tweaking an SL-D3

[gearhead]

I've got a Technics SL-D3 I bought new in the '80s.
It's got an Empire TC 40 cartridge on it.
Can this be a decent turntable, or should I save for something better?
It's basically an SL-D2 with repeat functions.

 

[Scorpion8]

I've got an SL-D3 in the play stack right now and also have an Empire 400TC cartridge in my pickup rotation. They both sound fine. How old is the stylus on your Empire? It's not a super douper table, but it does fine work and sounds good to my old ears. I'd keep it, but keep an eye out for move-ups knowing that you don't have to, just want to (someday).

 

[gearhead]

The cartridge is every bit of 20 years old.

 

[Scorpion8]

Get a new stylus. Turntableneedles.com has them as 237-DET (400TC) or 242-DEX (TC40) for very little payola. Is yours truly the TC40, as one of my Empires is a 400TC? Both are 0.2 x 0.7 mil elliptical.

 

[hakaplan]

I agree with Scorp. I have the Empire 500ID, in the same family and it is a great sounding cart--definitely worth getting a replacement stylus--and that's probably your best tweak for this turntable. Then enjoy!

 

[Stanton681EEES]

Not to disagree with anyones opinion. But I've found that the best tweak using those Empires is to increase the capacitance to around 400pf it, to my ears gives those a better balanced sound and better bass.
Problem is trying to find a way to increase capacitance on a table such as yours.:thmbsp:

 

[ferninando]

stanton, couldn't you just hang Xpf across sig to gnd at the preamp input givint the full capacitance of the cart/arm/cable plus an extra C to get 400pf?

 

[gearhead]

It says TC 40 on the side of the cart.
turntableneedles.com seems to be out of the 242-DEXies.

 

[Scorpion8]

Thanks. TC40. I have an Empire OP-5, OP-4, 400TC and E-20 and they all sound great with a new stylus. There are some other places on the net that sell stylus, so I'd just find a suitable replacement. That's step #1. Turntableneedles.com lists a 241-D7 substitute which is a .7 mil conical tip (not as prized as the ellipticals) but if you don't listen to vinyl intimately, it should serve you well. You might try the 4-241-DE as they state they are interchangeable.

 

[gearhead]

Thanks for all the help, everybody.

 

[gearhead]

I can't find a stylus to save my butt.
I'll bet I googled for close to an hour looking for any variation that would land on something-TC 40, 242 DEX, Empire stylus, etc, etc.
Anybody got any links to your favorite turntable internet store?

 

[hakaplan]

Go back to turntableneedles.com and search again for TC40. Go down to the bottom of the page. You'll see 12 other styli there. Any one of those will fit the cartridge--they were interchangeable.