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anyone else running vintage Empire carts?

desertrat748 said:
I have both and the s2000T is the same as s915e for the 2000T, REX 600T, 2008, and other 2000T clones. The s2000z is the metallic gold version for the totl 2000Z cart. The difference if any is too hard to hear. I have read so many opinions and test on it but it doesn’t really seem to matter much at all. For all intentions they are the same.

Some of my nos sound like they might have a tiny amount more sparkle in the hf but it’s just too hard to tell if it’s true or maybe my brain playing tricks on me.

Use them and enjoy them. You will get better results with a proper setup vs swapping out a silver s2000t for gold s2000z.View attachment 3503334View attachment 3503337
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I do enjoy it but have so little time to just sit and listen these days (and I’m supposed to be retired?). What I hear is very fine when I do get the chance. Better than my Sure V15 type 3, better than the Stanton 681EEE, and better than the AT cart that came with my LP120 TT.
 
Given the slight differences between the characteristics of the 2000 E II and the 2000 E III, fitting a diamond E II onto the 2000 E III cell would, in any case, provide characteristics close to the 2000 E III, or at worst, to the 2000 E II. And in any case, it will always be much better than with a diamond from the secondary market.
 
desertrat748 said:
I find that too. Just better detail and balance overall. Not that the V15-type 3 is a slouch in any sense of the way. I just prefer the 2000z/2000T & clones.
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Agreed. My 2008 with original silver stylus outtracks anything else I have, including a V-15 IV with original HE styli. And sounds better to me, to boot! Sadly, I run it far less often than I'd really like in order to preserve the stylus.
 
Hello everyone, so here it is, I've been testing one of the NOS Empire 2000 E II diamonds on my Empire 2000 E III cartridge for a while now. Nothing to complain about, it's smooth, precise, clear, good bass, good mids, and good highs, no sibilance, all with 1 gram of tracking pressure. Honestly, it's all good!
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Gary didn't forget the Chonks-- if you were looking for an original stylus for your ICS 400 integrated headshell, your 480 LT p-mount, or you just wanted something vivid red to match your eyes, look for the 241-DTC. Then, if you have one of those not-made-by Empire p-mounts (eg, 485 LT), the red nude elliptical 246-DEX is back. Also works in your Sonus PME and Marantz CT-530, not to mention your Sanyo MG-10J/20J.

ADC fans will see the [momentary] return of the 114-DET, which for a long time was a go-to recommendation for anyone with a "mystery" XLM-style standard-mount body and the XT p-mounts. And speaking of p-mounts, how about the top PSX stylus, the 116-DEZ?
 
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wualta said:
Or you can transform even a mid-1960s 888 ! Just grab a dab of poster putty and...
UPDATE: As expected, the 236-ZDEs are gone now, but there's still the fruity-purple 235-VDE.
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I'm gonna do just that! Ordered a 235VDE and will try it on the 1968 999VE body so it'll be all purple-y. But if I recall correctly, the better inductance match would be to the 1965 888P body I have, since I think it's inductance is around 500 mh. Will have to measure first to be sure, then compare, contrast, and repeat.
 
If you do measure your 888P's inductance, let us know what it is. Based on the sometimes-sketchy info I have, I'd expect it to be hovering around 400mH.
 
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