Empire styli interchangeability (for 1080 LT)?

[Virak]

I just got an Empire 1080 LT cartridge together with some other stuff I purchased, but the stylus is an aftermarket one, and definately not with a low mass cantilever. Both cantilever and stylus looks pretty crude, IMO.

So: Are the 1080 LT interchangable with other Empire styli? I'm looking for cheap (but decent) alternatives.

[dean man jim]

Yes, the 1080LT stylus is interchangeable with any of the Empire cartridges that have a 241 or 242 body style. Such as the 600LAC, LTD750, 900GT...

Turntableneedles.com has some genuine Empire and some generic replacement styli for this body style, but I haven't found any of the LAC styli there (or anywhere else lately).

Jico has a replacement stylus that looks very nice, as does Garage a Records. There's a seller on ebay selling a supposedly paralinear replacement for fewer dollars.

Jim

[Virak]

Thanks for the info!

[stevecramertoo]

Yes, the 1080LT stylus is interchangeable with any of the Empire cartridges that have a 241 or 242 body style. Such as the 600LAC, LTD750, 900GT...

Turntableneedles.com has some genuine Empire and some generic replacement styli for this body style, but I haven't found any of the LAC styli there (or anywhere else lately).

Jico has a replacement stylus that looks very nice, as does Garage a Records. There's a seller on ebay selling a supposedly paralinear replacement for fewer dollars.

Jim

All this info is completely wrong! I have two 1080LT styli and the 1080 will NOT fit 241 or 242 body style. Or such cartridges as the 600LAC, LTD750, 900GT.

1080LT is body style 246 and not even close to fit. Save your money.

[Cobra2]

http://www.lpgear.com/product/EMPS1080LT.html
Empire LT1080 is in the body-style 241/242 range.

(Body style 246 is (among others) Empire 1085LT)
http://www.lpgear.com/product/EMPS1085LT.html

Arne K

[dlaloum]

http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO

[stevecramertoo]

The 1080LT body/style (246) seem to fit only the Empire 195LT 295LT 395LT 485LT 1085LT and a number of these are for 'P-mount' style of cartridge attachment.

I have 10 (ten) different Empire cartridges and all have good/new styli mounted and they run across several generations. I have worked with them (Empire) for some time now. Information stays on the web for a long time ...lets try to make it correct, relevant or germane to the discussion at hand.

[dlaloum]

There are clearly a range of Empire "families" with their respective families of styli...

Here are some of the body types I personally own:

the 2000/4000 family - and styli which fit them from the 237, 238 & 239 designations:
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO

Then there is the 1000/999 family and their styli (the 1000z/x is one of the best Empire ever made!) - these can take designations 230, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO
http://www.turntableneedles.com/Needle- ... p_976.html

With regards to the p-mount models I know of 3 empire "families"

1) The 1080LT and relatives - stylus designation 241 & 242 (as per the previous links!)
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO
(I have one of these and a Jico stylus for it)

2) The 875 and its Empire and Azden/Piezo Relatives (it was manufactured for Empire by Azden/Piezo) - designation 245
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO

3) The 1085LT - designation 246 (I have one of these but no stylus at the moment)
http://www.turntableneedles.com/search. ... &search=GO

The 3 P-mount types mentioned above are not interchangeable across the 3 families, although they are interchangeable within the family...

So the 1080LT can take styli intended for:
1000GT 1080LT 600LAC 750LAC 900GT 980LT LTD750 780GT LTD750GT LTD780GT OP150 155GT OP150GT OP155GT RM75 RM80 OP7 RM90 RM95GT RM90BT

I do have a 1080LT, 1085LT and 875 (as well as an Azden YMP20e) - and can vouch for the above family categories....

Turntableneedles I have found to also be a good reliable data source.

bye for now

David

[Cobra2]

Exept for the second group with round shanks needs to be split in 2 (or 3?) groups for the older 888/999 series.

Arne K

[stevecramertoo]

I'm apparently missed the different between the Empire 1080LT and the 1085LT in the past. I've found the difference between the two (numbering) a bit confusing.

I do have both and one will not fit the other. The 1080LT seems to be better overall for being able to be fitted with more current choices of styli. I have found some conflicting information and pictures in the past and found me scratching my head at times.