EdAInWestOC wrote:Thanks Dale,
I'm glad it helped out. The Empire 600LAC may be a sleeper today, but it was quite noteworthy in its day. I've never heard one, but I did own an Empire many years ago. I can't remember the exact model or how it sounded.
Along the way I vaguely remember reading something about Empire Scientific. I believe they were originally an instrumentation company that tried their hand at cartridge manufacturing.
Good luck with the 600LAC,
Ed
The cartridge database is a wonderful contribution. Thank you very much.
I think that Empire Scientific was owned by Dyna Audio. If you look inside an old Troubador turntable it says so. It makes sense that Dyna would market a high end line of record playing equipment under a different name. Dyna had a reputation for making great kits and very good amps etc. but the high end was dominated by McIntosh and Fisher and a few others. I don't think they actually made the phono cartridges. I believe that B&O was the supplier. Back in that day B&O was on the leading edge of technology and had a reputation for outstanding quality.
I'm new to the Engine, and I found the database before I knew about this site. I sent you the spec sheet on the Pioneer MC-401. I believe this cartridge was made by Audio Technica. They probably made all of the Pioneer cartridges.
One of my favorite cartridge lines is misrepresented in the Database. That is the low output Monster cartridges of the late '80's and early 90's. The first Monster I owned was an Alpha Genisis 500. The 500 came out around 1987 and was virtually identical to the Alpha Genisis 1000. You could take the picture of the 1000 and edit the red lettering on the side to say 500 and you'd have an accurate picture. All the specs are the same except the frequency response went out to 50K, and the cantilever was boron without the coating. It had a microridge stylus. The 500 was $500. When the 1000 came out, around 1988, I traded in my 500. I was hard pressed to tell the difference. I still have my 1000, but the stylus is gone. One of these years I'll send it out to be refurbished. The info on the 1000 is accurate except for the date. In 1989 Monster came out with the Gamma 2000. I'm pretty sure it was a Gamma and not a Beta or Sigma. It was also identical looking with the same 4.2g body, but was dark brown. The Gamma I believe had a gold coil and was otherwise identical to the 1000. The Gamma was sweeter and smoother than the 1000. The 1000 was faster and cleaner. The price was $1000. I'm quite sure this all happened before the end of 1989, because at that time I left the retail end of the business, and went into manufacturing. I'll try to look up some of my old "partners in crime", to see if they have any old price sheets or other info. I'll send it in if I have any luck. By the way, these cartridges were all made in Japan.
Thanks again for the database. It has already become an essential tool.
Franklin
