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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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.
I felt led to recommend another (lp). I've done very little record buying this year due to my focus on my tt project.

Nick Waterhouse "Holly". I hope you all audition this one on your favorite way to do so. This type of music just "moves" me. I submit, if you are not moved in any of these three basic ways, you are dead inside! (physically, emotionally, spiritually). For me.. it's all three. The sonics are very credible, not perfect. Here again, it's the overall interaction with the music that's important.

This record was pressed at Chad's Quality Record Pressing plant. I should say, I had to ream out the spindle hole (slightly) for proper tracking. Enjoy!
"The Common Man"...(me)...

I'm here for you.. This is who I am. I'm an avid music lover. The exception.. (a music lover who enjoys reproduced music done "well").

I've always put my life's emphasis on high quality music reproduction. Myteen years, I was the guy with the "van", I escorted my friends around for all our "enjoyment"! I used to frequent music stores, purveying the latest speakers and such.I realize now,I was listening for the best sound.

Thirty years later, I'm still searching for the "pot of gold" the best sound. I've found that now.

There's a price point... the plateau were one realizes that to gain more musical satisfaction in any realistic/financial way, without spending "major bucks", you find a "resting place".

My "resting place" is with the EAR, using the MM phono stage w/ Telefunken/ Seimens tubes and high dissipation "underpinning", and a Grover power cord.

This, my friends, MAKES music. It doesn't make "audio gymnastics".

Yes, there's a lot of gear I'd like to try/build, but folks, I'm perfectly happy with this EAR and my Acutex cartridge!

What brought this issue to mind was, I was playing the Allman Brother's "Enlightened Rogues" lp. Yes, the very one that doesn't get any press! This spoke to me, to who I really am. Why? This lp has the very soul of the AB, it has the boogie factor... so why does it not resonate with the "public"? This may be what sets people like me apart from the 'crowd".

FWIW, I feel this lp, my choice of the EAR, my current cartridge (Acutex), really speaks to the "Soul" of music reproduction!

The Book will follow!
My mentioning of having to "ream out the spindle hole", got me to thinking. (Sorry).

We spend thousands of dollars on equipment. Then we see a need for (tt owners) high priced speed controllers. I hear no one talking about the lps that we so cherish, being pressed in the very way that most of the time gives a market for these high priced accessories. If you pay attention, I'd say 80% (conservatively) of the lps we purchase today are "off center". This is (the) very basic issue, that we, (as people who spend a major part of our live's, by time and treasure and as lp listeners), should be more vocal about.

My audiophile "toolbox": I mentioned earlier the Bosch level, this should be in every audiophile's "toolbox" as should an Exacto knife,(lp players only), for reaming out the spindle holes of improperly pressed lps. There, I said it. I keep this knife very handy at every listening session.

If at some point in time, I put an lp up for sale, and that lp has gotten this treatment, you will be the beneficiary.