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Eminent technology et2 on Linn Lp12

Hello all

I am considering the possibility of this combination. I already own the Linn. Its a mid/late 70's model. A friend has the arm. I have a Denon 103 cartrige to put on the arm. 

What are your thoughts on this combo.

I currently use a Thorens td160 with SME 3009 improved and Denon103 cartrige that I like. AN M3 Line pre with tube and SS power. Tannoy MG 12 speakers. 

Also. I am going to make a new arm board. Is there a preferred material or should I stick with the MDF. 

Thanks for your thoughts. 


128x128pkvintage
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
Pkvintage

If someone handed me an LP12 today and said put an ET2 on it, this is what I would do first as a test - and it doesn't take a lot of effort. This is a quick 5 minute analysis - excuse any grammar, etc...
 
1) Level the LP12 plinth/platter without any tonearm.

2) Place the ET2 mounting plate over the existing tonearm hole. Establish height - use a holed wood shim if extra height is needed.

3) Acquire from the bolts place/home depot ; a longer bolt, nut, washer, and also a larger diameter flat stainless steel washer.
The Flat washer should be big enough to cover the existing hole from underneath.

4)Place the ET2 mounting plate over the hole. Insert the longer bolt down through the mounting plate and fasten it from underneath with the flat washer and nut. Level the mounting plate with its spikes. The tonearm is ready to be mounted.
 
5)Mount the ET2 tonearm and measure (A) how far off the plinth has moved from previous level if at all.

6)Re-level the plinth if needed, turn on the air and level the tonearm using only the air bearing (no movement) as a level. Not a bubble level.

7)Place the tonearm air bearing spindle at what is the beginning of the record position. (B) Measure the level at this position.
 
8) Move the air bearing spindle to the end of the record position. (C) Measure the Level again at this position.

This has me curious, so I am interested in your measurement findings at - A - B - C, to find out if the air bearing spindle's weight, as it traverses across produces any deflection. Either here, or on the ET2 owners thread.

Cheers

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,853 posts
 

Brooks Berdan may have mounted more ET arms on turntables than anyone else in the world. His original choice for the arm was the Oracle Delphi, for which he created a mod eventually incorporated into the table by Oracle itself (a round block of stainless steel added onto the bottom of the floating subchassis at a specific location, to make its’ mass perfectly distributed and therefore more dynamically balanced. Brooks had training in and knowledge of the design of race car suspensions).

He added the VPI HW-19 when that table was introduced, and found its stiffer-suspension (and to a lesser degree its higher-mass floating subchassis) to provide a more stable platform for the unusual moving mass of the ET. The reason for that is that the center of the arms mass changes location as the arm moves across the LP more than does that of most non-linear arms (the exception being very high mass arms of that sort); a table with a softer suspension can have it’s floating subchassis become slightly out-of-level, while a stiffer suspension will be less effected by the changing location of the arms mass.

Of course, a table with no "normal" suspension (metal springs, air---the Townshend Seismic Sink, Sorbothane or Navcom) will be completely unaffected by the moving mass of the ET. Brooks mounted the ET on a lot of VPI TNT’s.

daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,877 posts
 
@testpilot  Your point about a number of arms working well with the Linn isn't actually correct. Unfortunately the opposite is more accurate..there are few arms that work well with the Linn! The Linn suspension requires an arm that is not only light weight, but also has the wiring to it in such a fashion as that it cannot impact the suspension. Many a great arm won't actually work on the Linn..
The OP happened to ask about an arm ( the ET2) that can work on the table, although I think there are better alternatives available today. 
As a 'Linnie', it is my biggest complaint to Linn, that the actual arms that are supplied and available that work with the table...are in fact far less able than the table itself!
IMHO, the basic platform deserves a much better option than the Ekos SE-1, as an example.

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,853 posts
 
The Naim Aro arm (unfortunately out-of-production) is a favorite with Linn Sondek owners.
pkvintage's avatar
pkvintage OP
209 posts
 
The reason I am considering the ET-2 is #1. It is available for a fair price. 2# My initial research led me to beleive that is is a wonderful arm and comparable to the best. #3. I  like the fact that it is inusual.

My tech and I will be mounting it.  I am confident he is very capable of doing the job correctly. Do I absoulutely have to have this arm? No. Set up correctly I am hoping this will be a reference table combo that I can hang out with for a long time. 

Thanks to all of you for your wealth of knowledge. It will definite help when the installation process begins. I will be forwarding the info on to my tech. 
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