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
@ct0517,

Hockey comment??? Don’t know what you are referring to? @vpi, You may want to ask yourself, why was the previous post removed? If you ever find that answer, you'll know why I wrote the words you eventually saw.... then posted...@slaw ???????

Some members have enough power to have posts removed even though there are no (rules' violations).


@vpi,

I have quite a bit of experience with Grover’s earlier stuff. Still use some of his power cords. My experience would be only of help to you as to their sonics.


@ct0517,

I can keep on retracing my posts to correct them after you've had the folks at A'gon to remove what may have been seen by you as something other than what you present yourself as....Or you can just let the flow of the flow of the conversation lay where it should? It's up to you my friend?
Harry - my two cents.

with volume muted, let tonearm/cart down on a STILL record not moving.
unmute - start raising the volume. When the hum is noticeable.
  
Go to your loom and start moving the wires around one at a time, especially in back of the phono stage.
Does the hum get worse or better ?

If it changes, look for the best spot then use blue tac spots to help secure them in place. I use unshielded wire and my setup is quiet with this test, but I did have to spend some time initially moving the wires into the best position behind the preamp.

While you are there, also test for acoustic feedback; this time after you unmute and raise the volume, Start a dance in front/side/back of the turntable with no music - STILL record.  What happens ?
If nothing. Good.

***********************

A forum thread reminder.
It has been my experience on AudioGon, that derogatory comments are usually deleted by the moderator. No exceptions for anyone.
Maybe some of mine have been deleted in the past. I don't know as I never go back to check posts; unless i want to use one as a reference link, in a future post.

@slaw . Yes, I'd be interested in your impressions of the Huffman cables.  I've ordered his current Empress.  Not that I was dissatisfied with the sq of the current cables I'm using in the phono stage.  They are quite revealing without being bright or etched.  I'm just trying to get rid of the hum.  Admittedly, I'm a little OC about the hum as it is not audible at anything close to a reasonable volume.

@ct0517  I don't have a straight in loom like you.  My loom is terminated in a Cardas phono box with RCA fremale plugs.  From the box to preamp I'm using 1 ft lengths of unshielded silver interconnect.   The phono inputs on my preamp are on the side of the preamp closest to the TT (not on the back).   Following your suggested diagnostics, moving the loom around has no effect on the hum.  Moving the interconnect varies the intensity of the hum.  So, if my assumption is correct and EMI is the culprit, it is being picked up by the ICs and not the loom.  Of course, the ICs are closer to the preamp than the loom.  

Acoustic feedback.  Yep, I've got it.  At listening level, however, it is nearly nonexistent.   But, correct me if I'm wrong, the acoustic feedback is distinct from my hum which is there with no tapping and no noise in the room and without the stylus on the still record. It's just another issue for me to obsess about. Right? :)

@ct0517,

Most of you posts, that are reminders of what others may have said, are greatly of use to your posts that may affect others.