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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
 
^^

"This resulted in a homeopathic 50Hz drone"

’8^0

If one wants to hear if their pump is introducing noise.
Ensure your setup is good before attempting this.
With the air pump ON and system on mute, lower the ET2 onto a "STILL" record.
Now turn OFF the air pump, and unmute the system.
Have your friend now turn ON the air pump, while you listen close to the speaker.
Ensure your setup is good before attempting.

pegasus
116 posts
 
This is indeed the way I tested this. Stylus in groove, platter stationary, pump running, phono gain turned up. In this test the HiBlow was audibly quieter than *my* WISA 300 high pressure.
gyneguy225
93 posts
 
I use two wisa pumps working out of phase with each other in parallel, two large surge tanks in series with a small surge tank made from a plastic radio control gas tank, sitting a few feet from the ET-2. When I did the above test, it was complete silence with and without the pumps on. -Guess my pumps are different?
-John
pegasus
116 posts
 
Hi John, no, your WISA pumps work the same. But connecting them parallel and out of phase makes them work the same way as a double diaphragm pump, like the original HiBlow: Single ended vs. push-pull... The air pressure is much more constant, "stabilized" pressure being about the same as the pressure peaks of a single WISA.
How high is the pressure? I assume it’s still not much higher than the original pump, and the worse noise/vibration is remaining. Besides I was not able to connect WISAs in series (nor will such a parallel combo), contrary to the HiBlow pumps with their air-sealed housing, which allows operating them above normal atmospheric pressure.
gyneguy225
93 posts
 
I get about 7.5 psi out of that setup which is what Bruce told me to expect. The noise isn't a problem as the pumps are in the next room in a closet. If I deadhead the pumps' output, I get around 12 psi. -And my manifold is the high pressure version. It's a lot of hot air in my opinion.
-John 
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