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JICO replacement?

lt.slothr0p

lt.slothr0p

Member
Hi Everybody,
I've got an Empire 2000Z cartridge that I love, but my stylus has a lot of hours on it and probably could do with a replacement. Are the JICO listings I see on ebay my best bet?

(If you want to know the rest of the chain it's empire 2000z->sansui sr-222mkii->pioneer sx-850->klipsch r820f)

Thanks for your input!
 
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MRL_Audio said:
What do your ears tell you? Time for a replacement or are just basing this on a hours estimate?
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ah, ya, an excellent question. the sansui and empire combo is my daily driver. i bought the sansui tt used in spring 2018. it had the empire already installed on it (the tt and cart combo were a CL steal!) and i know there are a ton of hours on the stylus. i would say it's simply time for a replacement, but most of my previous adventures in hifi involved one grado setup after another so considering this is my first foray into empire-land, and given it's a gradual turn up of the heat vs. being tossed into boiling water, i'm not entirely trusting my ears on this front.
 
So who makes the best aftermarket for the 2000Z? Any consensus? Any pecking order? I have a low hours original, but no backup.

Check that: I have a 2000T stylus from VOM. But still wondering...
 
Wow! I would have thought that in 402 pages of the Empire Chronicles that some sort of pecking order would have been more or less agreed on for a substitute 2000Z stylus.

Pretty much is for Shure carts: go Jico. There are outlier good styli, but most go Jico.
 
Which Jico and which Shure Larry...? Or is it any Shure Jico for any Shure cartridge. If it's Jico which cantilever or stylus? It's a slippery slope to say there is consensus even there.
 
MRL_Audio said:
Which Jico and which Shure Larry...? Or is it any Shure Jico for any Shure cartridge. If it's Jico which cantilever or stylus? It's a slippery slope to say there is consensus even there.
Click to expand...

The answer is “yes!”

Jico Stylus, pick your flavor, and Shure cartridge, pick your flavor.

MRL_Audio said:
and you got no insight from that gigantic thread of Empire musings?
Click to expand...

Did YOU? That is my point also! 402 pages and no recommendation for best aftermarket stylus for the 2000Z?

A while back I remember wualta recommending the stylus sold by style_tone.
 
My counsel, for what it is worth, is to buy direct from JICO. That way, you know that what you are getting is one of theirs. I have had excellent experience with them, and the items purchased come in a reasonable time, for a reasonable price.

Enjoy,
Rich P
 
Because Larry, as I stated in post #4 above, I have purchased many stylus from Jico. None a disappointment. Good luck with your search.
 
Thanks for the input guys! I too have followed the Empire thread for a long time. It's such a daunting thread lol--although it is invaluable. I should also say that when I first got the Sansui tt with the 2000Z cart I remember reading that replacement styli for the 2000Z were (supposedly, at the time, etc.) easily available. But as someone commented above, it appears those days are over.

I think JICO is probably the way to go so thanks so much for the reassurance
 
lt.slothr0p said:
Thanks for the input guys! I too have followed the Empire thread for a long time. It's such a daunting thread lol--although it is invaluable. I should also say that when I first got the Sansui tt with the 2000Z cart I remember reading that replacement styli for the 2000Z were (supposedly, at the time, etc.) easily available. But as someone commented above, it appears those days are over.

I think JICO is probably the way to go so thanks so much for the reassurance
Click to expand...
I may have hit the mother load for 2000Z just bought out the stock, of a place in Canada, 11 of the NOS S2000Z styli. Sounds to me that there is some interest in these. They are getting good money on eBay for NOS S2000Z.
 
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