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anyone else running vintage Empire carts?

The packaging for my Empires I bought years ago is exactly like those packages, even the 2000Z stylus. which I bought from a guy in Paris for 35 bucks probably 20 years ago.

Those prices are really not unreasonable, considering their rarity. In fact some seem like a real bargain.

Doug
 
Could someone point me to the Empire Cartridge and Styli charts? One is linear the earlier one is round.

Wualta?
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I would also be interested in this, is it possible? Thank you ;)
 
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Indeed, the prices applied in France are reasonable compared to the rarity of some examples, such as the diamond for Empire 2000 E III, or even sometimes also the prices on ebay. For example, I saw a Zafira diamond, a copy of the 2000 E, for the sum of 230 euros! I got mine, copied for 2000 E I, for 30 euros, and the two diamonds for 2000 E II and 2000 E III, respectively for 79 and 99 euros. If you find reasonable people, you get reasonable prices.
 
Here is the seller's answer after my question about diamonds for Empire 4000 :
"Hello Jean, Thank you for your nice messages. In S4000 series diamonds, I have the following references: S4000D/I, S4000D/II and S4000D/III, Have a good weekend to you too. Kind regards. Jean-Pierre "
Here is the seller's profile and the different Empire products he sells (there are still other products of course). He will soon add more, with, among others, diamonds for Empire 4000D :
 
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Hi everyone, so a little feedback on diamonds, which are wonderful. I confirm that they have been stored very well, the suspensions work wonderfully, there are no problems. Also, the stylus for 2000 E II works like the stylus for 2000 E III, I don't feel any difference on my 2000 E III. What happiness!
 
I don't have an S2000 E/II but I have both S2000 E/I and S2000 E/III styli and I actually hear no difference between those two. I imagine if I were were to "torture test" them, differences would show up but in typical use...

Doug
 
Apart from the same format of the 0.2 x 0.7 mil diamond, between the E II and the E III, the same tracking force must logically be applied. Only for the E I is the strength slightly modified for the low value. Otherwise, and in the tables, it is noted a cu compiance, what does it refer to for the different cells and/or diamonds? It is likely that the quality of the diamond cut is then selected for E I, E II, E III, but there must not be any great differences, at least not to the point that it can be heard when listening to a record.
 
Hi guys, I have a Empire 2000e with no other letter or numbers- the red stylus is shot. I bought one of those black ones that everyone sells but the shank was too large and it only went in to the body a couple mm. Also the shank seemed to be a little longer than stock.... couldn't really tell as it did not fit the cartridge.
Can anyone tell me what kind of stylus could fit?
P1070462.JPG
 
Hi, it's an Empire 2000 E cartridge, which must have an elliptical stylus of the 0.3 mil x 0.7 mil type, the first of its kind, since then it was 0.2 x 0.7 on the E I, E II and E III. You have to take a diamond for Empire 2000 E, but you can also take it higher, it will work too, like for an E I or E II for example. Here's an example:
www.dacapoaudio.com

S-2000 Stylus for Empire 2000, E, E/I, E/II, E/III | DaCapo Audio

Get Your S-2000 Stylus for Empire 2000, E, E/I, E/II, E/III from Denmark's International Turntable Specialist. Browse Our Full Range of Top-Quality Empire Replacement Needles that will Renew the Performance of Your Empire Phono Cartridge
www.dacapoaudio.com www.dacapoaudio.com
Then, I found a French seller from whom I bought original and vintage diamonds, I can only recommend it, because they are new! (new old stock) ;)
Look at my photo just above, and I can tell you that the quality is great!
 
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Wire Nut said:
I bought one of those black ones that everyone sells but the shank was too large and it only went in to the body a couple mm. Also the shank seemed to be a little longer than stock.... couldn't really tell as it did not fit the cartridge. Can anyone tell me what kind of stylus could fit?
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One meant for an Empire cartridge. I can't tell what cartridge that black stylus is meant for, but the little "wings" ("fins"?) on either side tells me it's not a meant-for-Empire stylus. EDIT: Not so fast, big stuff! See post 11,140 below.
 
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jbjsr said:
@Wire Nut
The stylus TomD62 bought from LP Gear for his 2000E/III will fit with any of the 2000E series bodies.
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Indeed, all the styluses designed for the 2000, 2000 E, 2000 E I, 2000 E II and 2000 E III series are interlockable, with differences depending on the shape of the diamond, whether spherical or elliptical. A good diamond will always give a good reproduction with nuances according to its origin and logical destination (e.g. Empire 2000 E diamond for Empire 2000 E cartridge). By aiming higher, you are entitled to have better results, such as a diamond for Empire 2000 E I on an Empire 2000 E cartridge, but this will remain very nuanced. At worst, the spherical stylus (I have one), will also give good results for example on a 2000 E III cartridge, but with less nuances and precision, but it will still be very good compared to other cartridges on the current market.
 
Thanks for the responses. So because the $40 stylus would not fit does that mean they are junk and a more "expensive" one will fit?
 
Wire Nut said:
Thanks for the responses. So because the $40 stylus would not fit does that mean they are junk and a more "expensive" one will fit?
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What @wualta was saying is that you have the wrong stylus, one not made for Empire cartridges. At one point replacement styli for other manufacturers' cartridges were marketed under the "Empire" brand. So it is absolutely possible to buy a stylus in Empire packaging that is not made for Empire cartridges like yours.
 
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Wire Nut said:
Thanks for the responses. So because the $40 stylus would not fit does that mean they are junk and a more "expensive" one will fit?
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Indeed, there are many diamonds sold for Empire cells, and I recommend looking for them on well-known sites specializing in the sale of diamonds. You have to be wary of everything else that may be offered on various other sites. Then, it's not necessarily a question of price, for example I found a Zafira brand diamond, a replica of what Empire did, but without the logo, with a sound quality equivalent to the OEM, and for only 30 euros. Then, I also found new OEM diamonds, for reasonable prices, but they are very rare and you have to be wary of storage conditions, which can alter their initial qualities. I was very lucky, it was an old stock from a bought store. Finally, Tonar for example also makes good diamonds, a little less qualitative than the original, but which give good results (sometimes a little sibilance, so you have to play with the pressure of follow-up).
There are also beautiful manufactures of Vivid Line diamonds, which give results equivalent to the OEM, or even Shibata, but the prices are no longer the same! A Tonar diamond is traded at around 65 euros, the OEM normally around 200 euros, as is the Shibata, a little less for the Vivid Line. For example, I bought my two OEM diamonds for less than the price of a Shibata, and a little more than a Vivid Line, I think I got a very good deal. I put you the link for an OEM diamond for Empire 2000 E, it's the same stock as the two OEMs of Empire, so very well preserved!
After that, it's up to you to see what you want to put on, knowing that coming across a new old stock diamond today is like looking for a needle in a haystack, and then again! An alternative solution like a Tonar (I have two in stock) can give you complete satisfaction, especially if you've never listened to an Empire cartridge with an OEM stylus (that's when it's nirvana!)
 
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