Frogman -
You have alluded to an attribute of the ET2 that has not really been recognised in this thread. In my view the ET2, due to the lack of offset angle tracking error and variable side forces, has better timing than pivoted arms, particularly with cartridges with conventional cantilevers. The proviso here is that the decoupled counterweight has been tuned to ensure that resonances are not interfering with the "timing". The suggestion to remove the decoupled counterweight by richardkrebs earlier in this thread will impair timing and rhythm - I have tested this myself - it is easy to hear. Correct reproduction of fundamentals and harmonics is a prime requisite for accurate music reproduction, and that includes rhythm and timing. Of course eccentric records cause timing problems with a conventional cantilever with any arm.
Contrary to some views on this thread, the ET2 is the easiest arm in the world to set up correctly. It is one of the few arms in the world that provides for levelling in all directions. The lack of offset angle, tracking error and the elimination of anti skate adjustment ( which can never be perfect ) is a big advantage for the ET2. Just look at the number of posts and misunderstanding of anti skate. Azimuth adjustment is missing on many arms.
The ET2 manual is sufficient to correctly set up this arm. When I bought my first ET2 30 years ago - I read the manual, installed the arm, reread bits of the manual to check that I'd completed the install correctly - all completed in half a day. The various mods - rewiring, electromagnetic damping, trialling fixed vs decoupled counterweight, trialling running 0.5mm overhang ad infinitum were all completed within months of ownership. It does not take rocket science to set this arm up, simply read the manual and pay careful attention to detail. The explanations of tuning this arm and the supporting test data on Bruce's ET2 Website are one of the best in the business.
Here is a quote from Thom Mackris of Galibier Turntables -
04-03-10: Thom_mackris
For those of you who have not done so, download the two part ET-2 tonearm manual (PDF). It's in old-timey font, from the good old daze and in two parts from back when bandwidth was much more limited than it is today.
The manual is chock full of great information on tonearms in general, and of course with specific information on the ET-2.
You'll not only understand your own tonearm better, but will gain insight into the genius behind the ET-2 arm.
Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier
The most valuable discussions in this thread for me have been the discussions on air supply and seeing how others have set up their air supplies and pressures.
