EMPIRE cartridges

DaveyW · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:06 am Post subject:

Hi Guys - I've got a 2000 Z heading it's way to me as we speak.
Will let you know how I get on with it both from an Audible and Durable perspective once it arrives.
Cheers
Dave

Alec124c41 · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:09 pm Post subject:

33audio · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:42 am Post subject:

Astatic and Electro-Voice also sold original Empire stylii. There is usually no designation on the package. Sometimes the price was higher if it was near the top of the line.

Some of the more expensive ones were from Japan. Some appear to be JICO with a telescoping cantilever. The Japanese and the originals often sold for about the same high price.

Electro-Voice would often put a "SPECIAL" sticker on the package. May be Japanese, may be an original.

Sometimes the original would have its own part number and sometimes they would evidently just buy the originals and sell them at the same price as the generic.

The catalogs would sometimes give an indictation if it was an original, but not always.

It is illegal for an aftermarket stylus supplier to put the manufacturer's name on a generic product, but they often put the manufacturer's part number on it.

If it says Empire, Shure, Stanton, etc. it was made by them, no matter what the price. Mark

bauzace50 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:39 am Post subject:

Hello,

the Empire 2000 Z had been on my wish list since 1976, but I never got myself to purchase one until available from a seller in eBay this week.
I purchased it, and it will be arriving in about a week.
From memory, it seems that the Stanton 881 S dates from the next generation of cartridges, and the Stanton may well be better. But the 2000 Z is one elite performer from that brand even considering their latter models (including the EDR.9 and the LAC models).

It would be interesting to hear how the 2000 Z would perform in comparison with other moving Iron models, such as 681 EEE, Grados, ADCs, and such. But I feel a comparison with the 881 S would be no contest Question

Regards,
bauzace50
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DaveyW · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject:

B50 wrote;

dean man jim · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:36 pm Post subject:

bauzace50 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:12 pm Post subject:

dean man jim,

Yes, I have one 1000 Z/E, but it seems to have something amiss. Its sound is notably treble shy, although still listenable with treble augmentation from the preamp controls. It still is a super tracker!

I had one EDR.9, but it is gone now. I loved it, but had too many cartrdiges at the time.

No more Empires at present, sorry,
bauzace50
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Cobra2 · contributor Joined: 24 May 2002 Posts: 93 Location: NORWAY

Did you try an easier load on the 1000Z? ~75k ?
(some of the "older" models often respond good to this..)

Arne K
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bauzace50 · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:47 am Post subject:

HI,

seems like the 1000 Z/E will profit from the higher resistive loading. I may get into this after all...but no rush, yet.

@ DaveyW,
yes, glad to have this joint venture, and share notes! Very Happy

Regards,
bauzace50
_________________
Let's take it again from: "Oh yeah?! What do you aim to do about it?!"