Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

Hello Chris,
Thanks again for the extra tips.  I'm going to do some more listening before I go back to the double spring plank.   I'm just starting to play with VTA after many years.  Before these latest improvements I really could hear only a subtle difference in VTA changes, if any.  I just played the Analog Productions pressing of Sonny Rollins "Way Out West".  Contrary to some other records I have played, it sounded a little thicker than I remembered it.  I dialed in some VTA (post down) and it thinned out/tightened up.  Soooo, with my improvements I can now detect the VTA adjustments.  Lyra recommends arm perfectly level to platter claiming proper VTF wil result in proper VTA.   This is a little counterintuitive since it does not take into account different record thicknesses and different cutting angles.  

If I can't tame some of the brighter records with VTA I'll try some damping.  I am, indeed, a music lover with about 1500 LPs.  Not near your collection but significant.  I have very eclectic taste including pop, country, folk, blues, but mostly jazz and almost no hard rock.  Preferred listening is jazz quartets and trios and female vocals.  I am a huge Keth Jarrett and Bill Evans fan.  Early Miles and Coultrane.  I don't do drugs so I can't follow their later stuff.

The wife has pretty much abandoned the living room to me except when we have company and at bed time when I frequently hear "Can you turn that down a little."

I'll report back after more extended listening and VTAing.
Thanks, 
Harry

If I can't tame some of the brighter records with VTA I'll try some damping.

Harry

The aluminum armwand is not a great match with the Lyra. If getting the Carbon Fibre or Mag armtube is not an option you could try damping the armtube. I think Frogman is out of his Magic Audiophile armtube wrap ? Maybe others can suggest other options ?

I would be tempted to just try two Blue Tac dots on top of each cartridge bolt head. You could weigh each on a digital gauge. This will obviously mean you would need to go out higher on the I beam - a good thing; as long as there is room on the end of the "Pirate Plank". :^)

Cheers Chris 

Hello Chris,
My post from yesterday was mistaken. I adjusted VTA post up to get more clarity on the Way Out West album.  In the interim, I have gone back to two springs and after considerable listening I'm pretty happy with what I'm getting.  Really haven't lost detail with two springs but it is not as bright.  It is sometimes easy to mistake bright for detail.  
With three springs I found I was not relaxing, shoulders pulled up tight like listening to a bad CD.  When I went back to two springs I noticed everything (including me ) was much more relaxed.   But cymbals still shimmer.
 I'm going to keep my eyes open for a Carbon fiber or Mag arm tube but for now I'm quite pleased with what I'm hearing.
Happy Listening,
Harry

This is good Harry.

"With three springs I found I was not relaxing, shoulders pulled up tight like listening to a bad CD. When I went back to two springs I noticed everything (including me ) was much more relaxed. "

This is part of the reason I said you won't be imagining, and I believe one of the reasons Bruce said the triple leaf spring "would not last".
  
Curious to know how much distance there is from the joint that holds the armtube,  aka the "Gooseneck" ,   name courtesy of our NZ ET2 owners; to where the phono wires plug into your CAT SL-1. I mean if you went a direct route from the Gooseneck to the CAT SL-1; not including the distance going through the air bearing spindle.

thanks. Chris

Hi Chris,
Not sure exactly the distance your are asking about.  From where the tonearm wires exit the bearing spindle to the VPI clear plexiglass phono block is probably about 6 inches.  Then I have one meter interconnect cables with RCA's going from the phono box to the CAT.

I went back to three springs, but this time with the two blu tac balls, one on each bolt holding the cartridge. (Yep, I weighed them to get them the same.)  Now I have a blue eyed cockroach sitting on my records:). (But then if I was interested in cosmetics I probably wouldn't own an ET II in the first place)   Cosmetics aside, its not exactly what I am looking for.  I am having this internal battle between detail and smoothness.  With the current arm tube I think I need two and 1/2 springs.  Problem is some records sound amazing with three springs and others are best with two springs, even when I play with VTA.  As advised, however, I can tell resolution has improved because I can now hear the VTA adjustments.

Going to do some more swapping, listening and comparing but, in the end I think I will have to spring for the Magnesium arm tube.  $575.00 just seems like a lot for an arm tube.  Then again, we're not exactly dealing with a Pioneer rack system either.
Cheers,
Harry

P.S.
I don't know if you are old enough to remember, one of my favorite comedians, Bob Newhart, but reading over our mutual posts to your forum I couldn't help but hear a non-audiophile Bob Newhart do a parody of our conversations.  This is a little far afield of your forum but I am sure the ET enthusiasts on the form will appreciate.

"Harry:   Ok, Chris, let me see if I have this straight.  I need to use double or triple springs on my plank?

Chris:  Yes, Harry, with two or three springs your plank will be stiffer for greater enjoyment of the music.

Harry:  Well, I tried the triple springs and they made my plank too stiff which is causing pain.  It is too sharp.

Chris:  Yes I was afraid of that.  You might want to consider going back to two springs which will make it a little less stiff and may relieve the pain.  Or you can try getting some sticky blue stuff called blu tac.  You make two small blue balls from the blu tac and put one on each of your bolts.  But you have to weigh your blue balls to make sure they are the same weight or your needle won't stay in the groove.  And we all know what happens when the needle won't stay in the groove.  Not good for anyone.

Harry:  Ok, Chris,  got two blue balls on my wand and three springs on my plank and it works pretty well.  Just for variety, however, I'm going to check out my plank with two springs again.  I have this blue-eyed cockroach crawling my grooves."