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
-

******* YELLOW STICKY ET 2 THREAD - FACTORY SETTING OF PSI - REGULAR AND HIGH PRESSURE MANIFOLDS ************

I reached out to Bruce to help shed more light on how our manifolds work - both regular and high pressure HPM models. He responded and I believe answers the questions for our thread. Comments welcome.

--------------------------------------------------------

Hi Bruce

Was hoping to shed some light for ET2 owners on our thread regarding how the setting of PSI on our manifolds was done.

A couple of questions.

1) Are the set screws in the manifolds set up differently for different PSI's ?

2) Does setting a higher minimum PSI manifold (i.e. 19 PSI minimum), mean the spindle/manifold (gap) is smaller, tighter. How I came to ask this.

My ET 2.5 which you set up for highest possible psi 19. It continues to dominate over my digital. I also own an older ET2 High Pressure Manifold. I have noticed without air applied, that pushing my spindle through the manifold on the ET 2.5 is tighter, than the spindle going through the older ET2 manifold. The older ET2 HPM will also work with a lower psi, example 7 psi.

Appreciate any information you can provide.

*********************************************************
Chris,

The pressure drop across the set screws define the restoring force and part of the stiffness of the air bearing.

The tolerance between the Manifold Inner Diameter and the Spindle Outer Diameter determines the lifting pressure as a function of flow rate through the set screw. Without a restoring force or pressure drop across the set screw, the bearing will lock up, so you always need a higher air pressure in the manifold housing as compared to the pressure at the surface of the spindle.

The high pressure manifolds have a slightly tighter tolerance between the spindle and manifold, they also use a set screw with more plating to restrict the air flow around the threads to create the increased pressure drop (the difference between the pressure in the manifold housing and the pressure at the surface of the spindle).

It does not hurt to slide the spindle in the manifold bore without air, the resistance you feel may be the surface finish roughness on the hard coat anodizing as well as tolerance.

I hope this helps, thank you very much.

-brucet

*********************************************************

Happy Listening
Chris, that is exactly what I did . It helped a great deal with MM's which tended to have grounding issues although not nearly as severe as with the Decca, but with the Decca it is still a problem. MC's have never been a problem. For anyone who is interested, Michael Percy (website) stocks all necessary items including Teflon tubing, copper mesh and sleeving.
Not quite like on a perfectly set up ET2 and Acutex 420, but a great tune nonetheless:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QwVjTlTdIDQ

"It ain't over 'till it's over"