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The mighty Empire 4000 D/III. You can use this on 2 channel or 4 channel stereo wiring is the same. One of 70's best phone cartridge. It speaks W-I-D-E Quadraphic 3D Sound! In excellent shape that comes with the brand new 80's Swiss/Japanese "Nude" Diamond Elliptical 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 they are 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!This cartridge has bigger engine than the standard stereo. Left and right channel reads 628/628 ohms while Factory is 630 ohms. Beautiful electric condition. Screen print lettering is slightly scratched doesn't affect any performance and you won't even see it when the cartridge is in action. Enjoy! Specification:Freq Resp: 10Hz-50kHz +/- 3 dBTracking Range: 3/4 - 1 1/4 gramsSeparation: 15Hz to 1kHz -- 28 dB1kHz to 20kHz -- 23 dB20kHz to 50kHz -- 15 dBI.M. Distortion @ 3.54 cm/sec -- 0.2% 2kHz - 20kHzStylus: NOS Swiss Japan .2 x .7 Polished Elliptical Diamond StylusEffective Tip Mass: .4 milligramCompliance: 30x10-6 cm/dyneTracking: 32 cm/sec @ 1kHz @ 1 gramChannel Bal: within 1 dB @ 1kHzInput Load: 100k ohms/channelTotal Capacitance: under 100 pF/channelOutput @ 3.54 cm/sec -- 3 mV/channelShipping:$12.50 USPS Ground Fully Insured Lower 48ths$18.50 USPS Priority Fully Insured Hawaii, Virgin, Etc.Worldwide contact me for shipping quote.
Condition isn’t stated, and at US$367 that makes this hard to love unless it’s truly excellent and complete. For a 4000D/III cartridge, that ask is well into the ambitious side of the used market; it only makes sense if the stylus is original or a top-tier recent replacement and the generator has been verified.
The upside is real: the 4000D/III is one of Empire’s sought-after high-end MM bodies, with a very capable, lively presentation when the stylus is right. If the cantilever is straight, the suspension is healthy, and you’re getting a proven stylus, it can still be a rewarding buy — but at this price, I’d want clear close-up photos and confirmation of channel output 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.
