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 ?
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and it can be taken away only over my dead body.

Hi Harold - the last time I heard the words sir I was working :^(
You are a gentleman sir. The stark reality of it for me is that I am a middle aged runner; and whenever I get a muscle pull, strain or just have pain, its taking longer and longer to recover. As I come to grips with my own mortality every day, I gain more and more respect for all those things around us that have passed the test of time and will still be around when I am not. Now as long as we are making clothes with thread, this Platine will provide beautiful music with no bearing to wear for someone. Likewise the ET2 if you feed it good air. The Transfi looks like an interesting design - unfortunately my personal guard comes down a 1/2 hour into the music and I become a bit of a klutz - with its permanent spot over the platter I fear for my lp and cartridge. The ET2 is pretty much klutz proof' although I did behead an XV1 once that was attached to an ET2; but it was on an armpod 15 feet way from the table. Still gives me the shakes thinking about it. thank you again Axel for bringing it back to life. If I didnt have many years of schooling to still pay for, of all the newer tonearms I have seen the Schoreder Linear Tracker looks really interesting to me.

You see, my favorite song is "Harold the Barrel" from 1971.

So cool. Without thinking I used my initials and some random numbers for my moniker - they now follow me through Audiogon eternity. I was 8 in 1971 and am a Genesis fan and the other British super groups having grown up with them, their lps and concerts. They made a huge impact in Canada and myself. Springsteen also ranks very high - this is just as much to me about the meaning of the words in the songs having the capability to stir the blood in you, as the music itself. I listened to Devils and Dust last night.

Knowing the story your moniker now ranks in my personal top four along with Swampwalker, Frogman and Vegasears - the last one doesn't need a story :^)

Cheers Chris
A couple more opportunities for ET2's.

One of the earliest ET2's available here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380777927186&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:CA:1120

How do I know this ? Well it has no label / lettering on the manifold.
At first I thought it could be a fake? But then I thought who in the world could make a copy of this tonearm.

besides - Bruce confirmed to me the first ones that went out had no lettering.... :^)

The second one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Systemdek-IV-e-Turntable-with-Eminent-Technology-ET-2-Tonearm-and-Ortofon-HMC-30-/161159019251?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:CA:1120

In one of the ad pics can be seen a homemade pvc surge tank.

Not affiliated with either of these ads.

Cheers
Dover, by loosening the screw the bass range gained clarity and speed. The bass is not necessarily stronger, but instead of some bass notes sounding simply like amorphous low frequency energy there is air around the notes, much better pitch recognition, and the sense of a low frequency "floor" in the music wether there is actual bass in the music or not. Of course, this was after experimenting to find just the right amount of loosening of the screw. In my setup what worked best is to loosen it completely and then tighten it so the I beam spring sees the slightest amount of "grab". Thanks again for the suggestion.
Dave, What a nice surprice as I had no idea what you have been doing after your Trans-Fi wand mods. I was wondering why´s the sudden silence though. Meanwhile I have been doing my own TT project... and watching music videos on YouTube. Rare unseen videos though but a bloody waste of time.
Anyway, congrats for your fantastic vintage DD TT, it must be very special. Seems to be slightly better than your VPI.
Hmm, it may be quite boring to play only 45´s with 2 linear trackers on the modded TNT. But I´m sure you will find a solution soon.
The ET-2 and the Trans-Fi tracker on a super deck ! Finally something really interesting at A´gon, Evolution gaining speed.
We will observe your progress. Thanks in advance.
Hi Richard

regarding the damping trough location.
Are you still using your trough ahead of the manifold on your custom ET2 ?
My thoughts have changed on this.
The trough paddle is attached to end bearing cap on the stock ET2 and ET2.5.
The cap also holds the I Beam => which holds the ET2, 2.5 family jewels (lead weights and spring/s)
That end cap is therefore the common joiner for all of them.
We change resonances by using 1-3 springs and lead weight positioning,
My thinking is it therefore makes sense to have the trough paddle attached to the end bearing cap as designed.

your thoughts ...

others ?