MODIFIED EMPIRE 208's
 Empire
flotsam and jetsam |
 New
laminated base; lead shot filled (unfinished but the Empire is working!) |
 Motor
mounts as per original |
 Old
208 with SME base cutout and power cord upgrade |
 On/Off
switch box is the next step! |
 SME V
and Stainless Clamp/Mat |
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Click on the thumbnails for bigger pictures
Empire #1 has a 4mm thick Stainless platter mat with Stainless capstan type record clamp, Audioquest Sorbothane Mat placed under the Platter (as pictured RHS), the spindle hole
in the Mat was enlarged; the "natural stickiness" of the Mat holds it
in place. The sorbothane Mat works really well at damping the platter;
which rings like a bell without it! The Arm is an Infinity Black Widow from the late 70's, with
AudioTechnica AT150MLX MM Cartridge. A small amount of filing to the Empire arm
mount hole was necessary to move the Infinity Arm back a few
mm to achieve the correct overhang (14.4mm) It's a surprisingly neutral
sound; outstanding considering the budget involved.
Empire #2 has a 4mm thick Brass Mat, and RS Labs Unipivot tonearm. I've rewired
this with Discovery tonearm cable and have yet to decide on a Cartridge. The
record weight is an AudioTechnica. The RHD j-peg is one of a pair of
Marantz model 9's that fire up my 1971 Infinity 2000A's, these are a very
unusual speaker insofar as they use a combination of electrostatic panels with conventional 12" driver and midrange.
I have tried Platter Mats made of Soft woven carbon fibre, Suede, Hardboard,
Cork, Sorbothane, Copper, Aluminum, Solid carbon fibre, Teflon coated anodised aluminum,
Glass, and
Vestax and AudioTechnica DJ mats; the best application for the Empire has been the Stainless
mat with clamp, with the Brass Mat a very close second. The "45
pop-up" has been removed on both Turntables and the ridge filed off so the
platter top is now completely flat. It's important to check the levelness with a
spirit level, and use a good quality (30W or 40W) mineral oil for the center
spindle. About 1.5 teaspoons is enough. Spin the platter for a few minutes will
"settle" the spindle back in the bearing, don't try and force it down.
The basic turntables cost less than US$100 each, and it's really useful to A-B
them as modifications are made to make sure that what's been done is really an
improvement or not.
I have a 3rd 208 that's NIB, (New in the Box) I haven't decided what to do with it yet, but that
completes the "control" in this experiment. And two Empire
698's.
Too many turntables, too little time*Sigh*
Link here to
for a great review of the RS Labs tonearm!!
Power supply is now an isolated/regulated 60Hz item, I still need to make the plinth solid (Hardwood?
Stainless? Stone? Concrete?) as per the
Atma Sphere 209 with some kind of isolation platform in place.
In all, it's a great sounding turntable put together on a budget that with a bit
more time and money spent will step into the "serious turntable" category. It already sounds
way better than I expected; and outstanding really
considering the expenditure to date.
Other Audio Toys;
MICRO SEIKI RX-1500
MICRO SEIKI RX-2000
MICRO SEIKI RX-3000
MICRO SEIKI RX-5000
MICRO SEIKI SX-8000
WESTERN ELECTRIC 91 300B/274B/310A Replica Monoblocks
TRIODE Corpn. Of JAPAN 300B/845 Monoblocks
MARANTZ MODEL 9's Reissues
RS Labs Unipivot Tonearm
CR DEVELOPMENTS WOODHAM 300 Classic Tube Preamp
WOLCOTT OMNISPHERES, these belong to
Paul at the Ski lodge at NAEBA, www.backcountryclub.com
MARANTZ ESOTEC ST-8 MK II TUNER w/ Wooden case
MARANTZ ESOTEC SC-9/SM-9 Pre/Poweramp Set with Wooden cases
Sources: Stainless Steel
plate: http://www.onlinemetals.com
Mirrored stylus
protractor:
http://www.turntablebasics.com
(this suits the large Empire spindle!)
Empire
Turntable Belts:
http://www.elexatelier.com
The
Audioasylum:
http://www.audioasylum.com
The Wolcott Omnispheres
http://www.wolcottaudio.com
MARANTZ Japan
http://www.marantz.co.jp
Another modified EMPIRE;
http://cognitivevent.com/av_empire.html
Email me: gware@eudoramail.com
HEY!! Who let that BMW in here!?
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| Stainless Mat | Brass Mat | Copper Mat | Aluminum Mat | Power cable upgraded | Motor closeup | SME base cutout | Stock plinth |
The Natives are Restless....
SME's
latest tonearm; Azimuth adjustment gets a thumbs up!
New Tannoy Red X-Over , 15 x 10 x 5cm
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 1500
with suction hold-down system, these were based on the MICRO BL-91 |
 Right;
the "budget" 1500, MK-91V base; 50,000JPY, RB 1500 frame, 48,000,
RY1500A motor Unit, 43,000 TOTAL; 141,000JPY |
Based on the MICRO BL-91 the 1500's had 2 models (from January 1984 catalog) Left; MK91FVG vacuum base, 190,000JPY, RB 1500 frame, 48,000, RW 1500 "Dead weight" 16,000, RY1500D, Motor Unit, 53,000, RY1500D, motor Unit base; 53,000, Kevlar string; K-5, 1,000, BA 50 Base; 150,000, Suspension poles, % 15, 19,000 TOTAL; 495,000JPY |
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Accessories; L/R, Top-Bottom; H808X Headshell,
4.500JPY, H303X, 1,900, H202X, 2,100, MLC-282 1.5m cable, 15,000, ST-20 disc
stabilizer, 800gm, 13,000, ST-10disc stabilizer, 1.0kg, 6,000 AST-08, arm base, 4,700, MDP-5 dustbug, 1,200, TOP:AS-1 sheet, 5,500, AS-1V, Sheet, 4,000, MST 305, strobe, 8,000, MST 105 strobe, 500, MSL 204 strobe light, 7,000, MSB 8 insulator, 6,000, MSB-100 insulator, 12,000, Rubber foot, 1,000 each, 70mm diameter |
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Graham E Ware
Tokyo*