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 ?
128x128ct0517
Chris, Bruce is indeed a fascinating individual and his talent is obviously never in question. After half a dozen, or so, phone conversations over the years I have gotten the sense that he is a kind of "mad scientist"; and, I say that in the most positive way possible. He has always been willing to speak on the phone and provide help with not a bit of impatience, but never touts or hypes any of his products or ideas; he has a sense about him of very quiet confidence with a bit of dryness. Speaking of his subwoofer: I have often wondered how a person does and funds r&d for a product like that. How many can he possibly have sold so far? Have you ever heard/seen this thing? I would love to.

I too have been a fan of his planars and came very close to buying a pair of one the very first models (model # escapes me) of them years ago. I first heard them at a local dealer and a little later at an audio show here in town where his speakers and Meitner (another genius) products were part of a system. As much as I love Meitner products (I still have the old MTR 101's and Pa6i in a second system) the sound at the show was a disaster due to their use of the Meitner turntable. Remember that one? It is a beautiful thing and has no platter to speak of so any warps of the vinyl surface become extremely audible; at least that's what I heard that day. I kept wanting to ask the guy: can't you hear that! I think that unfortunately that experience derailed my interest in the speakers at that particular time.


"mad scientist"

:^)

I agree Frogman on your description of Bruce. I can also tell everyone that in talking to Bruce about this thread last year he was touched by it; I actually sensed some emotion in his voice, but he does not read this thread or any others. He is a seasoned manufacturer and provider of audio components and services for many years. He stays away from public chat forums. He is also very busy and travels alot; he does have his own plane I believe. Getting his review of the Acutex 420 str to post here ....was to me a bigger accomplishment for myself, than many work projects I have been involved with !

There are six of the rotary subs installed at Niagara Falls as part of the show that explains how the Falls was created.
have not heard them, came close one time recently when we were there; but time did not permit and teenagers can be very unruly - you know ?

If you have a look at this image and note the words hearing threshold in the legend on the right.

http://www.eminent-tech.com/woofercomparison.html

Me thinks Bruce will need to update the Legend with words - one for Human hearing threshold and one for "Elephant" when his study is complete ?

Kind of gives new meaning to "Elephant in the Room" ?


Frogman - that Meitner turntable you referenced...
here is pic,

http://www.museatex.com/at-2.jpg

I don't get it. The record would need to be really thick and no warps to even work ? imo - vibrations would be headed to the center where the bearing lives.
Ct0517: I was currently listening to Nat King Cole, then I logged on and tuned in to your response regarding a female fan of the ET. Now, I'm in heaven!

Aguser: If you're still listening/reading, regarding my insistence on leveling. My earlier posts regarding differing manufacture's "varying degrees of trueness"...

Levels: There is a usefulness and a need for an accurate bubble level. However, when one considers the larger expanse of say an armboard or platter or the base, (in your case/and mine, the HW-19 series table), these larger areas are more accurately measured by a longer level because of these "varying degrees of trueness".

Challenge: Take a bubble level and place it anywhere you wish on any one part of your HW-19, (armboard, platter, base) then move it a few inches. I guarantee you, you'll get a different reading. This is the sole reason I'm posting here. Most people will take the manufacturer's table/it's individual parts, for granted as being true. A big mistake.

To get the most accurate reading, one needs to take the larger expanse of each individual part and then measure with an accurate level. I'm currently using a Bosch GPL3T laser level. It's about 10 inches long, has 3/D laser outputs and even has magnets on one side. It is nice that this level doubles it's effectiveness by playing a major role in my speaker set-up. Just don't get it close to your cartridge!

Ct0517: I think I could be bought for much less than that! LOL!
Being anal has it's rewards.. at least in audio...

All my talk about "level", and other things....

When one gets to a certain level in audio, this becomes important! Somehow, all of this kind of this talk is somewhat "otherworldly" until, one get's to a certain level of audio reproduction. Then and only then, does one see the "lightbulb" go off. (Maybe this is why one has to pay $$$$ for an accurately machined tt!) Of coarse it is!

Frogman: I agree with your assessment of Bruce's personality. I wish I could be that way. The important thing is that we realize this and build upon it.
Frogman & others: An example of how Bruce deals with his customers: Years ago, I called him on a Sat. I was having issues with air output. He (never) left me feeling my issue was not important. We talked for at least 30 minutes. I was the one that decided the conversation had reached it's end!

I hope and assume he's trained someone to "take over" when he's gone!?

He may be of a breed that we'll never see again? Let's support him/his products while he's here.