Empire LTD400 stylus replacement.

[gary7]

Picked up a Empire LTD400 body, no stylus. An old record store going out of business here had NOS Pfanstiehl 4241-DEX stylus, so I got it. Dark grey in color. Sounds quite good. But are there other stylus out there that might be better?

 

[boreas]

The 4241-DEX is a generic but, as it's made in Japan, it's likely to be a good one. The genuine original would be a 241-DEX, minus the first 4.

 

[johnjhazel]

I agree that the stylus you have is quite good. Here are some more choices. Double check my picks. I never could memorize Empire cartridge or styli numbers.


https://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/cat...ype=MfgNameNeedles&MfgName=Empire&Categories=

https://www.jico-stylus.com/product...ucts_id=326&osCsid=vg1005hg8u3hjs9hfc3hanrgh2

https://lptunes.com/products/upgrade-replacement-for-empire-s800ufr-stylus

 

[ear4audio]

But are there other stylus out there that might be better?

The original stylus for the LTD400 was the S400LTD with purple stylus grip. I don't know what the Pfanstiehl number for this stylus is.

 

[gary7]

View attachment 1299490
The original stylus for the LTD400 was the S400LTD with purple stylus grip. I don't know what the Pfanstiehl number for this stylus is.

LPgear has this listing. Wonder how much better than my current stylus.

https://www.lpgear.com/product/EMS0400LTD.html

 

[ear4audio]

LPgear has this listing. Wonder how much better than my current stylus.

I have the specs for the original LTD400
Frequency Response Bandwidth: 7Hz - 33kHz
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 2dB
Tracking Range: 0.75 - 2 gms
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.25 gms
Separation @ 1kHz: 28dB
Stylus Size and Shape: .2x.7mil elliptical
Cantilever: tapered aluminum alloy
Channel Balance: within 1 dB
Tracking Ability @ 1kHz: 32cm/sec
Compliance: 23cu
Output @ 5cm/sec: 5mV
Stylus Replacement: S400LTD with purple stylus grip

 

[johnjhazel]

LPgear has this listing. Wonder how much better than my current stylus.

https://www.lpgear.com/product/EMS0400LTD.html

I would not doubt that it is probably the same thing.

 

[Cylontymany]

What arm mass is best for this cart? Med or lite? Now I am going to have to get me one of these too!

 

[ear4audio]

What arm mass is best for this cart? Med or lite? Now I am going to have to get me one of these too!

I used the graph on the Ortofon website. The LTD400 weighs 5.5 grams with a compliance of 23cu. To achieved the desired resonance of 7 - 12 Hz a tonearm with effective mass of 6 to 19 grams is preferable (including headshell and hardware).

 

[Cylontymany]

How do these sound? Would upgrading the stylus help?

 

[gary7]

How do these sound? Would upgrading the stylus help?

It sounds very good with the generic stylus. There are .2 x.7 and vivid line available if you can find them that might be a little better.

 

[Cylontymany]

I'm in the club now-just scored the one off the bay and I will order the Vivid line from LP Gear.

 

[gary7]

I'm in the club now-just scored the one off the bay and I will order the Vivid line from LP Gear.

Did you ever get the LP Gear Vivid Line Stylus?