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
Thanks Chris 

I did see that picture but misted out on the discussion 
I have to read true that string. 

Have a feeling that the RX1500 is going to be a good stable platform for my ET2.5 ;-)

5000/8000 even better but $$$$ so that have to wait for now Think hard to get to. 

Styrk

Styrk
I reached out to Bruce about your setup yesterday.
Today he sent me the drawings/dimensions for your table.
Send me a pm with your email and I will send them to you

 or

contact Bruce direct, remind him of our AudioGon discussion here and he can send the drawing to you direct.

His email

(brucet@eminent-tech.com)

Chris

Hi Chris,
Regarding my mod to get weight to the end of the plank for lighter cartridges, see the last picture on my virtual system page.  I'll try to describe here.  Go to your local auto tire store and get some stick-on wheel weights used on magnesium or aluminum wheels.  Take the base weight off of the ET weight clamp.  A portion of the wheel weight can be fashioned to exactly fit in the groove in the ET weight clamp.  Once this is done it is simply trial and error to trim the remaining portion of the wheel weight to the correct weight for your plank and cartridge.

The stick-on weights come in a single bar that is perforated so one, two or three can be broken off according to how much weight you need.  I started with two and shaped one to fit the groove, then trimmed what remained to get the correct weight.  Hope this is intelligible.

PS: Lead weights are easier to work with but harder to find here in the lower colonies since the government has decided that just touching lead will make us all brain damaged.

Cheers,
Harry
PPS:  Then, again maybe the government is correct.  How else can we explain how obsessive compulsive we ET II audiophiles are.


Harry - Lead is banned north of the 49th parallel too, but two smaller weights still made it to my mailbox from Florida. 8^0

Both are smaller than the original grooved weight. The larger one brought things to the end of the plank for my MC Freedom Fighter cart. The smallest weight Bruce sent allowed for positioning a couple inches from the end with the 420 str. Still a ways to go. That tells you how light this Cracker Jack box cart really is. Will trim it down some, I mean the lead weight.....(using gloves).
Bruce told me the lead is cut on a band saw and then they are milled to the shape.    

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Always fascinated by the amount of heft in the armtube/cart with the little weight removed off the I Beam. Add that tiny weight and it all balances out. The long beam eliminates the need for the multiple thin flat weights and the long bolt that they slid onto. I believe the one original grooved weight will balance the heavyweight XV1 .

The smallest detail (I Beam) that no pro reviewer ever understood enough to discuss, has the most dramatic effect on this tonearm.
As one ages, Physics becomes more and more a stark reality. I work on projects outside which involve moving weight. With my knees fragile from running, and no one around to help you. (I thought this was the reason to have kids - :^( .....)
We look for ways to manipulate the weight using Physics.