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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
 
Hi Frogman – I just compared the 420str against the 15 IPS tape for the first time. The 420str so far for an MM comes closest to the tape in my room. Both LP and tape are started together. The input source is then switched between the two. The 420 str is more open at both ends, less compressed sounding then the Empire in my room. Now I haven’t compared my SS retipped Virtuoso to tape, but from a stock cartridge point of view, the 420str so far for me is very good. Its been on there for a while so I am going a bit by memory, but have no desire yet to put on the Empire 4000 DIII gold to compare to be sure.

Definitely for me, without question, nothing else comes close for the $$, or Euros in this case. But breakin time is required. I don't keep track of the hours.
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
Hi Frogman and Ct0517, I have been running in a NOS 420STR for just a few hours and am similarly impressed. Amazing performance from what could be mistaken as a missing gray plastic piece from a Revel model.
frogman
7,452 posts
 
Revel(l) models! Man you just sent me back 40 years. Loved them! And yes, the Acutex looks like something that would go underneath the wing of my F-100 Super Sabre model plane. Glad you are enjoying the cartridge. It will continue getting better for a few weeks.
ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 
Dgarretson glad your enjoying it. The only adjustment I had to make in my system after listening to the tape was to lighten up on the VTA a bit as there was a touch too much bass in my room.
Mine has quite a few hours on it. I can tell you it just keeps smoothing out the more hours I put on it.
I am a little nervous about putting my MC on to compare for fear this piece of plastic that looks like it came out of a cracker jack box might kick its ass.

dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
Listening to the M420 last night put a smile on my face while reading Mike Fremer's comparison of the $9K H&S Ice Blue to Ortofon A90 and Lyra Atlas. I felt no more than a slight tingle of penis envy for these MCs.

It's interesting how much smaller Acutex's tri-pole induced magnet assembly is in the 420 series as compared to the prior 320 series. The 320 marketing literature talks about the advantage of oversized magnets. Accordingly the 320 has a much larger and heavier 6.2gm 320 body. The cantilever armature of the 320 is also more complicated, with tabs that project radially to the induction poles inside the cartridge body. In contrast the 420 is a svelte 4gm. The 420 looks cheaply build in comparison to the 320. But maybe looks are deceiving. Unfortunately one of the armature tabs on my 320 is bent and in need of repair, so a comparison will have to wait.
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