Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

Bruce's long I Beam update (yes, Chris, the plank :)

Went by my mechanic this morning and picked up a couple of wheel weights.  I was able to fashion one to fit in the slot where the first weight goes.  I am now out to about 1/8 - 1/4 inch from the end of the plank and the music keeps getting better and better.  My Delos now has a mid range bloom and richness I did not previously think was possible from a Lyra.  

Lyras have that wonderful upper extension that we detail nuts crave.  However, I have often thought that my Delos (and previously my Clavis) had a slight gap between the midrange and the upper frequencies.  This seemed to contribute to a lack of bloom in the midrange.  Just not so rich in the middle like, say, a Koetsu..  This has all changed with less weight further out.  Still not a Koetsu in the mids but a Koetsu can't retrieve the detail my Delos does.  (Oops, I don't want to start a cartridge war).

The second thing I noticed was a slight taming of horns and certain voices.  No detail lost but just a little smoother.  For example, I love the three standard albums Linda Ronstadt did with Nelson Riddle.  Linda's voice has a slight edge on it that I some times found a little fatiguing.  With the long plank that edge is tamed.  Once again, no loss of extension just a little smoother. 

This is arm is truly amazing. It seems there is no limit to the improvements one can accomplish with a little effort and great input from the audiophiles on this forum.
Cheers,
Harry

Another long I-Beam update:
If you missed my earlier post Bruce's new long plank is a little too thin for the weight clamp.  It won't clamp down tightly.  Bruce just updated me to say he is working on a second run that will correct this problem.  Should be available in a couple weeks.

In the interim, if you already received the long plank there is an easy work around.  Just reverse the clamping screw so it can be applied directly to the plank like a set screw.
Harry

Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will move the whole world.

Archimedes

These are the thoughts that come to me with this sample I Beam that arrived by Australian Camel. The physics involved with playing vinyl and having it outdo the Studer (on some tapes) and my Digital just fascinates me. 

Significant leverage happening here.  I am balanced with only the one molded weight on there. An inch from the end. I had to remove my larger horizontal bolt and go back to the original smaller one, along with the threaded weight holder. They are no longer needed with just the one molded weight on there.  Just too much weight. The package of weights Bruce provides with the tonearm is now serious over kill. 
  
This is with my freedom fighter cartridge. I suspect my lone weight will go all the way out with the XV1 and maybe one skinny weight - maybe not.

Initial impressions from a quick session.  Nothing negative and all perceived positives. I am being punched in the stomach with the bass; like sitting 12 feet from the stage and Bdp24 (Eric) is playing his drums like he just got some really great news. 8^)

The I beam is now the same length as the armtube; to me, it just looks right, balanced, the way it was meant to be. 

As Harry mentioned these first samples will be improved. I got word from Bruce that he was making updates to the printer. 

It's funny how that little styrene I-beam I bought at the hobby shop 10 years ago works pretty well. I tried using less weight on the I-beam further out, but when I moved the arm in or out, the I-beam waved back and forth like a dog wagging its tail! I can't place the weight out the same length as the arm wand for sure.
Am I missing something?
-John

John,
While my longer beam with weight almost at end does seem to flex a little more than the shorter one, it is not excessive on my rig.  Two thoughts.   Are you using a double or triple spring on your beam?   If not, that may solve the problem.  Secondly, perhaps your hobby shop beam is just more flexible than Bruce's.   

Chris,
Interesting observations.   My first setup with new plank was the same as yours.  With only the molded weight I could only get out to an inch from the end.  With only my diy smaller weight I got out to within 1/4 inch from the end with further improvement.

Harry