Shure M7D or Empire 108

[steveh1155]

I just got an old Garrard 4HF going (sort of) today and have a couple different cartridges I could use in it - an old Empire 108 or a Shure M7D but both are in need of a stylus replacement and I want to get just get one stylus for now. I think they're both from the late 1950's/early 60's. The Shure looks like it has a plastic body and the Empire heavier and made of metal. Any reason to use one over the other in this setup? Or, I could just flip a coin....

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Shure would work in the tonearm. The Empire is better in a lighter mass tonearm.

 

[steveh1155]

Well, I ended up trying both of these and it wasn't even a close contest. The Shure M7D sounded okay, not bad, just okay - but the Empire 108 had a much better upper end, clear and detailed highs. The spec sheets on both carts sort of told me why that may be. The bad news is the Empire weighs a whopping 10 grams! (the Shure weighs in at 6.8 grams). I'd like to find another cart (one that's lighter) in the Empire line that has a similar sound as the 108 - any suggestions?