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Original Empire 2000EV moving-magnet cartridge fitted with its original Empire stylus, a classic vintage cartridge known for smooth sound, strong tracking, and musical balance from Empire Scientific.The cartridge has been tested and confirmed fully working, ready for use.⚠️ Important note:The stylus guard / cover is broken. This is a cosmetic issue only and does not affect playback or performance. Please handle the stylus carefully and review photos.Condition: • Fully working and tested • Original stylus included • Stylus tracks properly • Stylus guard broken (cosmetic) • Cantilever appears straight and intact • Clean cartridge body • Pins are straight and in proper working orderDetails: • Brand: Empire • Model: 2000EV • Type: Moving Magnet (MM) cartridge • Original vintage cartridge • Original Empire stylus • Made in USAShipping & Handling: • Ships within 1 business day after payment • Tracking number provided • Stylus will be carefully packed to prevent damage during transitNotes:What you see in the photos is exactly what you will receive.Please review all pictures carefully, as they are part of the description.Stylus guard damage is clearly shown in the images.
This is a buyer’s market for this cartridge at US$105: against your local benchmark of a US$325 25th percentile and US$450 median, it sits well below the low end of the recent asking-price spread, so it reads as a strong deal rather than merely fair.
That makes sense for an Empire moving-magnet cartridge with an original stylus, since the appeal is in the classic, lively Empire sound and the fact that a tested example can save you the guesswork of a blind buy. The main upside here is value: if the stylus is genuinely healthy and the body is intact, this is the kind of pickup that can punch above its price; I’d just confirm stylus condition, channel balance, and whether the original tip is truly still fitted before pulling the trigger.
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.
