Empire 999-VE
Little independent documentation survives for the Empire 999-VE, a top-of-the-line stereo phono cartridge from the late 1960s. The record is mostly Empire's own advertising, so treat it as the company's claims, not verified editorial findings.
Empire's ads pushed the 999VE hard on tracking ability. One cites HiFi/Stereo Review as ranking it the "#1 cartridge in lightweight tracking" and quotes measured channel separation of better than 30 dB at mid-frequencies, holding above 15 dB from about 30 Hz up to 18 kHz (Audio, October 1968, p.101). Another ad boasted of "5,000 play tests" and called the 999VE the "longest playing cartridge" (High Fidelity, March 1970, p.37).
By 1972, Empire was listing the model as the 999VE/X "Professional," claiming four-channel capability. Recommended tracking force was ¼ to 1¼ grams, and the list price was $79.95 (Audio, February 1972, p.11). A step-up model, the 1000ZE/X, listed at $99.95. Beyond those ad-derived facts, the archive documents no original manuals, independent reviews, or production dates.
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