Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

Hi Chris,
I'm about to take the plunge for Bruce's mag arm but thought I'd touch base with you first.  Over the last month + I have increased air pressure, moved weights out and added springs on the beam.  After each of these upgrades I heard a significant improvement in almost all parameters.  While I realize everything is system dependent and subjective, can you share with me what I might expect to hear going from the aluminum arm to the mag arm.  By the way I now have my system up on virtual systems.
Thanks,
Harry

Good Morning Harry

the proper thing to do if I was in audiophile mode, would be to switch my mag for the aluminum with my MC and give you direct impressions in my room. That’s not going to happen for a couple of reasons. I don’t like to fool with carts - did you know I beheaded an XV1 once ? Also I did break my loom one time - can’t blame that one on the cat. It was a hard call to make to Gene at Take Five Audio - sending him my crippled loom. Oh...and also that Aluminum Gooseneck that I sourced from NZ ....is a really tight fit. Can be a b**tch to get off.

So...

The best any of us can do on these virtual forums where we cannot visit each others rooms due to distance is make an educated guess. This is unfortunate because you have a nice airy room - and I would love to hear music in it. No question the biggest factor is the room. I believe your VTA changes will be smoother (not as pronounced), and you will hear more of what is actually in the recording, due to less resonance, as the Mag wand handles your cart better. As part of the adjustment (and there will be adjustments !!) I would think you may also need to change the crossover setting on the sub I see in your room picture. Like I said earlier; there are many ET2 original owners here on this thread, who are playing MC with their aluminum wands - but they have had to modify their ET2 aluminum wands extensively. Hope that helps a bit.

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I like analogies. Sometimes analogies are good and hit home; sometimes not so much.
Those that live in the Northern United States and Canada know the difference between summer tires, all season tires, and winter tires. If the arm tubes were tires. the Aluminum is for Summer, Carbon Fiber is All Season and the Mag is for Winter duty. Canadians in Ontario and Quebec provinces are now given discounts by their insurance companies if they are using Winter tires - during Winter :^) ....... We’re still getting ripped off.

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Bruce’ ET2 manual is based on the original 2.0 tonearm. Aluminum Wand, Single leaf Spring - MM’s were popular.

IF....

If his tonearm did not get introduced same year as CD was introduced.

If vinyl sales continued in popularity.

If there was a stronger business need for it.

Then I believe Bruce would have come out with a revised ET 2.0 (2.5) owners manual Version 2. In it, he would definitely cover off the 2.5 version for MC carts, the three arm tubes and also the use of multiple leaf springs. Also Bruce does use direct single shot wiring as well - but IMO, due to its fragility, and the fact the person getting it needs to be anal about setup - I don’t think he would discuss it in the manual.

so some thoughts over coffee. sorry for the detail (coffee kicking in) and any spelling mistakes.

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What frequency is your sub crossed over at Harry ? have you ever tried it in nearfield position ?

Cheers Chris

Good Morning Chris,
Thanks for the detailed analysis.  I like the analogy.  I grew up in New England so I get it.  I can even drive on snow!  As you have no doubt gathered, even after nearly 30 years, I am still a little intimidated by my ET.  I know it's not as fragile as it appears, however, I can't bring myself to atempt extensive mods. I once sheared off a stylus on a Lyra  Clavis.

Agreed, on not being able to share listening experiences with the friends we make here on Audiogon.   I live in very rural, Western N.C. My closest audiophile friend is my brother in law who is 4 hours away.  I miss the sharing part of the hobby.  I'd love to hear your number 1 room with those huge towers.  I'll bet you can move some air with those woofers.

 My sub is crossed over at about 45  - 50 hz, but I don't run the mains through the sub crossover.  I run them full range.  Canalis says they are only 3 db down at 39 cycles.   I keep the sub volume dialed down quite a bit.  I'm not looking for boom, boom, just a nice foundation.  The sub is a Sunfire True that has enormous power but is not quite as tight as I would prefer.   Been thinking about a Rel, but that's down the priority list.  I did have to dial down the sub after my tweaks and once I got the VTA right.

Yes, I have a very large room but listen fairly near field (12 to 15 ft.) so as to maintain domestic tranquility.  I.e.  I use half the room.

I'm probably going to spring for the mag arm.

Harry

OK,
So I posted my system in virtual systems with pics of the modified ET-2 I-beam.
Have a look if you care to see a lot of antiques.
-John

John,
Saw your system.  Very nice, but be careful how you throw around the term "antiquated".   Some of us are a LOT older than your equipment.😏  The beam does not look like balsa.  What is it?
Harry