Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Empire Scientific 598 III Turntables by Brian

I just acquired this table. The cartridge is an Empire 250ES (age and vintage unknown) I compared it to my table of many years - Thorens TD160C and I mounted an Empire 888 hoping the 2 cartridges were camparable. First impression is that the Thorens has better soundstage and extension. more neutral with less of a bass bias. The Empire appears to have had the audio cables replaced and this may be a source of a problem. It is giving out 2 channel monoraul. I've checked the leads at the cartridge and the color codes are correct. The motor is quiet. I has torgue and should not have a problem with any record clamp. The sound is very liquid, warm and smooth. It almost has a tube sound. The bass is muddy but, this should improve with a new cartridge and I think correcting the wiring problem. The tonearm most likely is a medium compliance arm since there is a fair amount of mass in the tube and headshell as opposed to the low mass arms of the Thorens. Therefore, I will need to consider the cartridge options carefully. I am currently considering a Grado. This may mean a relocation of the power wiring since it runs under the tonearm and right next to the leads. This should be changed anyway to reduce possible hum.

This table will be a project for me over the winter. I have wanted to try one since I first saw it some 25 years ago. If I can retain the sound and improve the negatives, I probably will keep it in my main system and substitute the Thorens TD160C with the Thorens TD125 I also just acquired. My preamp allows for 2 turntables.

REVIEW: Empire Scientific 598 III Turntables Review by Brian at Audio Asylum