anyone else running vintage Empire carts?
- Thread starter gadget73
- Start date
Anyone needing the complete 1987 EVG catalog can find it on archive.org. All kinds of old stuff, like belts and 45rpm spindle adaptors, even a stereo microscope. Oh, and styli too.
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Jeannot61
Active Member
I have several NOS diamonds for my Empire 2000 E III, some for the E II and some for the E III, these diamonds are cut the same way, with the same cantilever, the only thing that changes a bit is the compliance, but you can't hear it by ear. I had other cartridges, but I always came back to the 2000 E III 
Doug G.
Lunatic Member
It's not lacquer. It's glue, probably an epoxy. Do you have a picture of your 2000Z stylus showing no glue? Look at the topside of the cantilever.
Different color markings on cantilevers by stylus manufacturers aren't applied at the diamond like that but are somewhere along the length.
Doug
Thank you Doug. I've already sorted this out. And you're absolutely right.
russdall
An Uprooted Oklahoman
Very nice resource to have on hand. Thanks Walt !
I've been searching for a bit for an original NOS 4000 D/I stylus but looks like it's impossible at this point unless I wait forever and develop an alert bot. Thought I found a supplier that had one Pfanstiehl 238-DQ stylus on stock and the photos looked nice. What arrived was a stylus from hell. I felt sorry for it and immediately requested a return. Lesson learned: make sure to ask if the photos are recent.
Looks like my options are to get a JICO replacement or get an original used with who knows how many hours and get it retipped. What should I do?
Edit: for some reason it won't let me upload the images directly: image 1, image 2, image 3
Looks like my options are to get a JICO replacement or get an original used with who knows how many hours and get it retipped. What should I do?
Edit: for some reason it won't let me upload the images directly: image 1, image 2, image 3
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russdall
An Uprooted Oklahoman
They are out there gentlemen , but sadly the herd is getting mighty thin. As you may know....keep an eye out for Empire cartridges for sale that might have an original stylus on it, in good shape. Don't hesitate to ask seller for resent/clear/close up pics of the diamond itself. Sometimes sellers don't realize what they have and a good deal can be had. Check your usual suspects like fleabay and others daily, if possible. Good luck! May happy tunes be in your near future.
Other than getting lucky upon wandering into an estate sale or old stereo shop, this might cost real money. The retippers you'll see recommended here do good work, but that means you still have to find an S4000D/I,II,III that's rebuildable. Many folks like the JICOs, but they've become expensive too. This is a tough one.
Your photos show a stylus with a sticker that shows an EVG aftermarket number that's puzzling, since the 1987 EVG catalog lists only a PM2383DQ, indicating a "quad" diamond similar to a Shibata.. A DE suffix would indicate an elliptical if it existed. So who knows what's really in that old Pfanstiehl package.
Back in the day, Walco made some really good Empire styli. See if you can find a W-573PD, meant for the 4000D family, equipped with a quad diamond. Just don't expect that this will be easy or quick.
The 90 EE/X (Pfanstiehl index 233-DE) was the absolute bottom stylus in the 1971 Empire lineup headed by the sainted 1000 ZE/X, though I'm sure it sounded good-- Empire was like that. You can still get an original stylus (4x7 elliptical tracking at around 2.5 or 3 grams), but you can also get the much more advanced 235-DE elliptical, also original, from thevoiceofmusic.com for around $42 shipped.
I hope that stylus turns out to be in good shape! If the cantilever is intact and straight, a retipping job will restore a worn diamond. The cantilever is special, since it has a tiny high-frequency inertial damper inside, so I hope that's in good shape too. Check the coils for continuity before you do anything else.
Since it uses what's essentially a 4000D body, there are lots of styli that work properly in the EDR.9, but they're all hard to find, including the 9's special S5000 stylus (and the R5200HE replacement stylus). That, plus the unique shape of the 9's body shell makes it advisable to get out some carving tools if you can't find an S5000.
