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Empire 598 - Long

I am considering buying an Empire 598 III Troubador that I’ve found locally. It looks great and comes with an Empire 2000 E/III cartridge with an “Empire 1” stylus.

I have downloaded the manual from The Vinyl Engine and looked around on the web. That answered many of my questions but I could really use some feedback on the following.

BELT
The belt currently on it is a 28” Yamaha belt which is too tight. I believe that the belt should be about 32” but when I search for sources, I see people offering a variety of lengths that they claim are suitable. I suspect that the cross sections are also all over the place
- What is the correct belt length?
- What is the correct cross section?
- Any other important characteristics I should know about?
- What is a recommended source, preferably in Canada or the US?

SPEED ADJUSTMENT
The table currently runs a little fast. Turning the knurled adjusting nut tilts the motor but has no noticeable effect on platter speed. I am guessing that this is because the belt is too tight and/or is the wrong cross section. Any comments?

MYSTERY PIECE
There is a ½” long 1/8” dia. piece of black plastic sticking out toward the head shell from the collar at the arm base that has the Arm Height Adjustment Set Screw on its RHS.
- What is this?

DYNA_LIFT ADJUSTMENT
With the arm set to horizontal, the cueing control barely lifts the arm above the record and the pick up stud barely clears under the top of the hole in the Dyna-lift post. I think that the cueing height can be adjusted by removing the arm but I don’t see how to adjust so that the Dyna-lift is properly set up with a horizontal arm.
- Any suggestions?

MOTOR NOISE
If I am standing next to the turntable in a quiet room with no music is playing, I can hear a little bit of noise from the motor. I can’t detect any play in the bearings and the sound is still there with the belt off.
- Is oiling the motor bearings likely to get rid of this?
- If so, what’s involved and what oil?

HOW GOOD?
The turntable sounds pretty good decent right now.
What do I need to do to bring it up to its potential: Change belt? Tune suspension? Change cartridge? Change phono wiring? Add damping to base, or platter, or sub base? Other?
I was looking for a Thorens 124/125, Garrard 301/401, Linn LP-12. This Empire however looks good, appears to be in great condition, is available, and I doubt that I will find one of the others for the same price.
- If brought up to its potential, how good would it be compared to the others?

Thanks for any info you can provide. I'm sure that some of you know a whole lot more about Empire turntables than I do.

David




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Topic - Empire 598 - Long - energyandair 12:49:09 01/15/07 (20)


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