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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 ?
ct0517
frogman
7,497 posts
 
It is my understanding that for proper setup if one imagines (or when using the set-up jig) a straight line from the front edge of the turntable to the back edge and which goes directly through the platter’s spindle, the ET2’s tonearm tube should "intersect" that line at precisely 90 degrees. Assuming that the mounting base was aligned correctly, if one were to "turn(ing) the arm around the mounting hole" it seems to me that the desired geometry would be altered. The problem with the stylus landing inside of the lead-in groove can most easily be solved by moving the cap at the front end of the cuing eccentric ("cuing tube") towards the front so as to give the spindle extra travel distance toward the front before being stopped by the cap as intended. There is a fair amount of adjustability front to back available for this.

dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
frogman,

Completely agree with your point about rotating the tonearm assembly.

Since Brad’s table and arm was already setup when he bought it and knowing that he had removed the joint as part of his cleaning process, I thought it prudent to recommend checking his work there first vs altering the queuing eccentric adjustment.

Dave

frogman
7,497 posts
 
You are correct; definitely prudent to check that and may indeed be the issue.  On that note, the "rim" of the bearing tube should be flush or very close to flush with the front side of the joint.  If the bearing tube extends out beyond the side of the joint it would probably cause the problem that xbart is having.  Would you agree? 
pegasus
116 posts
 
Hi frogman, yes it seems so. But think about a "normal" mount on a rectangular base:
The arm is mounted "precisely" and travels exactly parallel to two sides of the plinth. Correct tracking then runs on a line exactly parallel to the sides, crossing exactly the platter bearing. This is achieved by the correct "overhang".
Assuming now the arm is slightly twisted (as seen from above) and runs at an angle to the sides. The tracking line then will be twisted the same, but if it shifted by correcting the "overhang" to cross the bearing again, it tracks as correct as before,
Twisted clockwise the overhang will be a bit less, twisted anti-clockwise it is a bit more than with "correct" parallel mounting.
 
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Yes frogman, it should be close to flush but I might cheat it a wee bit (since there is allowance on the other end of the spindle tube) to correct Brad’s problem rather than alter the queuing eccentric setting unless it is far off. I seem to recall messing with the queuing eccentric once and wishing I hadn’t.

I have not forgotten where I learned a great deal about the ET Two... ;)

Dave
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