Chris, re high compliance carts with the ET2. I agree with you that it can be used successfully with them and have done so for as long as I have owned the arm; which is almost as long as it has existed. I remember more than one comment by "reviewers" stating that the arm performed best with low compliance carts; this, even before the mag wand was even available. Then there was the review which praised the Monster AG2000 cartridge (low compliance) as THE cartridge for the arm; and idea that I heard repeated many times in NYC audiophile circles. It is, in fact, an exceptionally good combination (I own it) even with the regular aluminium wand and I think that this contributed to that mistaken idea taking hold.
And it IS all about the bass. Get the bass right and things fall into place. Now, 350 millions hits! Actually, it's a pretty catchy and cute song. Too bad that a well intended (I think) message has to be combined with the typical-for-our-time crassness. "Junk in all the right places". Now, THERE'S a nice thing to point out to one's daughter! |
The big guy dancing in that "Its all about the bass" video cracks me up. He stole all my dance moves. There is more mass moving side to side with him though. Like an ET2 without the decoupled counterweight. Frogman - I think you can do a lot with the original aluminum armtube and play heavy MC on it as well with tweaking. Your post supports this. But then you have also wrapped your aluminum armtube. A pic of it is attached earlier in this thread. An audiophile wrap ? Hmm this gives me an idea ...... more in a bit :^) It is not the same imo with my 2.5 with heavy Mag wand which I use with Richard's aluminum gooseneck. My experience puts this combo solidly over the fence onto the other side with Low Compliance MC cartridges only. The combo didn't work as well with the high compliance Acutex 420 str cartridge. That same 420 that had excellent drive and rhythm with the CF armtube and regular CF gooseneck joint became cruder and harsher sounding from what I remember. Its been quite a while. It didn't last long on there. The Acutex 420 high compliance MM is still on my 2.0 and aluminum armtube in my other room. That's also the combo Bruce liked best in his review of the 420 cartridge posted here earlier in the thread. Good lord its been a little over two years since that post now. 8^o |
****An audiophile wrap ? Hmm this gives me an idea ...... more in a bit :^)****
Yo, yo, yo! Wassup? |
yo-yo-yo wassup ?Been digging out from the past storm with a very weak snowblower. :^( We hardly got any of the white stuff that hit Buffalo a couple of weeks ago. It was seriously looking like a brown Christmas. That changed 2 days ago! Should have dealt with the symptoms of a stretched auger belt last year. Ones gets lazy with age. Bought 20 years ago my Craftsman 11 hp 31 inch snow throw can once again win the snow pissing contest after replacing a $20 auger belt. A timeless design. I am a total sucker for these kinds of things. I am surrounded by this stuff and I include my audio gear when I say this; It will all outlast me. I can't stand disposable items ...which is what our society has become. Note: Its important when having so much fun hurling snow 20 feet to avoid hitting your wife's car. The 4 month old pup can't seem to resist himself, jumping and hurling himself too; trying to catch waves the of flying snow being thrown out by this incredible man made invention. btw - This is the only time you will ever be able to find a black lap pup - in amongst all the white stuff at night. He normally needs to wear a collar flashing light so we can find him in the dark. In the spirit of this thread, some ET2 passion shots to warm things up a bit ? coming up |
Too funny!
****I can't stand disposable items ...which is what our society has become. ****
An endless argument (not really) between my wife and I. I am always lobbying to hang unto things like our old Sub-Zero which, even after a couple of major surgeries cools and freezes like no other. Funny about your lab pup. Our Artie loves to try and catch the shower of leaves when using my beast of a leaf blower (Husqvarna; again). Loves it second only to sitting still with an expression of total contentment when I blow dry him with it.
Anxiously awaiting your "Audiophile (w)rap".
Yo |
Funny about your lab pup. Our Artie loves to try and catch the shower of leaves when using my beast of a leaf blower (Husqvarna; again).
