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This is one my 70's Empire colloective cartridge in new and excellent shape that comes with the brand new Empire 909 /X Elliptical Diamond Stylus. These cartridge sounds crystal clear. It's very hard for the new cartridges to match the sound of these old Empires especially with the vintage diamond elliptical stylus. This is a brand new stylus and never been used. I have several of these and theyre a jaw dropper to listen to. This also comes with the bolt screw and washers. All you need is to install and set.Don't miss this one. Seriously. It's not easy to get the sound you are raving for with the newer made ones. With a stroke of luck, This is in excellent working condition with a brand new stylus. Look at the close-up!Empire 909/X IMPROVED and other similarly profiled Empire cartridges. The stylus features a highly polished elliptical diamond with a .0007.Cartridge Specifications:- Reading: 520-520 Ohms- Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz +/- 3 dB- Output voltage (per channel): 5.0 mV- Channel separation at 20-10KHz / 10KHz-20KHz: 25 / 12- Tracking force (gram): 1.5 - 3.0- Stylus tip size (mil.): .7 mil- Stylus type: Spherical- Stylus: Original Empire S909/X (Gray)Shipping:$13.50 USPS Priority Air Anywhere in the US.Worldwide contact me for shipping quote.
At US$295, this sits well below the US$325 25th percentile from your comparable listings and far under the US$450 median, so it reads as a strong bargain rather than just a fair ask. Against the recent comp set, it’s priced in the lower end of the market, which is exactly where a buyer wants to see a clean vintage cartridge.
What makes it appealing is the combination of NOS status, included screws, and the fact that Empire moving-magnet cartridges are well liked for a lively, open presentation when the stylus is right. The upside here is mostly in originality and freshness: if the stylus really is unused and the suspension is healthy, you’re buying a scarce, period-correct piece with little immediate hassle. For a cartridge this old, the only real buyer check is verification of genuine NOS condition and proper channel output.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Empire is best known as a vintage American hi-fi brand that dates back to 1959, when it appeared as Audio Empire in the United States. It began under Dyna-Empire, a precision machine-shop manufacturer, before evolving into Empire Scientific; later history suggests the audio side changed hands and eventually faded as a consumer audio name. Because the brand’s classic era is several decades behind us, some details are unevenly documented, but its roots in mid-century U.S. hi-fi are clear.
In its heyday, Empire focused on analog playback gear, especially phono cartridges, styli, and tonearms. The company was particularly associated with turntable accessories and record-playback components rather than complete systems. That makes Empire a name most often encountered by vinyl enthusiasts, vintage-audio collectors, and restoration-minded buyers rather than shoppers looking for modern amplifiers, speakers, DACs, or headphones.
Today, Empire’s reputation is primarily that of a respected vintage brand with a strong collectible following. Its products are remembered for careful engineering and a place in the golden age of American hi-fi, but it is not a current mainstream audio manufacturer in the modern consumer market. For buyers, Empire is more a heritage name than an active high-end badge, valued for classic analog performance and historical significance.
See all Empire listings on RADAR.
