Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

Hi Chris and pegasus,

I think that Ledermann’s video has some subtleties that merit further clarification. At least to my understanding of his dialogue, he is discouraging use of electrical measurement primarily for setting azimuth with his Soundsmith cartridges, which he goes on to explain at length are very different than other cartridges, having extremely high channel separation that defies using channel balance as the criteria for optimal azimuth setting. He also makes statements indicating that electrical measurement tools can work well on other brands of cartridges IF the coils and stylus/cantilever alignment are not significantly out of whack.

Certainly, if the Fozgometer indicates that severe rotation of the cartridge is necessary to achieve lowest indicated channel crosstalk, then its use is counter-indicated for that cartridge.

In my particular case, the azimuth of my Orpheus L looks perfect using traditional azimuth setting tools (visual) after setting azimuth optimally according to the Fozgometer, which indicates zero channel crosstalk and that each channel reads exactly the same output level when tested individually. Listening tests confirm that channel balance and separation are indeed very good to my ears and soundstage depth/width excellent as well.

Maybe I am lucky but I would be more than a little upset if my $$$ cartridge had misaligned coils or a poorly aligned stylus-to-cantilever relationship to the extent that measurement is impossible. Apparently it is not that uncommon which, if so, is a shame.

I do share the idea that extended critical listening may help further improve sound quality once one has achieved best results with the Fozgometer, but at least it is a very good starting point for tweaking by ear vs eyeballing it with no idea of a proper starting point and it can also show if the coils are misaligned (as per the above where the cartridge must be tilted to an extreme to get good readings).

We all have our methods and whatever works for you and your individual situation is always best.

Best to you both and Merry Christmas to all,
Dave

Pegasus
Non changing VTF is a question of having the centre of gravity aligned with the vertical bearing when floating the arm. This is not an exclusive feature of the ET2 arm, there are more that are concipied this way AFAIR.

AFAIR - as far as I remember.

Oh wondrous flying Greek horse - 8^0 - please do tell of another design that strives for this high level .... and achieves it. If you don't post back I will assume none exist.

You see I am interested in some reading to get me past this last stretch of holiday stress and cold weather.

Pegasus
From the info in your posts here, I recommend you remove your VTA block, re-align with a feeler gauge. re-install, and if not level... (leaning tower)... it's something before it causing your symptoms. I would not install the bearing, armtube, end I Beam until this was resolved.

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True story

I knew an audiophile guy, lets call him "the Fogz", not to be confused with

the Fonz.

Fogz had this room imbalance, I think because of the HVAC runs - ceiling left side. It was a small room, the negative being the sound bounced around easily; the pro being it was easily pressurized for that "Maxell Tape" effect, but .........In order to get a center stereo 2 channel image at his listening position, he would need to either adjust his preamp balance to compensate, or move the left speaker forward (1 foot) 12 inches closer to him than the right speaker. He sat about 10 feet away.

He liked to listen to digital and vinyl and to set up his own Cartridge. His Digital was always sounding different to him, more accurate, less distortion and better overall ...than his Vinyl ( he was using a pivot tonearm that did not have easy Azimuth and VTA/SRA adjustment ).

True Story... names have been changed. This Audio hobby is a set up game. But Analog (Vinyl) is 10 fold the complexity. 

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Off Topic, but what are the speakers over Peter's left shoulder?
Cheers
Grant

Hi Grant
they sure do look like slim two panel ESL's don't they?  ...or doors ?
You got me curious so I asked Peter.  

Dear Chris;

Thanks for the inquiry.

Yup – they look like speakers. They are the insides of cabinet doors for the TV.

What you cannot see are the Soundsmith Dragonfly speakers, directly behind me, which have replaced the Soundsmith larger stand mount Monarchs. The Dragonfly’s are great, but I was surprised at how well they do in place of the larger stand mount Monarch’s. They always get rave reviews at shows, and we have won best of show with them many times.

Most folks are not aware I have been designing speakers for over 40 years, and was director of Engineering at Bozak.

Ha, should have known, but as a vinyl, tube and ESL tragic I do get excited when I hear talk of UFO’s and see glowing spheres. :-)
Damn if I had known you were going to ask him, I would have asked if he thought his MIMC* would be suitable for the ET2?
Just trying to get back on topic.
Oh and my best cartridge (ignoring the Koetsu I am too scared to use!) is a beautiful piece of Peter’s work, an SS ruby cantilever re-tipped Supex SD900.
Thanks for checking and cheers 

Grant

Damn if I had known you were going to ask him, I would have asked if he thought his MIMC* would be suitable for the ET2?

Grant
The limitation is not with the ET 2 and 2.5. As you know they can handle any cartridge, but the 2.5 "was" designed for heavier lower compliance MC’s. So this MIMC would probably work better with the 2.5 and its larger lower resonating air bearing spindle.

The limit will be based on your preamp capability. From the website.

The name is an acronym for “Moving Iron for Moving Coil preamps). In other words, with its .4mV output, the MIMC should be used with a moving coil phono preamp capable of producing between 58-64dBs of gain.

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(ignoring the Koetsu I am too scared to use)

I have a cart like that too that I call the XV1-AXE. Japanese Design, German Rebuilt

I once beheaded it - 20 feet from the turntable years ago. It was on a ET2, on a brass armpod - (see pic 39 on my audiogon virtual system page ) I had carried the whole shabang over to the bench to repair one of the leads with some solder. Somehow the 20 lb pod got moved in an awkward way and I felt a light tug............. Still hurts to think about it
Anyway sent it to Peter and because of the manner in which its well endowed cantilever was sheared off, it damaged internals. He said it could not be rebuilt. At least he was not willing to do it based on his business model. So from advice from Audiogon user Nandric, I sent it over seas to Axel Schuerholz in Germany. He rebuilt it. He even had to make his own cart body bolts for it. Got it back and used it for a bit. One word - Organic. just amazing. But I was scared to use it out of fear over what happened. It still intimidates me today. Kind of like my daughters cat.

That MIMC design you reference can be retipped multiple times at $350 a shot.

but as a vinyl, tube and ESL tragic

good wording. 8^0
Reminds me of the Tragically Hip - Gord Downie - RIP
of the remaining speakers (4) that I have held onto that will passed on ... two are full ESL’s and one is a hybrid - B&W ESL DM70 Continental.

Happy "frigging cold" New Year to Everyone