Loves it second only to sitting still with an expression of total contentment when I blow dry him with it. What a life ! Yup .... 13 to 15 years of a good dogs life, with a family that cares. This is starting to look really good to me .... Audiophile (w)rap lol - - - |
The 2014 ET 2 Year End Audiophile W(rap) Some of the past pics and ideas from this thread to give others information sharing, and maybe get creative juices going for those that are in gear mode, or looking to do something different. Please feel free to post your ideas and pics to give the others ideas. You can also send me a link or pic at bcpguy (at) bell (dot) net and I can post it for you. To start it off. ***************************** Mona Lisa of ET 2 tonearm wiring ***************************** imo - This is Tonearm Wire Art and belongs in an Audiophile Art gallery Wire Art 1 Wire Art 2 Note also the special audiophile wrap on the armtube. Happy face loop putting the weight of the wires downward where it leaves the armtube. Minimal and consistent resistance across the record. For me and my anal attitude toward Mr. Wires (I am still searching for a wireless solution). If I am using a flat plinth surface, this is the route I would take. Serious passion lives here. :^) ***************** Go Your Own Way ***************** In the spirit of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" The first time I saw this ET2 setup my lower jaw dropped. Total and absolute Individualization, customization, and imagination to an extreme level. Serious passion lives here. :^) ************************ The Aspiring ET 2 Comedian ************************ If your current situation does not provide you with the ability to make people sing and dance, then how about making them laugh....(Sharing knowledge and information from direct experiences works well too.) *************** Swiss Army Knife *************** Many have called the ET 2, a swiss army knife version of a tonearm on the LP, with its Zero tracking error, and the multitude of adjustments to match up to the record. Its the Slave, the record is the Master. I think everyone still remembers this one ? Micrometer ET2Serious passion lives here. :^) From my own direct experiences, any new owners trying to make this level of precision work; better have their Music Room, Speakers and Amp/s combination already dialed in ahead of time. There is no place to hide here. Unlike my pivot arms which when set up at even 90%, can sound decent. This is an all or nothing scenario. You will know if it is out. ****************** The Freedom Fighter ****************** In the spirit of the P40. The Freedom FighterIn this example - a rare eye condition necessitates the use of special glasses. The left eye (in the pic) wants to go straight. The right eye (can't be seen) wants to keep turning right. The glasses correct this condition. **************** ET 2 on a Pedestal **************** The one that started all this insanity and was part of the inspiration to start this thread. The ET2 on a Pedestal In this case a 20 lb hunk of brass cut from a brass billet. I wish some of my financial investments were doing as well as this hunk of brass is in regards to market prices ! The ET 2 loves to be on its own pedestal. The reason ? The wires coming off the ET 2 drop naturally and can be put into a happy face loop. Keep the wires happy and you will keep your ET 2 happy; has been my experience anyways. The pedestal is a natural for wire management. And last but not least..... ************************** Audiophile ET2 Armtube Wrap ************************** The wrap seen here works best from December 15 to about January 2rd. Guaranteed to make those holiday tunes more enjoyable for you and your guests. Once outside of the holiday period, with some imagination, the wrap can be replaced with images of your favorite music makers, maybe your favorite pet or .........how about your spouse ? Can you Imagine her (or him) riding the grooves to your favorite music ? Guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of your guests. For me I am thinking the man in black is going to look good on my mag wand..... And let's not forget the additional benefit for Audiophiles ..... the visual placebo effect is engaged if images are from dead classical composers, and / or jazz musicians. :^) That's a w(rap)........ Wishing you and yours a safe healthy holiday season. Cheers |
A safe healthy holiday season to you and ours; and all who read this. And thank you for what is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting, educational, and (by Audiogon standards) safe healthy threads; not to mention fun which is something we sometimes forget about in our search for audio perfection. ****For me I am thinking the man in black is going to look good on my mag wand..... **** Definitely! But only the mag. The livelier aluminum should be reserved for the spouse; or..... http://m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=0M3uR24_V10A voice as mellifluous as the sound of a well-setup ET2. Speaking of audio, setup geometry and the Mona Lisa.... http://geometricinspired.com/da-vincis-mona-lisa/He may have used the Golden Ratio in his wire designs, but I still prefer the AudioNote to the Cardas.... |
Hello People: I recently sent my Acutex to Axel in Germany for a rebuild. (1000 hrs +++)
According to him, the stock diamond is an elliptical. An upgrade, which I chose, is the Shibata diamond.
I'll, at some point, update on the difference.
It most likely will be quite a while. I'm having too much fun right now with me Dyna D3! |
Hi Everyone. I hope that your Christmas is filled with music, family and laughter.
It came early for me. Another ET2 and a Jethro Tull concert.
Perfect! |
Hello!!!
Coming out of my audio shell....
I've noticed lately that, the ARC/POST has an issue.
(This is an ongoing issue with the ET design)
If, you can look at your ET from dirrectlly behind. you'll notice the the arc block / post doesn't "square-up".
This is a disappointment! Bruce, (if you're) listening, you/I would appreciate a (CNC) type of mounting here.
This is where some of us, (experienced users) will have an issue.!
Slaw, out........ |
Slaw - I've noticed lately that, the ARC/POST has an issue.
