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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
vpi's avatar
vpi
223 posts
 
Hi Chris,
Did customs figure out your $15.00 piece of plastic is not a danger to society yet?

Been reviewing prior posts and ran across those dealing with magnetic damping for the ET. I'd like to try it but, dunce that I am, I can't figure out where the platform to the left of the manifold where you put your magnet is located.

Harry

dover
2,262 posts
 
Harry,
You place the magnet under the bearing spindle, right next to the manifold. You want the magnet close to and parallel to the arm tube ( if you are using say a cupboard door magnet ). If you place it on the side opposite to the cartridge end then it won't affect the cartridge signal at the end of play.

Cheers  

vpi's avatar
vpi
223 posts
 
Chris,
Got it.  I'll be off to Lowe's for a cabinet magnet.  I'm really enjoying Bruce's long plank.
Harry

ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 
Harry
the previous post was from Dover. I do not use magnets on my 2.5.

FYI and FWIW
Some years ago, Bruce was intrigued about our experiments when I asked him about this. So much so that he did try it himself.

Feb 2013
  Chris,

I tried this with neodymium magnets and the resistive force is extremely low, almost nothing, the velocity of the spindle would need to be much higher to induce back emf. It is a neat concept and I would like for this to work because it is very simple and easy to implement, but the measured force applied to the spindle is so low that nothing happens to the frequency response of the cartridge at resonance. I hope this helps.

    brucet

When I asked him about how it was possible that people were hearing differences

......audiophiles believe quite a bit that is unexplainable from a science point of view, so yes it can be so.

    brucet

IMO - This topic goes "Into the Dark" category as far as Audiophilia is concerned. You will find supporters on each side. 
   
Now the magnetic damping happening with my turntable is indeed real. Two large magnets bottom one stationary, top one moving fast enough to produce by design - a braking effect - to deal with the records behavior.
See the gold rings in picture number 5 of my virtual system. 

Should be back home mid week will check the mail. 

dover
2,262 posts
 
Chris/Harry
Interesting Bruces comments. What was not imagined from using magnets for eddy current damping in my system was increased volume, I had to turn the volume down. I used cupboard door magnets - 2 in parallel underneath. Bear in mind the eddy currents are only induced when the arm moves - i.e. it only comes into effect with eccentric records. If the record is not eccentric then there would be no difference.

Dynavector uses the same principle with their biaxial arms  
http://www.dynavector.com/products/tonearm/e_507mk2.html
 

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