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 ?
ct0517
Here is Bruce's opinion on using ET2 manifold shims


On 3/5/2013 10:05 AM,
Hi Bruce

We would like your opinion on the small space between the ends of the manifold and the rubber rings.
You can slide the edge of a piece of paper in there.
Is it by design for resonance control - to achieve a certain frequency ?
If shims are inserted in there - does this not in theory make the setup more rigid - desirable?
Would this affect the general frequency resonances of the ET2?
We look forward to your opinion on this. thanks. Chris

Chris,

The o-ring is used as a seal, when the manifold is inserted, the ring is flattened and the gap is taken up, that is the design intent.
The science of resonance in a phonograph tonearm would first involve a measurement to prove something exists. This is very easy, Take another ET2 tonearm and use its cartridge to play the tonearm under test. Compare the levels of record playback to the measured level of vibration on the tonearm under test using a spectrum analyzer. If the vibration levels measured are greater than -50dB below playback levels then there may be something significant and you might call it a resonance.
Odds are good that the manifold has no significant vibration levels from a stylus forcing function while playing a record. I hope this helps.

brucet


Richard, Dover, others ?

When Bruce says:

“science of resonance in a phonograph tonearm would first involve a measurement to prove something exists.”

Curious if magnetic and mass damping, and any of its effects can be measured other than just by listening ? Have you done it?
Chris -
No I dont have the equipment, but Martin Colloms did in a Hifi News review years ago ( 1985, I think ). He measured the resonances before and after the air bearing and compared them to ascertain how the air bearing dealt with such. Typically you would use an accelerometer placed on either the arm or bearing housing to measure these.
If my memory serves me well the resonance profile remained in tact, in other words even though the resonance is passing through air and rubber, it went through almost unhindered.

By the way - another little tweak for you - I decoupled the rotating arm lift from its bracket using teflon washers/spacers, another small audible improvement.
RichardKrebs
To everyone..I'm sure that you have experienced this. Last night's listening was great. All the planets seemed to align. So what causes this? Clean power? Just the right room temp, humidity? My own state of mind? Off topic, I know, but I am curious to read your views on this.

Richard your NZ last night is my yesterday still....

I believe in the one and almighty, and in the things that are out of my control.

He giveth and taketh away.

Yes I am talking about the local hydro company. This is an audio gear site.

I was very aware of the power limitations I had, and their effect on my systems in the big dense city. I feel kind of blessed now that I live in a rural area with an abundance of clean, raw power. Sometimes on a few occasions there is not enough (hot humid july/aug nights). Other nights, more often, there is too much above 120v. When the number on the gauge reads between a certain range I have come to know that good things can happen. It then depends on my own mood. Humidity helps. There is more grain in the music for me when the power reads above 120v. Looking forward to converting my table to battery soon. All Power Conditioners I have tried made the bears sound pleasant but like they were on meds. No thank you for the amps. The OTL's coming have their own line conditioners designed for them.

Chris
Yes when you talk to Dover and I you are conversing with the future.
I agree with you. Clean power and I think that we should not underestimate the effect of our own state of mind.
I think that every professional reviewer should prefix their review with...,
Today I feel..., or over the period of this review this was my general state of mind.
BTs comments are interesting. I know the effect of the shims and grub screws. It is definitely positive. As in the drive thread, I believe that there should be nothing soft in the loop between LP around to cartridge. The o'rings are quite soft.
My testing, with and without the bearing sleeve clamped seems to support that view.
Chris, the good thing is, if we have a bad day over here we can fly over to your place and start the day again ...