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doctor fuse
Super Member
I am using a generic bonded elliptical for the 2000E family in my 4000D/III body, and it sounds quite lovely - no weird frequency response issues and great tracking and detail retrieval. Might be worthwhile trying one of these for cheap, which could be your spare if you go for the expensive JICO or NOS in the future
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An upgraded stylus for the 90EE/X is a great idea, once I find a 90EE/X cartridge........
Free Speaker
Member
There are a couple 90EEX carts on ebay right now, but prices are a bit steep. Pretty sure any 999 cart, from the base 999, E and EX up to the TEX are all the same body induction-wise. Same for all the 909 bodies too. They all show up online quite regularly for decent prices. Just keep looking.
multirock
Active Member
Hi all!
Thanks for all this big amount of information.
I have an Empire 2000e, and 1000ze/x cartridges (unfortunately this last one has some malfunction that causes loud pops...), and I really like how they sounds.
I have tried to find a new 1000ze/x, but it's difficult to find one here in Spain, even in Europe.
So, meanwhile I've found an Empire 999/x cartridge, from which I have found very little info.
¿What can I expect from it? ¿Should it be close to the 1000ze/x? And more important, which stylus do you recommend me for this cartridge?
Thanks a lot!
Thanks for all this big amount of information.
I have an Empire 2000e, and 1000ze/x cartridges (unfortunately this last one has some malfunction that causes loud pops...), and I really like how they sounds.
I have tried to find a new 1000ze/x, but it's difficult to find one here in Spain, even in Europe.
So, meanwhile I've found an Empire 999/x cartridge, from which I have found very little info.
¿What can I expect from it? ¿Should it be close to the 1000ze/x? And more important, which stylus do you recommend me for this cartridge?
Thanks a lot!
It's very interesting does anyone compare EDR9 with LTD500 and 2000Z? Of course, EDR9 with LAC stylus and LTD500 and 2000Z with elliptical, but LTD500 and EDR9 have unique inertially damped cantilever. I compared LTD500 with 2000Z, both with original styluses and for my ears 2000z sounds a bit brighter than LTD500. And LTD500 sounds even more balanced, I guess. Not too brightly like 2000Z..
I'm new in Empires but I fell in love with them!
I'm new in Empires but I fell in love with them!
First, here's the 999/X info, in German, no less (click to enlarge):
Compared to the specifications for the body of your 999/X, the 90 EE/X, the 909/X (NOT the 909/X Improved!), the 909 E/X, the 999 E/X, the 999 PE/X, the 999 SE/X, and the 999 TE/X are exactly the same. The 999 VE/X and 1000 ZE/X bodies differ only very slightly, as Free Speaker said. In other words, the cartridge model is determined solely by which stylus is fitted. Think of it as one cartridge body, many styli; therefore many "models".
I suggest trying your 1000 ZE/X stylus in that 999/X body to see if the pops are still present. If they are, it could be one of a handful or reasons: static buildup and discharge, damaged rubber suspension, loose fit of the stylus in the cartridge body, et cetera, and I hope someone who's had the same problem will provide you with some helpful information!
Here's the entire 1971 model lineup:
Compared to the specifications for the body of your 999/X, the 90 EE/X, the 909/X (NOT the 909/X Improved!), the 909 E/X, the 999 E/X, the 999 PE/X, the 999 SE/X, and the 999 TE/X are exactly the same. The 999 VE/X and 1000 ZE/X bodies differ only very slightly, as Free Speaker said. In other words, the cartridge model is determined solely by which stylus is fitted. Think of it as one cartridge body, many styli; therefore many "models".
I suggest trying your 1000 ZE/X stylus in that 999/X body to see if the pops are still present. If they are, it could be one of a handful or reasons: static buildup and discharge, damaged rubber suspension, loose fit of the stylus in the cartridge body, et cetera, and I hope someone who's had the same problem will provide you with some helpful information!
Here's the entire 1971 model lineup:
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I have an EDR 9 and a 2000Z and slightly prefer the 2000Z...it seems to have more presence, but the EDR 9 probably plumbs a little more detail.
I am happy with both.
JICO made a great 2000Z gold stylus replacement that isn't offered any more. If you happen upon one, it is wort picking up.
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