Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners



Where are you? What mods have you done ?

I have been using these ET2's for over 9 years now.
I am still figuring them out and learning from them. They can be modified in so many ways. Bruce Thigpen laid down the GENIUS behind this tonearm over 20 years ago. Some of you have owned them for over 20 years !

Tell us your secrets.

New owners – what questions do you have ?

We may even be able to coax Bruce to post here. :^)

There are so many modifications that can be done.

Dressing of the wire with this arm is critical to get optimum sonics along with proper counterweight setup.

Let me start it off.

Please tell us what you have found to be the best wire for the ET-2 tonearm ? One that is pliable/doesn’t crink or curl. Whats the best way of dressing it so it doesn’t impact the arm. Through the spindle - Over the manifold - Below manifold ? What have you come up with ?
128x128ct0517
Bruce Thigpen 420 STR Impressions.

Chris,

These are my impressions.

This is an excellent cartridge. Mechanically it is a high compliance cartridge, much higher than most any modern moving coil.
There were no noise problems, the hum level was at the noise floor and it was quiet running straight in to an older SP-11. Tracking was very good to excellent. The design hints of the Goldring 900's of many years ago and the sound quality reminds me of the last Shure ultra 500, which I liked a lot. So its a bargain, to bad these are out of print.
With respect to use in the ET-2 or 2.5, the best wand to use would be the original aluminum arm wand with the thick coating or the carbon fiber wand. I actually prefer the ET-2 to the 2.5 with this cartridge.
Thanks very much for the loan Chris

-brucet

Guys ( gals? )

Through my various emails bugging him :^( for his impressions (I received them this morning). I got a real sense that Bruce appreciated the downtime to listen to vinyl. IMO, the more we can do to draw folks like Bruce Thigpen back into vinyl; I feel is a good thing for vinyl and music in general. Whether you are an ET2 owner or not on this thread, a quick email thanking him for his impressions here is a start.

Brucet (at) eminent-tech (dot) com
Chris, Thanks for your forsight regarding sending the Acutex to Bruce for his impressions. What more can I say... here are some excellent lps to check out...

(I hope there are "gals" reading this. Give me a call....)

Calexico/Iron @ Wine "In The Reins" an excellent, dynamic lp!!!
Neko Case "Fox Confessor...." Her vocals are awesome here, soundstage is somewhat diminished but an excellent lp.
Jenny Lewis @ the Watson Twins "Rabbit Fur Coat", Great!
The National "High Violet" not superior sonically, but a damn good record!
Birdy "selftitled", a 15 year old that can make you/me cry!
I could go on...........
"High Violet" = this lp gets better with the resolution your system is capable of. A 'GREAT' lp IMO.
Somebody stop me... Suzanne Vega "Beauty @ Crime" dynamics in spades!!!!
Before the night is through...

I have a friend to thank for this one....

Kim Richey "Rise"

Get it, really, It's awesome!!!! It will cost you some $$$, but it's worth it!