Empire 880 P vs ???

[rs732]

A few months ago,I found a Pioneer PL-510A in great condition. The turntable came with an Empire 880 P cartridge. However,it needs the stylus replaced. Every so often an original empire stylus comes up for sale on ebay.

Should I be patient and wait for an original stylus, or should i go with a more modern stylus and cartridge?

Also, can anyone recommend a decent cartridge for this pioneer turntable?

 

[setevik1983]

Hi.
I really had a problem with not original stylus Empire 880. You'll hear the difference between the original and the not original stylus, because not original has jitter sound.
It's not so simple to buy original stylus.
Stylus Empire 880 have three different variants:

White - 0.007, it`s 880 (S880-7RD)
Green - 0.006 it`s 880P (S880-6RD)
Black - 0.002 - 0.007 it`s 880PE (S880-PE)
It has another labels

Original box of the Empire 880 looks like at the Pic1. The original diamond conical looks like at the Pic2, and the not original diamond conical looks like at the Pic3.

Head Empire 880PE have very well deep sound.

 

[setevik1983]

In addition ... I have not seen in the sale of original Empire 880PE(P) stylus for several years, on ebay.com

On sale now is available only Empire 880P (green)

 

[rs732]

In addition ... I have not seen in the sale of original Empire 880PE(P) stylus for several years, on ebay.com

On sale now is available only Empire 880P (green)

I have the Empire 880 P (green) cartridge. I've read great reviews about this cartridge,so I might wait it out to find a stylus for it.

 

[wualta]

This is a tough call, because the 880's age makes it difficult to maintain and its mass makes it difficult to use in many turntables. It's more suited to today's high-mass arms, or would be if you could find styli for it. And yet we'd like to hear what 1962 sounded like, suspecting rightly that more modern gear would let it sound better than it ever could in 1962.

 

[Balifly]

I have the Empire 880 P (green) cartridge. I've read great reviews about this cartridge,so I might wait it out to find a stylus for it.

Get an Audio Technica AT 95E while you wait.
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Techni...d=1482437775&sr=8-1&keywords=at+95e+cartridge

 

[rs732]

This is a tough call, because the 880's age makes it difficult to maintain and its mass makes it difficult to use in many vintage turntables. It's more suited to today's high-mass arms, or would be if you could find styli for it. And yet we'd like to hear what 1962 sounded like, suspecting rightly that more modern gear would let it sound better than it ever could in 1962.

I'm definitely curious to hear what this cartridge sounds like,so I might just keep it and wait for an original stylus to come around and pick up a modern cartridge in the meantime.

 

[setevik1983]

Modern cartridges cost up to $ 100 and do not have the sound quality as the Empire 108, 880, 888, but this endless dispute.

 

[MRL_Audio]

Got to tell you there is something about the real old vintage cartridges, like the 888 P or PE that really grab me. I have the P version, an Empire 108, an ADC 1 with NOS stylus, a few older Elacs, STS-322 and a Shure M3D and M7D that are really a treat to listen to.

 

[wualta]

I'm definitely curious to hear what this cartridge sounds like,so I might just keep it and wait for an original stylus to come around and pick up a modern cartridge in the meantime.

I think that's the prudent strategy. Put it away, but not too far away, and keep your eyes open.

Got to tell you there is something about the real old vintage cartridges, like the 888 P or PE...

Agreed. They're different and therefore can't help sounding different. If you read the old test reports, you'll see two things: the arm-stylus resonance is way up in the audible region, giving a bass boost, and the treble resonant peak is usually obvious and preceded by a wide dip in the curve. These are the most obvious differences; I'm sure there are others. Many issues of the old US audio magazines have been digitized, OCR'd and are available as pdfs on sites like americanradiohistory.com. Take a look at a different world.

 

[MRL_Audio]

Thanks wualta. You're always such a wealth of information.