Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

Ct,

You have sharp eyes, yes the owner of that Sirius III was complaining on Audiogon that the arm couldn’t track more than 3 cuts into the LP. There are actually 2 black hosts in that photo, one for the air, and one for the signal wire. I believe it was just set up wrongly; it should be like the photo of the 6000, with the signal wire host pull back as much as possible, and both the air-host and signal wire arranged into a hanging n shape!

Dover,

My 6000 came with 4 counterweights of different sizes to match with different cartridges!

Regarding the off-centered cantilever of the VDH, I believe, while great sounding, it is just a very fragile design, and probably not really fit for air-bearing arm including the ET2. After having it fixed, my friend has used it on both the SME V and Graham Phantom with no problem!

I will try to weight the sliding assemble of the 6000 this weekend and report back!

Thekong.

It will be interesting to read about your findings.

Do you have the horizontal effective mass figure for the 6000? Can you please post this if you have it.
My experience with adding weight is that you should be targeting a horiz resonance of 5-6 hz. The formula on the ET site can be used to calculate this and hence how much weight to add. You may need to concurrently adjust the vert mass as well. This I did with the lead shim inside the headshell.
From the photo you posted, it looks like the 6000 has a damping trough? Until recently I have been using the dressing of the lead out wires for damping. This works but goes out all the time, requiring constant tweeking. The oil trough is much better, being consistent and I would now consider it to be manditory in a heavy arm.
thanks

Thekong ....the owner of that Sirius III was complaining on Audiogon that the arm couldn’t track more than 3 cuts into the LP.....

Hi Thekong – thx for that info.

Well imo whatever it was able to play ...it would have been a subpar performance from the start of the first track anyway from what is capable. Hopefully the wires have since been fixed up.

What I don’t get...how does a high profile, statement item like that get into that condition; especially when the wires and also the air tubing in this case represent an Achilles Heel if not set up properly. Not a question per say just a little dis-belief on my part considering the dollars involved.
Cheers

Hi Richard,

Yes, the 6000, and all other Rockport arms, has damping trough. The “paddle” is fixed, so unlike the Walker, you have to adjust the amount of damping oil you put in!

However, I and a couple of my friends who had the 6000, prefer it without damping; it just sounds more lively, or more PRAT! I may revisit this topic later!

I have measured the weight of the Rockport 6000 in the weekend, and to my surprise, the whole moving assembly weighted in at 90g (including the A90 at 8g, and a spacer at 2.5g). I am using the lightest counterweight out of the 4, and the heaviest one would add another 15g!

With the figure about, it is hard to believe the moving mass of the Airline is only around 100g considering how massive it is compared to the 6000!