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Empire 598 problem

J

jodaug

New Member
My Empire 598 is very sensative to the slightest warp in a record. Brand new records will skip on the first track if there's any warp at all. These records play fine on my Empire 208. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. It may be the rubber platter cover?
 
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What cartridge are you using? Usually, sensitivity to warps is due to a mismatch between cartridge compliance and arm mass.

Is the mat flat?

I forgot, is the stylus leaving the surface of the record (being tossed off) or is there just a skip/stick

Doug
 
It must be that the whole arm is easier to move than just the stylus. That's why it jumps .off the record. Normally, if the stylus is compliant enough, it will move up and down with the warp and the arm will stay in place, or relatively so.
 
It only happens at the begining of the record. If I move the arm to the next rack it usually plays OK. It plays fine at the end of the record.
 
What are you tracking at?
How high above the record is the stylus at the lead in groove?
What is the gap between the platter and the deck surface?

I'll ask at the lead in, because queueing is higher at the lead out groove on mine.. and I've not had a problem.

Also, I'm running a cartridge with about 22 μm/mN, I think the Denon is about 10-15?
 
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jodaug said:
It only happens at the begining of the record. If I move the arm to the next rack it usually plays OK. It plays fine at the end of the record.
Click to expand...

That is an anti-skate problem. Try rotating the tonearm platform (the piece that the cue level is attached to), counterclockwise about 5-10°. That should eliminate the dead spot in the lead in area/first track.
 
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Anti-skate seemed to alliviate the skipping somewhat but not entirely. I just got a brand new pressing of a record. Side 1 plays fine Side 2 does not. I can see the warp go by as the platter turns and it causes the needle to skip. Tomorrow I'll bring that record to work where I have another TT. I feel pretty sure it will play fine on that one. Meanwhile I'll keep trying things.
 
Are you tracking the Denon at 2.5 grams?

Also, is the original Empire mat being used? That mat supports the record by the outer rim and does a very effective job at taking out warps............
 
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I brought home an album from my office that skipped on the first song(on my Empire 598) and I'm happy to report it played almost perfectly after I adjusted the anti-skate mechanism. I didn't have a chance to try the other warped album on my work TT but I will next week so progress was made. Thanks Wayne and all who responded.
 
jodaug said:
It's a denon 103r. the needle jumps every time a dip goes by, I can see the record ride up.
Click to expand...

The Denon DL-103 of any model is a major mismatch on this arm. It's on the low mass side of things for the era, it was used with the Empire cartridges like the 4000 series, which were high compliance. This arm was made when Shure V15 Type III, Stanton 681 EEE-S, Empire 4000. and other similar MM and MI cartridges were dominant. When tracking forces were often 1 gram or barely above, and high compliance designs were most common and popular.
 
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