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 ?
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Hello gentlemen,
Very interesting thread.
I would like to ask, what kind of air pressure regulators are you using for the arm ?
Ultra fine air regulation (specially at low pressures) is better done with diaphragmatic regulators. They do have incorporated bleeding system. This is a nice one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SMC-ITV1050-311L4-X26-PNEUMATIC-ELECTRO-REGULATOR-/140916413771

But there are passive ones with same performance.
Hi Cabbiendi

I would like to ask, what kind of air pressure regulators are you using for the arm ?

I hope others chime in as well.
I use three regulators. The first two are inside the Timeter compressor pump.

http://mercurymed.com/catalogs/RDR_Compressors_Accessories.pdf?phpMyAdmin=8bad005e4170814880e9a1aebf2262f1

The main regulator in there, can be seen in the manual link below on page 5 - part no. 13. Part 21 is the tube that drains moisture like a cars ac system.

http://www.alliedhpi.com/images/zs168-263-002.pdf

It is a 50 psi patient respirator and has been a top turnkey air system for me for many years.

this compressor/pump runs all the time. I take 19 psi from it down the line 100 feet of tubing and the rest of the psi escapes into the air at the pump through a regulated T valve. The separate in room regulator is located next to the ET 2.5.

http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/i/f/1301961480.jpg

This one I know is a diaphramatic regulator / air filter and water container.
I can say because of the quality of the timeter - I never see a drop of water in this regulators bulb.

I have a choice to use this in room regulator, as an actual "regulator", or to open it (top knob) so it just acts as an air filter / water trap.

Ultra fine air regulation (specially at low pressures) is better done with diaphragmatic regulators.

But there are passive ones with same performance.


Cummins Hydraulics - where I bought my in room regulator told me the industry considers anything up to 125 psi as low pressure.

Are you in the hydraulics/pump business? Can you provide more info or insight ?

Welcome to the thread.

Cheers Chris
Hello Chris,

Thanks for your detailed answer.
I have always been in the ophthalmic industry. In this field some processes are very delicate and require dry air at a very specific pressure.
For such applications we always used diapragmatic air perssure regulators. They indeed expel air through small nozzles to regulate at a very fine level. Standing close to them you can listen the air bleeding out of the nozzles. They are not noisy but I'm not in the condition to say they can be installed inside the listenig room.
Reading the post of Frogman (Dec 12) I imagined that his relief valve could be acting as a bleeding nozzle giving a finer level of regulation, but I do not know.
Chris, I am not sure your in room regulator is diaphragmatic. They look flatter and I never saw one of them with water separator and filter.

Anyway, if I understood well you have a loop system taking 19psi out of the 50psi mains and the overpressure go back to the compressor..?? This is an smart design.

I never had an ET tonearm but I have the highest respect for this design. To me, it can compete against any tonearm. Until I found this thread I sincerely never imagined the air pressure could be so important.

Regards,

Hello Chris,
For some reason, my first answer was not shown.

Thanks for your detailed answer.
I have always been in the ophthalmic industry. In this field
some processes are very delicate and require dry air at a very specific pressure. For such applications we always used
diapragmatic air pressure regulators. They indeed expel air through small nozzles to regulate at a very fine level. Standing close to them you can listen the air bleeding out of the nozzles. They are not noisy but I'm not in the condition to say they can be installed inside the listenig room.
Reading the post of Frogman (Dec 12) I imagined that his relief valve could be acting as a bleeding nozzle giving a finer level of regulation, but I do not know.
Chris, I am not sure your in room regulator is diaphragmatic. They look flatter and I never saw one of them with water separator and filter.

Anyway, if I understood well you have a loop system taking 19psi out of the 50psi mains and the overpressure go back to the compressor..?? This is an smart design.

I never had an ET tonearm but I have the highest respect for this design. To me, it can compete against any tonearm. Until I found this thread I sincerely never imagined the air pressure could be so important.

Regards,