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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
pegasus
116 posts
 
BTW - constant VTF isnt’t the issue of the arc-block for VTA adjustment. It is the constant (zero) overhang with different VTAs.
Increasing VTA by increasing the height of the pillar of a radial arm, the arm shortens in the horizontal plane. Thus overhang is reduced:... by 0.5 mm for a 9" arm with a change in VTA of 3.8 degrees... which IMO is close to academical... :-)
The VTF varies with height if the counterweight is "underhung" or "overhung". Ie. if the centers of gravity of arm tube / cartridge and the counterweight "connect" below or above the horizontal bearing. This is the case with most univipots and strongly with the Well Tempered arms.
What is special with the ET2 is that one can perfectly balance this (if one wants to and knows what to do :-).
stuogawa
45 posts
 
@ct0517 

End of November 2020 I was having my Sota Saphire restored by Sota.  Since I had the ET2 removed (before I shipped table), I called ET; I was checking in to see if there was any other maintenance / updates that I should have done by ET.  A gentleman responded, not Bruce.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Bruce is working (maybe retired?) with ET anymore. The gentleman said ET focusing only on speakers now; I think I recall him saying the machining was just too labor intensive so they are just focusing on speakers.  I don't even think they are doing any more service work.  Not sure about parts, but I suspect they are selling off whatever non speaker products/parts related to arms left in inventory...as mentioned on their website re. buying an ET2.5.
djspinner's avatar
djspinner
60 posts
 
@stuogawa 

FWIW I contacted the main email last week about a missing VTA lever and Bruce (or at least somebody with Bruce's email and signature) responded.
ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 
@stuogawa @djspinner  et al 

Bruce is around. He just responded to my email.  


Chris,

  Yes, we can still perform service on the ET-2 and parts, I hope this
helps - brucet

With that. 
We all recognize that Bruce will not be around forever, but this tonearm IMO is indestructible. I mean, if its disassembled in parts in its box, and you accidentally leave it on the driveway and run it over, that's one thing. Barring an accident it will outlive all of us. Its biggest threat is moisture in the air line and minerals deposits, that can land on the manifold blocking air flow and movement. Even then the ET2 manual can be downloaded and does a great job of explaining how to clean it. Unlike mechanical bearings that go dry and stiff, if you have a good trap for moisture there is nothing really to do except maybe keep it covered when not used for protection against dust. Pumps are easily replaced. JMO
ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 

So given those factors, a cartridge with a compliance number higher than 20 should pair best with my current tonearm setup?

Hi Djspinner 

From a numbers view point it would be the most "plug and play".... but here's the thing. I can tell you that there are people here that are using very low compliance carts like the Denon 103 with the aluminum armwand, and they have made changes in their kit to improve "the sound". Some have modified the actual aluminum armtube itself, added less resonant wrap to it, or filled the head of the wand with material. Others have made other modifications further down the chain of gear.  fwiw also I run all MC cartridges with no load. If your preamp/phono stage can take it and stay stable...try it.

@stuogawa 

Hi Stu - what speakers are those in your room?  

Cheer Chris  


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