the more relaxed but so lovely (on acoustic music) Spendors. When able, I listen to the BC2's for hours and hours without finding the music pulled apart or "analysed." This suits me fine, but I am aware of their weaknesses by comparison with modern speakers of quality. This "vintage car" vs modern hot-hatch analogy again.

Shopping calls. TTFN