Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

I don't mean this statement to reflect anything but as a point of passing on information.

There is obviously a learning factor with this arm. One of the Et's great abilities is it's flexibility/adjustability. This can be a negative or a positive. It all depends upon one's logical understanding of how anything mechanical works. The longer one lives with this arm, and the more that person realizes that this arm is really simple in it's overall design, the easier it will become to set up and use. The virgin user will see it as an obstacle to overcome, while the veteran user see's it as the extension of everything in life.

FWIW: Here is my audio creed...

U = understanding
L = listening
L = logic
C = common sense

This has been my formula for my ongoing pursuit in all things audio.

Ketchup: You are correct. The overriding factor is that you understand my point.

My point earlier was , taking playing conditions into consideration, that involves the lp on the platter. I guess I made a mistake by not restating this point later.

Slaw is on fire ..:^)

In regards to the recent leveling discussions, please permit me to describe in parallel my out-of- the -box method at setting up my ET tonearms. This method is straight in - cartridge leads to phono. The wiring is a separate loom on its own.

Wire Loom

It can be applied and removed in 10 minutes thereby allowing experimentation with different wires.

Procedure

1) WITHOUT WIRING. Set up the arm per the manual.

2) Level using a a Blue Tack Pancake
placed on the lead weights a little heavier than your cartridge - this allows the arm to free float in space.

When leveling this way is accomplished; remove Blue tac and add your wiring.

3) Attach your wiring. again apply the Blue Tac on the lead weights. The arm "WILL" float one way - adjust the wiring positions only - do not touch the leveling screws which are already set for level of the tonearm. Adjust only the wiring itself.

Using this process ensures your VTA Block Alignment is straight and true.

If you are not able to make your ET2 free float with no movement after adding and adjusting only the wiring - the wiring arrangement is causing too much effect on the operation - PUSH or PULL of the arm. Revise your wiring arrangement.

To understand this wiring phenomena - let's take a couple of steps back, look at the ET design a little closer, and let's make a comparison.

In this picture is a ET 2.5 and the Kuzma Airline (picture lifted from stereophile)

Kuzma and ET tonearms

Note the red circles. They go around the air tube and wiring for each tonearm. The Kuzma as part of its design uses the wires and airtube for controlling the movement of the arm. On the ET tonearm neither is required for controlling movement. The air tube as we know on the ET is stationary and plugged into the stationary manifold. As far as the wiring goes with the ET ..... well this is an open book really; this is where some get into problems, and why this arm, imo, has the reputation for difficult setup. Too much freedom on what can be done. The Kuzma can only be setup as in the picture.
.
We have seen some very inventive ways of wiring here. This wiring freedom aspect is either a real good thing, or real bad thing ...all depending on ones experience level. In talking with ET2 owners, the more experience you have, the more people seem to appreciate having freedom on how to run the wires since the ET tonearm does not need the wires for damping as other linear trackers do. Wiring arrangement designs are also based on the TT/plinth style being used

IMO - every ET 2.0, 2.5 owner who wants to get ANAL about setup; needs to at least one time, remove the wiring, and set up the arm/cartridge "sans-wiring" first, then add the wiring. Only in this way will you be able to really level things without the wire influence, and witness how much effect the wiring has on your leveling attempts and actual operation of the tonearm. Until you have done this "sans wiring" setup, no matter what method you employ to level; the turns you make on the two vertical leveling screws will be affected to some degree by the push or pull action of your wiring setup.

To prove if this is true for your existing set up. In reverse, remove your wiring - do you need to make leveling adjustments to your arm ?