Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

Well I finally got around to trying the dual leaf I beam. I went back to the single leaf as I liked the bass better.

Apbiii - exactly. We are comparing apples to apples - well almost.

What is the compliance of the cartridge u r using and where on the scale (what number) are your weights sitting at ? Mine are on the very end of the the IBeam past the 6 and it is a high compliance cartridge.

From Frogmans earlier post as a guide.

2 or more leaf springs - heads more toward a leaner sound due to lower compliance – more detail and refinement.

One leaf spring – best tracking - but sound can become too full, even bloated and diffuse due to the higher compliance of just one spring.

This is what I am hearing going from a single to double leaf spring. Is this what u r hearing too?

Now the hard part for me.
It took me about 4 songs or – 20 minutes to find the right VTA in my system. The armtube when I look at it - seems to have a slightly negative VTA now - it was lowered. I am very close to the sweet spot stylus angle/groove with my records/system. Not finished. Bass returned but is now more refined/has real weight.

Chris,

The cartridge that I use has medium / low compliance (15x10-6) or thereabouts.

I am using three small or one large weight and it is in the area of 5 on the beam.

I did notice a little leaner sound with the double leaf spring but found a loss in bass so I went back to the single leaf. For what it is worth I play and listen to a lot of live acoustic music (I play guitar and upright bass in a bluegrass / old time setting several times a week) and I am not a fan of the lean hard sound some folks claim is "Hi Fi".

I did change the VTA a bit but my cartridge does not seem to be terribly sensitive to VTA.

Apbiii – interesting, well the cartridge will always be the decider on the settings we use. With my higher compliance cartridge moving the lead weights from #5 on the IBeam to the end of the Ibeam changes the sound, as well as making changes to the VTA.

You’ve got me curious - are you able to get the VTF you need with two small weights – one less and stay on the IBeam ? If possible pls try this for me. I'd like to see if it makes a difference with the lower compliance cartridge. Remember those pirate movies with the plank they put people on? My weights are sitting on the end of that plank right now.

My fraternal twins killed my singing/playing career . But now I have the pleasure of hearing my daughter sing in her school jazz band, play piano and my son plays acoustic guitar. I do however play tapes at 15 ips for reference in my room. The sound is not lean/hard. It is very analog.

Cheers

Chris, I can't get the correct tracking force with only two small weights.