(This is an ongoing issue with the ET design)
If, you can look at your ET from dirrectlly behind. you'll notice the the arc block / post doesn't "square-up". Both mine appear fine. Mine also have a very tight tolerance. In fact Bruce highlights this tolerance level in the manual. Have you turned any of the four horizontal VTA block bolts with the arm mounted. This may cause the condition you describe. You have definitely thrown out your VTA block tracking if you have turned the VTA bolts with the arm mounted. Note: The ET2 manual is the original one with no updates that I am aware of. It contains a lot of good info but is in need of an update . For example. Page 26 VTA/SRA mechanism. It discusses that the VTA/SRA mechanism firmness is set at the factory. It discusses how to change the firmness level. A qualifier needs to be added to that section of the manual that adjustments made to the VTA block bolts should be done off table only. This was confirmed with Bruce and is discussed here in the Nov. 11, 2014 post yellow sticky. Retorquing ET2 VTA Block Bolts I know that some owners have actually turned these VTA block horizontal bolts to help line up the stylus on the straight line. A mistake for reasons mentioned above. Slaw - I recently sent my Acutex to Axel in Germany for a rebuild. (1000 hrs +++) According to him, the stock diamond is an elliptical. An upgrade, which I chose, is the Shibata diamond. The word from Audiogon'r Nandric is that Axle is very busy these days. I hope you get your 420 str back soon and look forward to any impressions. Am curious if it gains in the musicality area but looses some of its groove/boogie factor .... |
Merry Xmas to all.
Richard - congrats on the new ET2. Are you going to mass this year ?
Ct0517 - when I do VTA adjustments I always loosen the 4 bolts slightly to release pressure on the arc block, and then retorque. Indeed if you loosen the bolts too much alignment goes out, but you can loosen them slightly whilst arm is mounted if you are careful. By the way in your original post you suggest using the short end of the allen key - in fact using the long end in the cap screw, and turning the short end to turn will put less torque on the bolt. |
Dover
Ct0517 - when I do VTA adjustments I always loosen the 4 bolts slightly to release pressure on the arc block, and then retorque. Indeed if you loosen the bolts too much alignment goes out, but you can loosen them slightly whilst arm is mounted if you are careful. This gives new meaning to ET2 VTA On The Fly. Before I drive down the road in my car, I make sure that the rubber has been mounted properly on the rims, and that the wheels have been properly installed and torqued on the car, before it hits the road. I don't touch the bolts after that. This is no different and the reason for the analogy. Dover
By the way in your original post you suggest using the short end of the allen key - in fact using the long end in the cap screw, and turning the short end to turn will put less torque on the bolt. The wording I posted is direct from Bruce. I took "use the short end" to mean the person "holding" the short end, which is what is implied. However you took the meaning differently, and maybe others did too, so lets clear this up. Here are Bruce' instructions again and @ Dover, note the wording below "'We would not attempt this adjustment with the tonearm installed on a turntable. " Chris,
My first rule would be to use the short end of the Allen wrench as the lever for torquing any screws on the ET-2. The short lever arm will limit the applied torque.
For the two bearing blocks that mesh the pinion to the rack in the arc block we first adjust the blocks so that they are parallel to the manifold housing with a .060 -.090 gap between the bearing block and the back adjacent surfaces on the manifold housing.
The friction between the manifold housing and the arc block define the feel of the VTA mechanism lever action. We want this to offer some resistance, but not too much when a VTA adjustment is attempted. Turn the 4/40 x 3/4 bearing block screws so that some friction is encountered when adjusting VTA but not so much that the VTA mechanism locks up. We would not attempt this adjustment with the tonearm installed on a turntable.
The main failures we see with the arc blocks are:
1.The threaded insert on back surface of the arc block is cracked due to over torquing of 8-32 stainless steel button head post mounting screw.
2.The bearing blocks on either side of the arc block which support the pinion gear are over torqued which crushes the pinion into the rack and binds the mechanism, if a VTA change is attempted with over torqued bearing blocks the pinion turns and the rack does not move, stripping the teeth on the rack.
I hope the above helps
- brucet |
Ct0517,
As you know the ET2 is a very tweakable arm. I run slightly higher torque settings on the 4 arc bolts and for this reason I loosen them slightly before adjusting VTA. Your analogy of car wheels is rather odd. In over 35 years of running the ET2 the arc block is still original and in pristine condition.
I did have some customers who managed to break and grind down arc blocks by over tightening and trying to adjust VTA whilst overtightened and indeed one customer who managed to break 3 cartridges mounted on their ET2 back in the day, despite adding copious amounts of mass... |
Dover, please advise what colour Allen key Ct0517 should use.
