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 ?
ct0517

Showing 9 responses by harold-not-the-barrel

Hi guys, a classic Air Tangent on AudiogoN: http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tonearms-nos-air-tangent-tonearm-linear-air-bearing-tonearm-2013-11-12-analog-29732

Is there anyone who has experienced an AT ? Frankly, I was searching for it and a Forsell 5 years ago (I didn´t know ET-2´s excistence at the time) but I suddenly found the Trans-Fi arm and bought that immediately... and saved a fortune ;). It has proved to be the very best audio bargain in my history. The ET-2 is another very interesting tone arm though.

Dave G, have you got an ET-2 already ?
Dave, What a nice surprice as I had no idea what you have been doing after your Trans-Fi wand mods. I was wondering why´s the sudden silence though. Meanwhile I have been doing my own TT project... and watching music videos on YouTube. Rare unseen videos though but a bloody waste of time.
Anyway, congrats for your fantastic vintage DD TT, it must be very special. Seems to be slightly better than your VPI.
Hmm, it may be quite boring to play only 45´s with 2 linear trackers on the modded TNT. But I´m sure you will find a solution soon.
The ET-2 and the Trans-Fi tracker on a super deck ! Finally something really interesting at A´gon, Evolution gaining speed.
We will observe your progress. Thanks in advance.
Chris,
We are children of the revolution, the swirling 1960´s and we "speak" the same language. We have certain respect to our past, and it´s music itself. The super groups we listened when we were kids will be our musical heritage till the end of time.
The turning point for me personally was in 1974 when I used to listen FM radio and I occasionally managed to record some strange and quite extraordinary music to my PHILIPS radiorecorder (at the time I didn´t have a record player !) I captured "Shine on Brightly" by Procol Harum, "Meddle" by Pink Floyd, "Brain Salad Surgery" by ELP and "Starless and Bible Black" by King Crimson on tape. And "Twin Peaks" by Mountain as well, probably the heaviest/fattest bass sound ever put on vinyl. Thanks to Felix Pappalardi, the great late producer, band leader & musician. Of course, we kids listened the pop music too.
But I hadn´t any idea where this all will lead in next year. My dear dad bought me my first stereo system. The finest part of the sale was a bonus, the double album "666" by APHRODITE´S CHILD, would you believe ! Oh yes, the mighty music composed by Vangelis & sung by Demis Roussos who has a very unique and beautiful voice. This stunning music blew this kid´s mind away and never looked back ever since.

But it still took 26 years to find another musical treasure hidden in time, the fantastic Classic Italian Progressive music. In 1973 Alphataurus the Mighty Dove abandoned manking in frustation & anger because of commersializing the music culture. But mankind still has hope as we saw the triumphant return of Alphataurus in 2011 as documented in "Alphataurus Live in Bloom"

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LIVE-IN-BLOOM-ALPHATAURUS-VINYL-NEW-/370760653864?pt=UK_Records&hash=item56530e9c28

And resulting a Renaissance in Prog Music, especially in Italy after all the years ! Another gem:

http://www.btf.it/dvd/prog-exhibition.html

Another thing I regard you as a sir is your TT, The Platine & ET-2. I think it´s a very special combination. In fact, you are running a double air suspension system turntable truly.
This unique and very sophisticated techique you are using proves that you take audio and music VERY seriously and you truly respect the things you love.

Furthermore and as for an extra suspension, I would suggest you to try a Reso-Mat made by Vic himself. IME over the years it is a true bargain in audio. In my system the improvement in audio guality & quantity is really huge.
It´s due to it´s feature that vinyl sits freely and uncompressed on vinyl spikes that allow resonances vanish into air and not bouncing back to vinyl and rearching stylus. Many things in mechanics are simple, also this. It works !

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RESO-MAT-TURNTABLE-PLATTER-MAT-FOR-TECHNICS-SL1200-GARRARD-401-/181111989567?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Turntables&hash=item2a2b1da53f

Btw, thaks us showing the way to the record groove, I actually haven´t seen it so clearly before ! What a revelation !

Cheers
Richard, Unfortunately I don´t recall FM radio played a JT album in its entirety in this remote area LOL. But I do recall vividly as "Songs from the Wood" album was the only subject in one music lesson in high school in 1977. I felt huge respect for the teacher due to his knowledge/respect he had and he really played most of the album.
You ET-2 guys are the mad scientists `Ö´ you constantly and fearlessly keep experimenting. Fantastic hobby, very interesting reading. :-)
Dear Leon, Firstly just get rid of the flimsy & unstable suspension of that Studio (it´s floating not hanging) and you´ll be facing hugely improved performance level of that great DD TT. You can also tame the springs but it would be better to take them away altogether. Your Goldmund deserves this tweak.
Best regards
Dear Leon & Chris, I´m a man of peace & tranquility, that´s why I prefer solid TTs ;-)
To be honest (and to my own embarrassment), I wasted nearly half my life on suspended decks. Well tuned suspension works on all environments but it is always a compromise on sound nevertheless, unfortunately.
I would suggest large spiked brass columns attached under the upper plinth and you will have dead suspension.
Ugh, I have spoken.
LOL supa video. Chris, I already know you´re a man of humour.
Adjusting and running an air bearing tonearm needs lots of humour. This thread gets better and better all the time...
Thank you, sir Chris
Nice to meet you. I very much appreciate your love and affection/opinions about linear air bearing trackers as general but I have no idea nor experience of ET-2, and especially your intelligence for having got one of the most exotic and mightiest TTs, the Platine.
Its magnetic field levitation/non-mechanical bearing must something like drive a good old Citroen. I fell for the BX more than 20 years ago and it can be taken away only over my dead body.
And me ? I´m just a lawnlower. And part of the GENESIS mythology I´m afraid. But I´m not like Harold the Barrel, that quite peculiar yet nice fellow from early days still going strong. And I appreciate him greatly as well. You see, my favorite song is "Harold the Barrel" from 1971.
Excuse me my ignorance about these fascinating things going on at A´gon lately but I´ve been busy with my own rather unorthodox experiments. In fact, I need to do a couple of final adjustments on my TT project right now.
Funny thing is, when I turn my back to A´gon for a few months at least one person has taken a giant leap in TTs... Well, you can´t stop Evolution can you.
Good day to you.

Harold