Empire cart worth saving?

[dualhead]

I have an Empire 200 E/X cartridge. I can find nothing on the net about it. I know Empire is legendary for having confusing cartridge numbering. Anyway, with a replacement stylus at LPGear running 33.95, is it worth saving? Thanks, DH.

 

[Scorpion8]

Sure it's worth saving. A 239-DEC stylus will fit and give you many hours of listening pleasure.

 

[cactuscowboy]

I've got a couple of Empire cartridges that were on yard sale turntables. With replacement stylii (from LP gear), they both sound fine.

 

[DaWoofer]

I like my Empire cart, although its alittle brighter than my Grado, but then again the Empire is on a solid state setup and the Grado on tubes. But the Empire is very detailed in sound.

 

[merrylander]

Was Empire bought out by the Swiss MC cartridge maker Benz? I was under the impression that was what got them started on MC.

 

[dualhead]

Gracias!

Thanks for the input. I'll give it a sylus then.

 

[Scorpion8]

Was Empire bought out by the Swiss MC cartridge maker Benz? I was under the impression that was what got them started on MC.

Benz was Empire's leading cartridge designer and broke away from Empire to form Benz Micro. His last MC pickup for Empire was the Empire MC5, with a nice story here: http://www.turntableneedles.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10526

 

[BrocLuno]

Yeah, but Mr Benz was/is a good cartridge designer. I'd not be tossing an Empire body until I tried it

 

[brucered]

good to know. i have an empire 2000 E/I that needs a new stylus.

 

[BrocLuno]

JICO, Turntableneedles.com, LPGear all stock Empire replacement styli. DO a little research between the after market styli. I have a 2000/EI and an EIII. I like the resolution of the EIII better. If I was replacing it, I'd prolly get and after market as close to the EIII as I could.

 

[brucered]

JICO, Turntableneedles.com, LPGear all stock Empire replacement styli. DO a little research between the after market styli. I have a 2000/EI and an EIII. I like the resolution of the EIII better. If I was replacing it, I'd prolly get and after market as close to the EIII as I could.

so can i stick the EIII stylus in my EI cartridge?

 

[Michael-Otto]

From a EMPIRE dealer-info. Only in german.

Modell 200 E
Übertragungsbereich Hz, dB 20-20.000 ± 3.0
Auflagekraft g (10 mN) 2,5, + 1.5 - 0.5
Tonnadeltyp µ (= 0.4 inch) 7.5 x 18 elliptisch
Compliance (dynamisch) 14 x 10-6 cm/dyne
Magnet 2 Samarium Kobalt, 1 Indox V
Lastwidwiderstand kΩ 47

Michael-Otto

 

[BrocLuno]

Maybe ...

so can i stick the EIII stylus in my EI cartridge?

Check with LPGear and Turntableneedles.com (TTN) I'm pretty sure they interchange. I have not tried swapping the stylus assemblies and they are not handy to do that right now. They look the same so I'm pretty sure they will swap, but asked them. Steve at TTN will know and he'll get back to you in 24 hrs.

 

[Scorpion8]

Steve at TTN will know and he'll get back to you in 24 hrs.

Seconding that recommendation. Stave has always been very helpful in researching obscure Empire pickups (or any others for that matter). Very good service.

 

[similost]

I bought a trashy Pioneer table just for the empire cart that was on it.. well worth the $15.. Now to use the platter for an RCM

 

[Stanton681EEES]

so can i stick the EIII stylus in my EI cartridge?

Yes you can. I put an EII stylus on an EI body and it sounds great.