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This is a belt-drive Empire Turntable Model 698. With an incredible MCM design aesthetic, it was actually made here in the USA in 1976 and is well-appointed. It has a lovely heft to it, with it's walnut plynth and aluminum platter and tonearm, and a really cool plexiglass tonearm holder lit with a red LED and red LED cueing buttons as well. It looks as great as it sounds. The only thing missing is a dust cover, which tend to vanish a lot with this modelService History: No service records were included from the prior owner. Here at the shop we did routine inspection. We did install a new belt, did some cleaning and lubrication but no repairs were needed.Cosmetic Condition: Overall we rated this at Very Good, with very little to no signs of wear.In the Milwaukee Area? Stop in our shop to inspect/demo
At US$600, this is above the median of US$381 and also above the 75th percentile of US$487, so it reads as ambitious rather than a clean bargain. For a buyer, that means the price only makes sense if the table has unusually strong cosmetics, a known-service history, or something else that meaningfully lifts it above the run-of-the-mill local comps.
The upside is that this is the kind of vintage Empire deck many enthusiasts buy for its solid build, good speed stability, and easy upgrade path with the right cartridge and setup. The included Pioneer PC-01 cartridge adds value, and local pickup reduces shipping risk on a heavy turntable, which is not trivial on older gear. At this price, I’d want confirmation that the platter, bearings, auto functions, and arm bearings are all healthy, and that the cartridge/stylus are usable, because those details can swing the real value a lot.
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.
