^^^^^^^
Ah - the VTA Block Harry et al.
So special the worm gear system in the VTA block has its own patent.
Is the reason this tonearm is the only one that doesn’t change VTF, and other settings like all other tonearms, with VTA adjustment do. Still remember the look on the face of an audio acquaintance from years ago, when I told him his $10,000 tonearm changed the VTF every time he used it. He was quite detailed, anal and used to use a digital usb microscope to set VTA/SRA. He was not happy. He had that look like someone had swindled funds from him. Tonearm manufacturers will never bring this up. Its the dirty little secret. The only one (Professional) that has mentioned it on this AudioGon forum is Johnathan Carr. He also discussed in that post how the ET 2 is the only tonearm that does VTA right. But to get it right is not so easy. Factory settings need to be left alone sometime; and as we know Audiophiles like to tinker and mess with design, and sometimes...not realize what they have done. We have all done it?
**********************
The ET2 VTA design is probably also responsible for the biggest ET2 setup issue. And I blame Bruce. His documentation should say don’t mess with those bolts that are set at the factory, (unless you know what you are doing) but in nicer words. Lets face it - A Come to Jesus time moment..... as we used to say in my line of work.
Everyone that has bought this tonearm used, and not already setup on a turntable, in the last 5-10 years, and did not read the manual (too intimidating). IMO most of them, have turned those horizontal bolts to help in setting up the tonearm on the straight line. THEREBY - throwing their ET2 out and creating a mini version of the Leaning Tower of PISA. Too dramatic ?
So IMO the manual is at fault to start. Such a special process that is open to tinkering should have its owned section with warnings. If they told you, your computer needs a change made to the registry files to fix a problem; would you make those changes yourself ? Depends on your knowledge of course. Yet, adjusting those VTA bolts has a similar effect on your tonearm performance if not done right. It won’t work as designed. Is it any wonder that past owners who reach this point, with no instructions in the owners manual - have shut the VTA down - closed it - and said the hell with it. Never knowing what they did ? Just one of this audio hobby’s mysteries.
**********************
The proper way to check your VTA torquing. (Setup on the table or not)
"Pic 34 on my virtual system"
**********************
Turntable "Factory" Drilled ET 2 mounting holes.
The holes drilled into armboards at turntable factories are not all that great. If you have a factory drilled armboard mounting hole. Re-check and re-torque if necessary your ET 2 VTA bolts.
Now tell me, ......does the tonearm still track the straight line ?
Imagine
If your ET2 is mounted on a 20 lb isolated armpod. All you have to do is move it to the table wiggle the base around for the straight line alignment and you are done.
Ah - the VTA Block Harry et al.
So special the worm gear system in the VTA block has its own patent.
Is the reason this tonearm is the only one that doesn’t change VTF, and other settings like all other tonearms, with VTA adjustment do. Still remember the look on the face of an audio acquaintance from years ago, when I told him his $10,000 tonearm changed the VTF every time he used it. He was quite detailed, anal and used to use a digital usb microscope to set VTA/SRA. He was not happy. He had that look like someone had swindled funds from him. Tonearm manufacturers will never bring this up. Its the dirty little secret. The only one (Professional) that has mentioned it on this AudioGon forum is Johnathan Carr. He also discussed in that post how the ET 2 is the only tonearm that does VTA right. But to get it right is not so easy. Factory settings need to be left alone sometime; and as we know Audiophiles like to tinker and mess with design, and sometimes...not realize what they have done. We have all done it?
**********************
The ET2 VTA design is probably also responsible for the biggest ET2 setup issue. And I blame Bruce. His documentation should say don’t mess with those bolts that are set at the factory, (unless you know what you are doing) but in nicer words. Lets face it - A Come to Jesus time moment..... as we used to say in my line of work.
Everyone that has bought this tonearm used, and not already setup on a turntable, in the last 5-10 years, and did not read the manual (too intimidating). IMO most of them, have turned those horizontal bolts to help in setting up the tonearm on the straight line. THEREBY - throwing their ET2 out and creating a mini version of the Leaning Tower of PISA. Too dramatic ?
So IMO the manual is at fault to start. Such a special process that is open to tinkering should have its owned section with warnings. If they told you, your computer needs a change made to the registry files to fix a problem; would you make those changes yourself ? Depends on your knowledge of course. Yet, adjusting those VTA bolts has a similar effect on your tonearm performance if not done right. It won’t work as designed. Is it any wonder that past owners who reach this point, with no instructions in the owners manual - have shut the VTA down - closed it - and said the hell with it. Never knowing what they did ? Just one of this audio hobby’s mysteries.
**********************
The proper way to check your VTA torquing. (Setup on the table or not)
"Pic 34 on my virtual system"
**********************
Turntable "Factory" Drilled ET 2 mounting holes.
The holes drilled into armboards at turntable factories are not all that great. If you have a factory drilled armboard mounting hole. Re-check and re-torque if necessary your ET 2 VTA bolts.
Now tell me, ......does the tonearm still track the straight line ?
Imagine
If your ET2 is mounted on a 20 lb isolated armpod. All you have to do is move it to the table wiggle the base around for the straight line alignment and you are done.