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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 ?
ct0517
richardkrebs
427 posts
 
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
ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 
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
thekong
203 posts
 
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!
thekong
203 posts
 
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!
manitunc
795 posts
 
Is there a way to tell if I have a high pressure manifold on my ET2? Some sort of marking on the manifold, or a different size? I have a couple of different pumps, but dont want to put on a higher pressure if its going to damage something
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