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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
ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 
John, didn’t know the top hole was missing on the new aluminum joint.
Did Bruce explain why ?
so I got curious and lined up my previous CF joint which was set on the top hole with my aluminum joint
from NZ. they are the same by eyeballing. So it was made with the top hole dimension.  
gyneguy225
93 posts
 
Chris,
I don't know why I got one with only the two mounting holes. I assumed that all the new aluminum joints came that way. This one is straight from Bruce. 
So, I never told Bruce about it. Maybe I got one from the bottom of the barrel. He did give me a discount, however.
I just might email him about that.
-John
ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 
John I just checked his website and the new joint pic does indeed show two holes.
well - just me, but if I am mounting a 4 figure cart on there and I need the top hole, I am getting the joint with the top hole drilled.
this is very good info for others glad we discussed it.
You know Bruce, he will fix it for you.

gyneguy225
93 posts
 
Thanks for that, Chris.
I got it pretty close. I listened tonight and got blown away by the bass and most everything else.
I'm a happy camper at present. It's set up properly, and I probably wasn't careful and patient enough with that in the past. I'm not sure I want to mess with it any more. I'll probably stick with the WISA pumps and 7psi, and not screw with the wire loom. I'm using the very thin copper litz wire that Bruce rewired my spindle with. It's set up with very little effect on the balance of the arm.
The ET-2 is a finicky thing, sometimes a PIA, and I understand why some people can't deal with it and write it off immediately.
I guess the people in this discussion understand what a piece of high tech it is, and how rewarding it is to get it right. 
-John
vpi's avatar
vpi
223 posts
 
Hello all,
With further fine tuning I'm running into the same VTA issue with the new mag arm wand.  I have the original goose neck.  I can get the Delos level only using the top hole in the goose neck with the manifold at its highest and VTA almost all the way up.  This puts the scribe line on the manifold significantly above the record surface.  Works fine for normal LP's but I'm pushing the limit on a 180 gm.  Haven't tried a 200 gm yet.  Studying Bruce's manual it seems the only solution is a thicker arm board.   Maybe adding the aluminum base would work.

John, if memory serves you have a Lyra cartridge. I'm guessing it is the same geometry as my Delos.  Maybe a cartridge that is not as tall would work but that's an awfully expensive fix.
Harry.

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