Well, I gave it another cleaning and ran it at the proper VTF/anti-skate and the sound was much better. Once again compared it to the VM95-ML. I listened to a quality pressing of a classic audio demo-Crime of the Century by Supertramp! When I do this sort of thing I also listen to a digital version to get a reference, although sometimes even "lossless" isn't the best due to compression of something. Equipment was a restored Technics SL-D1, restored NAD 3020, Polk ES15 speakers in a small 10x10 office/listening room. Digital LDAC streamed to a 1Mii B06 Ultra-nothing special. Subjective scale of poor, fair, good, excellent, outstanding
Empire 2000E/III-Boy does that bring the base! It's huge and reaches down, but it does lose detail-scores excellent though. Imaging is good, I think overwhelmed by the bass. Mids are warm and easy, I give it excellent. Highs are good, but it seems to roll off and lose detail at the top. Overall, this brought up memories of my first system which had the Advent 2-way loudspeakers (Also driven by that very same-now restored NAD 3020 (bought it in high school,1980). Very warm and full. I attribute any flaws to a bonded elliptical stylus/suspension that baked in my outdoor shed for over a year and whatever other torments this suffered through before I got it.
VM95ML-A good reference. Bass is less boomy, more detailed but good punch. Doesn't seem to reach has far low. Very close to the digital and overall excellent. Mids are excellent. I can really pick out baselines etc. better separation of instruments and vocals. Percussion attack is much sharper. Picks out the mixing error in opening of "School". Highs are clear without harshness, also excellent. I have a B&O RX2 turntable with an MMC2 (Soundsmith rebuilt) that is my "Outstanding" comparison, but that is not a fair matchup. Otherwise, the VM95ML would be my favorite.
Digital-Spotify Lossless. The VM95 gets close but gets surface noise etc. that is the charm of vinyl. Surprising, though how close vinyl can be. But clarity and detail still edge out vinyl, it's just soulless.
Conclusion-When I get up the scratch I will replace with the JICO nude elliptical. Lot's of promise in this unit. Before it sounded like my AT VS200 with a new JICO ATN-70 conical, but just with better attention to cleaning it is now closer to the VM95ML as predicted by
@wualta
www.dacapoaudio.com
They even sell a "hyper elliptical". The problem will be finding a US distributor that stocks them. In the meantime, clean the diamond as best you can and keep us posted on any improvement in the sound.