If you are using braid the smaller diameter spool is the better casting performer.
In fact, the profile of our "new" Emblem is nearly identical to the legendary Whisker SS3000 which has been
the top dog of casting performance for almost 30 years.
Here's my antique LOL
That can only be improved upon by adding length, spool length (height)
not diameter is where distance performance is improved . . . The Emblem was designed as a bridge reel for the US market, able to handle mono and braid; it does neither to extreme performance. Daiwa was the leader in distance engineering but the reels were never marketed to the US and very few except for the highly motivated back then acquired them at great cost and inconvenience, not like now with the internet.
Here is a 45mm tall spool on the SS9000 from back in the 80's, strongest, longest casting spinning reel ever made. My SS9000's no longer fish, they are retired to just field work in casting tournaments.
I fish the modern models of these reels which only amounts to name and cosmetic changes. Here are the spools lined up: S-5000T (SS3000), S-6000T (SS9000), Basia and old Emblem. The old Emblem comes in a distant last to these three reels (and many others).
Our "new" Emblem is the mid-quality "X" reel in a
three reel series that has been sold in the UK for a couple years.
The best "Z" reel is 2oz lighter than our "new" Emblem and has 8 bearings. It also features the handle from the 550£ / $900 Basiair . . .
