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
FROGMAN... you didn't, I will be glad to clarify my statements when needed. I get on my high horse some and I thank you for pulling me back down a notch. I get too passionate about audio as everyone can see.
APbiii - here’s some interesting data on resonances from Reed.

I am sure Bruce probably has files and files of tests as well.

>Resonance Testing

Some more of their research.

Magnetic Damping - and Antiskating
I find it very interesting that pivot arm manufacturers are openly discussing the "possibility" of mechanical noises caused by regular antiskate in pivot arms.

In Reed's owns words.

"This model features magnetic antiskating technology which eliminates the possible noises brought up by the traditional mechanical antiskating."


Magnetic Antiskating & Damping

Since no one has spoke up about the ET2 magnet yet - I will say I have left it on. I guess we need to experiment with how big it can be and not effect things. My magnet is placed on the pedestal where the air bearing spindle exits. My wires now exit the arm tube and go straight down away from the Spindle. I would post a pic but I am not able to yet.
Cheers
DOUBLE LEAF SPRING I-BEAM -
Frogman thank u so much for turning me on to this.
For the small amount of $ we are talking about here I can’t stop myself from telling you guys that you should have Bruce send you:

Two I beams with the factory single leaf spring on them. They are around $15 each.

Plus three leaf springs on the side(loose).

From this you can make one double and one triple leaf spring I Beam to try out.

You probably have a single spring version already.

Have a look at what kind of condition your existing I beam /Spring is in. You may just want to replace it as well. If you have a single spring you should see damping material on the one side that was put on at the factory. This is a folded aluminum shim with inert material similar to silly putty according to Bruce.

I have just assembled a straight double leaf spring super glued together, started listening and really like what I am hearing. Bruce said no damping material is needed with the double spring and he has not tried the triple spring.

Frogman - 3 I beams in the waiting ? Single, double, triple spring versions based on the type of cartridge you want to put on ? Is this a silver bullet or one of them with this tonearm ?

Using the minimal amount of weights as far out to the end of the IBeam as possible.

Magnet in place for damping (thank u Dover)

Cheers
My ET2 rebounds wildly from runout groove. Fix?

Oracle with ET2 have been in storage for a few years. Before setting up again, I would like some help. A recurrent problem has been the arm moves toward the spindle in the runout groove, then rebounds, skittering a ways toward the record periphery. Repeat endlessly, until manual intervention. I assume that energy is stored in the I beam spring.
Easy fix?
Philcoffino,

Is it a Delphi? I have an ET-2 on my Delphi, but don't experience that problem. You might want to check to make sure that your platter is perfectly level. If it's not, when the cartridge gets near the end of an LP, the platter will become even slightly more un-level and cause even more acceleration of the arm as it nears the end of the LP.

Also make sure to see if you have the maximum amount of space between the joint and the manifold housing when the cartridge it at the very end of the runout groove. I have heard (no idea how true it is) that if they get too close, the air coming out of the manifold can push against the joint and cause the arm to "bounce" back across the LP. Maybe its just the joint coming in contact with the manifold and bouncing back, I don't know. Either way, you never want the joint to come in contact with the manifold. You want some buffer distance there.

Before your arm rebounds, does the joint contact the manifold? Have you ever watched it?