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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
ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 
The fact to consider is that there is pretty high humidity over here, but this happens always, even on "dry" days...

There is a challenge when one tries to run a full 360 degree air bearing in Mexico or the Amazon. Adding moisture to the air bearing will have the same effect, as adding water to the oil of a combustion engine.

This is not a good environment. The air pump system makes up IMO 50% (EFFORT not COST) in the set up of the solution.

Was first using original aquarium AT pump at about 2psi and then upgraded to Medo AC0110 which delivers about 10-12psi trough my "buffering tank".

This is not going to cut it unfortunately .You are trying to run a Porsche 911 at the track with snow tires.  

Recommend a pump system which eliminates the moisture at the pump, and a regulator / water separator near the air bearing, that allows you to see the PSI and moisture level near the air bearing.
How long is the air line - pump to air bearing ?  
Does the PSI get lower along the way. It is an indicator that water / moisture is getting in the line, if you are losing PSI. 




pegasus
116 posts
 
I use a bottle of pressurized air, this comes from an industrial gas tank company. It’s not "free air" anymore, but it holds for a pretty long time, at least with my ca. 0.7 Bar optimized high pressure bearing. I think it’s somewhere around 2-3 l/ min.
The bottle keeps 30 liters, filled with ca. 200 Bar at the beginning.
The quality of the air must be very good... ;-) It’s from the swiss alps. Try to order it to Mexico... !
Jokes besides, I think in Mexico you might get similar industrial air, and you might ask about the humidity of the air under normal air pressure situation ("exhaled" ;-)
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,476 posts
 
@sary,

When I said "run constantly" I was referring to when you're listening. A possibility is to get a 5-7 gallon air tank and the necessary parts (air pressure gauge, cut-off switch, etc....) so the pump will operate long enough to fill the tank than cut itself off at a desired setting and then back on at a desired setting. The tank will have a drain valve and you most likely will still need your filter/s. I used a Motorguard "toilet paper" filter that worked wonders. It also serves to buffer any pulsing from a compressor. Using a storage tank also keeps the need for buffering, lower and saves your compressor and helps keep noise a non-factor.
sary
4 posts
 

Hello, OK, understand, might try the setup with storage tank in the future.

At the moment I got exactly following setup:

Medo AC0110, 4 ft of 1/8 vinyl hose, air filter/water separator, second air filter (disposable filter as per ET specs), silica filled humidity filter, another disposable air filter, 0.6 gallon buffer tank, 2ft of 1/8 vinyl hose connected to the arm.

With Medo pump I am getting about 10-12psi (0.7-0.8 bar) measured at the tank (about 2 foot of hose ahead of the arm).

I looked at possible compressed air air-dryers, but this solutions are really bulky and expensive...

Looked at possibilities to build a copper tubes system (or use a condenser from AC or refrigerator) where compressed air could
be cooled down so water can be separated but did not come with practical solution; has someone maybe try something like that?

At the moment, I get condensation everywhere; in my first water-separating filter, silica filter gets water saturated, I can see water in clear pvc hose entering the arm and finally I get water coming out trough air bearing.....

Might be that here in Hawaii is just too warm and humid for this type of arm?

Obviously, possible solution would be buying a bottled industrial air, but I guess it is just a bit over what I am prepared to go for; it is enough having to take cooking propane bottles to be refilled every so often :) 

ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 
sary
Looked at possibilities to build a copper tubes system (or use a condenser from AC or refrigerator) where compressed air could
be cooled down so water can be separated but did not come with practical solution; has someone maybe try something like that?

Sary
This is exactly my solution that I implemented many years ago. Do research on Timeter Aridyne - 3500, 3600, 2000 models.

End of the road - no fuss no muss, no filters, no traps, no bottles, just keep it in a separate room (hidden from the wife if need be) with the airline running along the baseboard to your setup. See pics 12 and 43 on my AudioGon virtual system. If I recall back the noise level is around 55-60 db.

You can buy them used on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TIMETER-Instrument-Corp-ARIDYNE-3500-Medical-Air-Compressor-System-/2916073...



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