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
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My interest in a comparison of the two tables was specifically about any possible differences in the way that the two keep rhythm (PRAT) and general sense of aliveness; something that would be audible regardless (mostly) of arm and cartridge. Of course, along with improved speed stability come things like improved image stability and less grain, but still.... Please share any impressions, Garrard 😉.  Congrats again. Finally (bad audiophile!) got around to trying the (OEM) long I-beams. Will report back with impressions soon.
@frogman  Interesting question once again.  Before acquiring my Garrard I had read several posts in blogs/forums wherein people talked about the "Garrard Sound" and how some tweaks and upgrades were not good because they resulted in a loss of the "Garrard Sound."  They described the "Garrard Sound" as a heightened sense of rhythm or pace.  Until acquiring my Garrard I had a hard time imagining what they were describing and assumed it was psycho acoustic.  I.e., I just paid a lot of money for this rig so it has to sound better.

Now that I own one I think I understand.  First, and foremost, the sound is bolder.  Lower registers and lower midrange seem fuller giving a better sense of space and a better foundation from which the music emerges.  For example, cymbals, bells, snare drums now emerge from a blacker background.  For me this makes the music more "alive."  More to your point, there does seem to be more toe tapping going on.  There is a heightened sense of rhythm.  This rhythm component is, of course, more noticeable on rock/pop and jazz than on classical.  I'm not talking about speed or quickness (which I assumed would be more related to the cartridge than the table or arm).  However, despite the fact I believe the Delos to be far "quicker" than my VDH cartridge I think the VPI/ET/VDH combo is quicker than the Garrard/Ortofon/Delos. 
 
Sorry to be so long winded but your question and what I think I am hearing are quite subjective. Not subtle but subjective.  I've only listened for two days but a lot of hours in those two days and the Garrard rig makes me want to tap my toe more than the VPI.  I was more inclined to attribute this to the heavily damped Ortofon arm but as you make me stop and think about the subject, it may well be attributable to the Garrard 301. There are certainly other Garrard owners who think so.   
Well, true to @ct0517  prediction the experience with my Garrard has caused my VPI/ET II to demand my attention.  Among other tweaks, I think I'd like to try a carbon fiber arm wand.  I have two mag wands.  Does anyone have a carbon fiber wand they are not using that they might like to swap for a mag arm?
Sounds like you’re having fun Harry ?

IMO - When we introduce a new turntable setup we increase the variations factor ten fold due to different TT stands, Tables, Tonearms, Carts, Gear (loading), etc.... For this reason although changing out an armtube might help a little, it may not be the silver bullet due to the many variations you have introduced.
Words in describing what we are hearing mean different things to each of us. for example. You used the words bright, etched, and smooth.
To me - bright, etched implies detail is there, but there is setup issues somewhere. Smooth to me implies, nice but rolled off extremities. HF, LF.
How are you setting up these different carts on different tonearms and tables.

Are you loading them ?

Does your preamp have adjustable gain ?

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vpi - I don’t envy your "spring".


Well ,the way I see it, it all evens out Harry. In summer when you are forced inside due to the oppressive heat, I will be fishing on a lake that I can drink the water from.....well...except if that one buddy shows up with the bad prostate that can’t hold it in, and needs to piss from the boat. Then all bets are off.


So does you idler run fast when set in the middle of the factory default 33 1/3 setting ?