Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

Slaw
Yes the arm has considerable vta adjustment but it cannot easily be done while playing. Chris's post clearly shows the importance of correct vta.
This adjustment on the standard ET2 with the curved pillar is a brilliant design feature and one that is was unable to emulate with mine due to the machining capability I could access back then. MK2 will address this.
Other than the three wand positions, alignment adjustments are facilitated via the gooseneck like the original.

Here is a conundrum. Stylus drag is significant, being able to slow some TT platters. What effect does this force have on cartridge alignment?
Since the cantilever is angled down towards the record, any change in drag would tend to increase or decrease this angle.
Does this mean that the stylus is not only moving in the desired x and y axises but also in the z axis due to changes in drag, I.e modulation level and frequency?
It is amazing that we get anything that sounds like music off LPs. This given the myriad of compromises and the lack of industry standards

Another Pinot Gris I think.

I can only add: when I set up a cartridge, I try hard to set the appropriate VTA for said cartridge in the "neutral zone", (my term), of the arc block. The "neutral zone".... This to me is the (center range) of the arc block, where as if I adjust upward or downward, it will have the least effect on overhang, ( which I choose to reserve for differring weights of vinyl), this is in fact the center of the arc. Logic 101! Yes, I choose to make this adjustment for the differring thickness of vinyl records. What makes the ET such a great arm (for me)is for such a choice. Despite what is written in the manual, an up or down adjustment of the arc block results in another adjustment that needs to be corrected for overhang. There is no doubt about it! Yes, I'm probably anal. So what?! If we are going to the lengths we go to to extract every inth of information from vinyl, that to me is a definition of anal. Why Fremer chose years ago to suddenly forgo this, is beyond me and frankly deminished any respect I once had for him.

Slaw- from my experience if another adjustment is needed for overhang, something is off in the setup. To break down the set up we have 3 sections.

1) Sub-base plate – the one with the 3 leveling spikes and the one bolt holding the arm. Holds all the goods.

2) Mounting base and post. (includes the VTA arc block) – holds manifold, spindle, armtube, counterweight. Mounting post needs to be level and true with platter level for VTA to work properly.

3)The actual manifold housing, air bearing spindle, along with the armtube and counterweight.

If the ET2 is setup properly, the mounting base post should be level and true with your platter. The mounting base post is after all what holds the VTA gearing that raises and lowers the ET2. The platter is what the stylus overhang reference gauge rests on. The two are a marriage.

Check level on both. How true they are to each other will determine imo how true your overhang is when you raise and lower the VTA.

Richardkrebs - Here is a conundrum. Stylus drag is significant, being able to slow some TT platters.

What about the other side of the coin?
What about a TT platter system that doesn’t slow down with stylus drag, but can’t slow down fast enough after a real tough vinyl passage?

That can sound interesting? Some really like this sound. :^)

Chris and Slaw. This whole geomerty thing is interesting.

This is how I understand it...if we set up a curved pillar in Slaw's "neutral zone" for a given record thickness, the arm will land the stylus at the same point on the LP for a range of VTA's, provided we always use the same thickness record. Change the record thickness and the stylus will land at a different place.
For a straight pillar, the stylus will land at the same point for different record thickness when setting the same VTA, but will move when we use a different VTA.
This could explain Slaw's need to adjust overhang for different thickness records.
So the choice is which feature do you want?

Chris. Speed accuracy, yes a Pandoras box.
Cheers.