Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

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.    

***********

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.   

@vpi ,

Interesting your moniker is VPI and your name is Harry??

Audiophiles continue, IMO, to be THE most resourceful creatures on this planet! The power of music has no bounds.

@ct0517
Chris,
Thought you and others might be interested in these two exchanges I had with Bruce about a lighter base weight. Perhaps, if the folks here on this forum make enough noise with Bruce he will make us some light base weights.
Harry

On 2/15/2018 4:37 PM, Harry wrote:
> Hello Bruce,
> Rumor has it over on the Audiogon forum you are working on a lighter base weight to accommodate the long I-Beam with lighter weight cartridges. This to get weight near the end of the I-Beam. Any idea when they will be available and price? I’d like to purchase one.

Harry,
We are not working on a lighter base weight, the existing base weight should be ideal for most applications, Chris  had a very light cartridge and I sent him a smaller weight to test.

Are people finding that the base weight is too much? Thanks
-brucet

This in response to the picture I sent him of the weight I made.

Harry,
That looks nice, if there is enough demand we can make a few weights, there has been good demand for the long I-beam.

If the weight is heavier than the wand plus cartridge, it should be positioned on the inside of the I beam, if it is lighter, it should be positioned on the outside of the I beam away from the manifold as shown in your photo. You might add that information to you description.

This is to balance the torque load on the air bearing. Thanks