Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

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."  

hah hah.... :^)  I like Bob Newhart.
   
I like the "STOP IT" scene. I feel some of today's millennials need some of this "type" of guidance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow0lr63y4Mw

so I am biased - still have two of them (millennials) - still living in my house. I am very old school.

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I have this blue-eyed cockroach crawling my grooves.

Ladies don't like to see cockroaches, but they (cockroaches) are very healthy to eat. Harry, I hope we don't get you in trouble with your wife, with this cockroach, whose origins can be traced to this thread. So has she commented on ole Blue Eyes yet ?

If she noticed the cockroach, then she will also probably notice a new shiny black Mag armtube. pic 35 on my virtual system page shows the differences between the two. But bringing in an armtube is fairly safe I think. It's kind of small overall and hard to tell how much it cost by looking at it. Some years ago when I got the Mag wand, I was talking to Bruce about how he makes the Mag wand, and it is not an easy process to make it at all. If not done right the cast gets ruined.

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.

Assuming ones platter keeps proper speed and no other changes. The actual record becomes the real moving target. Different record plants, different vertical cut angles. Your post comments support this.

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re: My question about your wiring

My Sp11 is positioned immediately to the side of the ET 2.5. A happy face wire smile between them. This allows for the shortest wiring length. There is a little over 2 feet of wiring - unfortunately the phono inputs are on the wrong side (farthest) side of the preamp. So I had to do what I have called James Bond type manoeuvring, with the wiring, to get it quiet.

Not encouraging anything here; but with a little over a meter of wiring you are a candidate for the straight shot unshielded wiring. The factory wiring ET2 setup on tables like VPI and SOTA had to be done that way - to help sell product. So just something to consider.

What does a straight shot buy you? The effect of this change would be like replacing a V6 engine with a V8, in the same car, but with no gas penalty. The music will sound like it's coming from a bigger pipe at you. But, and this is a big but...the wiring will not be Pussy Cat proof. 8^0    

I have re-wired avoiding my internal ET2 harness as well. I have been advised by a rewiring guy that you can realize up to 3db gain by ridding of those connections within the tonearm, not sure it is that extreme, but was noticeable for sure!

I picked up a second wand from Bruce so I can more easily swap cartridges, and I made both a Cardas and Litz loom, seen in these pics, had to arrange gear as mentioned above to keep them short!

Speed has indeed been an issue, but am making progress on that front too!  ;)