Empire 598 MKii

Cayuga
Cayuga Posts: 480
edited May 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
I found this TT the other day and just had to have it. It's (I think) a great looking table and just wanted to share with the group.
Post edited by Cayuga on
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Comments

  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2011
    I used to smoke ______ with a fellow that owned one--nice table--beautiful.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited May 2011
    Thanks george, was that fellow me?
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2011
    Cayuga wrote: »
    Thanks george, was that fellow me?

    possibly--do you go by Captain Trips ?
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited May 2011
    No I go by Captain Crunch
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited May 2011
    george daniel wrote: »
    I used to smoke ______ with a fellow that owned one--nice table--beautiful.

    Might have been me as well. But I go by Captain O-rings.
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited May 2011
    A lot of captains out there
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  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited May 2011
    Cayuga, that TT is rightous!! Right On :cool:. It's got the original headshell, a vhtf item. Nice grab, a totl Pickering, AT or Shure would really make her sing. I'd invest in a new belt too.
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited May 2011
    Thanks stuwee, I've got a new belt on the way. She's a head-turner and a lucky find.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited May 2011
    Hello,
    Great find! I believe when I sold those, way back when, they were called the Empire 598 "Troubadour" turntable. Empire made several speakers that were disguised as end tables with marble tops. Even then companies were trying to find ways to hide the speakers from looking like speakers.
    Enjoy, Ken
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited May 2011
    You are correct Sir, this is a Troubadour. I kind of like speakers that look like speakers, I don't want people putting drinks or there feet on my speakers.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited May 2011
    I agree with you completely, but it was one way of improving the chances of a guy getting some good sound in a living room. This was before in-wall speakers became a good sounding "stealth" speaker approach.
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  • Polkersince85
    Polkersince85 Posts: 2,883
    edited May 2011
    That's a nice table. I think a lot of folks trying to get into vinyl nowdays sometimes overlook the bargains out there from the "Golden Age of Vinyl"

    .
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    >This message has been scanned by the NSA and found to be free of harmful intent.<
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited May 2011
    Cayuga -
    That's my current table as well (i actually have two of them sitting here haha). They're fantastic. Desipite having a pretty high mass arm they handle quite a range of compliance cartridges and track with as low as .5g. I run an Empire 1000ZE/X or a 4000Diii with stunning results (They were designed for the 990 tonearm, or vice-versa). Ortofone Blue is a nice choice as well as Denon DL-103 or 160 depending on your phono section and/or the posession of a SUT.

    Anyways, congrats. You have to spend a couple thousand dollars to reach this performance on a contemporary deck. At around 500-600 for these, they're a bargain in my book.
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited May 2011
    Oh by the way, there's a guy over at vinyl engine i believe that has done an amazing job researching the Empire's history and has a good deal of backstory and stats. can't remember his login name but i bet most web searches on this topic will lead to some one or more of his posts
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited May 2011
    Thanks for all the nice comments and info, I just love gear from the 60's and 70's makes me feel young again plus these tables can still perform but can I?
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  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited May 2011
    Cayuga wrote: »
    Thanks for all the nice comments and info, I just love gear from the 60's and 70's makes me feel young again plus these tables can still perform but can I?

    :biggrin: Well, the ladies always prefer if you ask politely :biggrin:
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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