40 year old Empire 2000e/III

[The Fuxtor]

Set the Mani to the “factory settings”, with the 47K loading for MM cartridges.
That should work for you.

View attachment 1162452

Thanks. My other issue is that the Mani has issues with the Realistic Lab 400's muting circuit. It pops at beginning of record and end. Only does this with the Mani...( known issue)
I have a Cambridge Audio pre I could throw in the mix, but it has only a setting for mm or mc .

 

[MisterDK]

I was referring to getting the loading correct. The stylus I have, from LPGear, is great.

A 47K loading seems standard for most MM preamp settings - why not start there? I’ve read that some say a 100K load sounds better though. If you can try each, give those a listen.
I have only the 47K option on my available settings, so I haven’t done much testing.

 

[desertrat748]

Can't see your 2000 being dull with the highs. Got curious yesterday. Dug out the 2000e/iii and ran it on Hitachi HT-435. Checked it against EXL-20 and a 66-REX(both of the 2000 type body styles). Paul McCartney & Wings, Band on the Run. Ran it without a preamp, just a plain Sansui 661 receiver via phono inputs. Pair of Altec Lansing and it sounded sublime!

2000iii has a new aftermarket stylus with about 20 hours on it (looking for the package to see who made it), and it sounds the best of the 3 with high end. Not overly bright, but cymbals sound absolutely perfect with a lot of depth, very lively and perfect finish. Better than the other two in the high range. The 66 has a little better bottom end and a little less output with the highs.

It could be the stylus on your 2000 and its 40 year old suspension. Curious now how things work out for you. Keep us posted. Don't throw that 2000 away, I'm betting you'll figure out a cure.

 

[empirelvr]

A 47K loading seems standard for most MM preamp settings - why not start there? I’ve read that some say a 100K load sounds better though. If you can try each, give those a listen.
I have only the 47K option on my available settings, so I haven’t done much testing.

The issue is the capacitive loading, not the resistive loading. The Empire 2000 needs at least 400 pF (500 pF optimum) for it to achieve a flat frequency response. What DustyOldPile has to do is add capacitance which is possible if they are handy with a soldering iron.

 

[empirelvr]

So what does one do to make an Empire work with one's table?

You need something like this: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/6...o_Capacitor_Loading_Kit-Turntable_Accessories

This can also be made by yourself if you are handy with a soldering iron.

Just to be clear, the Empire is working with your preamp. The misloading will make it not sound as good as it should but it won't sound bad.

 

[The Fuxtor]

Well i am pleased to say this cartridge an styli have come around! Listening yesterday i had a realization that the highs had become quite crisp and clear! I had taken Nashou66
advice on tracking force and seems to have done the trick! Backed the vtf to 1.25g and listening is good!!

 

[UncleBingo]

I was shocked at how good the 2000 sounded the first time I heard one. Nice liquid flow.

 

[desertrat748]

Great news Fuxtor! How silly of us to overlook the obvious....new cart, needs a little break in time. Hope you enjoy your Empire.

 

[The Fuxtor]

Great news Fuxtor! How silly of us to overlook the obvious....new cart, needs a little break in time. Hope you enjoy your Empire.

Listening to the Beatles White Album and I must say it sounds incredible!

 

[bobins08]

I bought one when I was 16. Could not stop playing records after that.

 

[desertrat748]

Listening to the Beatles White Album and I must say it sounds incredible!

Welcome to the Empire Fan Club.

 

[The Fuxtor]

I am wondering if say after 40-50 hours this will improve more?

 

[desertrat748]

I am wondering if say after 40-50 hours this will improve more?

It could. After all those years of sitting up. Probably will.

 

[Cylontymany]

Throw a LPGear Vividline on it and take a ride on the wild side.

 

[rbuchholz]

if you bought this off kijiji and the guy was in Medicine Hat well.... sorry
he's a bit of a flake

 

[The Fuxtor]

if you bought this off kijiji and the guy was in Medicine Hat well.... sorry
he's a bit of a flake

Why is this?

 

[rbuchholz]

Well, and I hate to say, but if its the same guy, in my experience with him he understates the usage and thus overpriced the value of his goods. I'm not certain if its intentional or just the fact they were bought 40 years ago and he chooses to forget "details."

He thus prices them based on the highest price he can find on the net, and pretends they are "new."

Just my experience. I really hope that based on you saying its improving, that I'm wrong.

 

[The Fuxtor]

Well, and I hate to say, but in my experience with him he understates the usage and thus overpriced the value of his goods. I'm not certain if its intentional or just the fact they were bought 40 years ago and he chooses to forget "details."

He thus prices them based on the highest price he can find on the net, and pretends they are "new."

I see... Perhaps true but who knows? I do know the styli is identically looking to brochures but the usage is unknown. I kinda had all of these realizations at first but the package has in reality " brightened up" so with that fact, I will enjoy it for what it is. I've gotten some awesome "scroes" in the past too so even if this turns out to be less then promised, i guess thats how this hobby rolls...... Maybe i blew too much but im still in the vintage Empire club!!

 

[rread13]

I bought one when I was 16. Could not stop playing records after that.

Ironically same here! My first turntable was Pioneer PL-112 with a Empire 2000E/III. Now some 40 years later I am back into enjoying records and one of my first cartridge conquest was to buy an Empire 2000E/III! Over the last couple of years I have acquired a few other famous models: 4000D/I, 2008, 2000Z.

 

[doctor fuse]

Just received an aftermarket stylus ("Micro-Mel"?) for an Empire 2000E yesterday. The stylus is green and marked "elliptical", but also "0.3 X 0.7", so I am assuming it is not actually the equivalent of the OEM green E/I (nude and 0.2 X 0.7), but actually more like the OEM red "E".

Nice, big, fat sound. Fairly liquid sounding highs and mids. Decent bass and detail. Put around 4 hours on it. Only noticed a marginal improvement, as it sounded quite good right off the bat.