"By the way in your original post you suggest using the short end of the allen key - in fact using the long end in the cap screw, and turning the short end to turn will put less torque on the bolt." Dover |
|
Boy.... tough crowd .... do you agree Dover ?
John47/Frogman - I always seem to have good luck fishing when the lure has a chartreuse color scheme to it.
So I am thinking of getting a chartreuse colored wrench...that is unless Dover advises differently.
Probably be easier to find it when I drop it in the carpet as well. Maybe it will fall next to the loose leaf spring I have been looking for. (Forum readers that have never owned an ET2 and not paying attention here are now heard muttering - what is a loose leaf spring ? )
Frogman - thx for the link. I am a little disappointed that PB Swiss Tools doesn't offer an Audiophile "Woodie" version made from the hardest and densest wood. A Woodie wrench would have (past tense) made a great Christmas gift match to an audio friend who recently tried his ET2 with what he calls the
"ET2 Chopstick I Beam Mod"
If he sees this I dare him to post a pic here.
Who knows ...it might make it into the Annual 2015 ET2 Audiophile W(rap) |
Chris, google isn't as good as it used to be: it hasn't brought up a chartreuse key with a dayglo (bright) label attached to the short end reading ... HOLD HERE. |
|
I certainly hope so Frogman :^)
His results were fascinating but predictable, and showed when it comes to this analog vinyl hobby much can be figured out. Since its all mechanical, vibrations, resonances, electrical. There is no hokus pokus going on.
01101101 01110101 01100011 01101000 00100000 01100100 01101001 01100110 01100110 01100101 01110010 01100101 01101110 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100001 01101110 00100000 01100100 01101001 01100111 01101001 01110100 01100001 01101100 00100000 00100001 00100000
And I say the above as a career IT guy......
My understanding (without giving away his observations) is he substituted the chopstick but kept the single leaf spring and the inert lead weights.
As we know the leaf spring is like a tuning fork designed to resonate. And when used as a single, double, triple leaf spring can be matched up to a resonating cantilever, much like a musician tunes up his instrument. I am more assuming here as I was a trombone guy - and the only valve was for body fluid from my personal distillery (thank u Pagasus !) My tuning was done with my lips. So maybe Frogman, Pegasus, ....can elaborate on the tuning instrument aspect better.
As with a tuning fork - a thicker stiffer one (ET2 double/triple leaf spring) will resonate higher than a thinner one - ET2 single leaf spring)
Anyway imagine what happens to the music when you add in something that is porous and absorbs much more so than the stock I beam itself.
Quiz question:
What leaf spring would work best with a stiff cantilever from an MC cartridge ?
(Hint you want to match the cantilever up to the resonating I Beam)
As the Canadian dollar continues is crumble against the American dollar - I am now willing to bet 115 instead of 100 Canadian loonies that no professional reviewer in the history of the ET2 ever figured out the above. |
it hasn't brought up a chartreuse key with a dayglo (bright) label attached to the short end reading my secret weaponWhen used as the sun is just cresting the hill top, on its way down; guaranteed to attract those fish, like an audiophile at the Audio Show where they are presenting the latest and greatest power cord. :^) |
dare takenMod a product of insomnia and inspired by Frogman's post about using wood and getting the counterweight further out. The one in the pic is 5" out. Can't recall the cart I mounted, but the distance allowed the use of only the main cointerweight. used 2 leaf springs. As I possess zero mechanical skills, the desire to try out wood required that I locate a more or less ready made item, hence the 'sushi-grade' wood, i.e., wood from the chopsticks they give at sushi restos. Didn't quite fit properly, so needed to do some whittling, and when that went too far, the addition of a shim. Can't recall exactly the sound, but here's what I wrote Ct0517, I had only a half hour, but here's the quick impression: harmonically richer and warmer; loss of resolution and less articulate bass. I'm unsure about the extent of the latter two since I didn't have time to dial in vta. Never confirmed those initial impressions because, as an ET 2 newbie, I didn't have everything under control (still don't). So, it seemed pointless (excepting the fun involved and battling insomnia) to be messing around with mods. Might be worth it to return to in 6 months or so when, hopefully, I have a better handle on operating this amazing arm. |
Is there an acutex 420str bubble I don't know about? Economists will be dumbfounded by this phenomena, but those of us who have listened to it on an ET-2 can perhaps understand. Me, I just wish I had bought more of these toy like carts at pre-bubble prices. Who knows, maybe the Italian has a warehouse full of them in anticipation of just this moment in history. |
****I had only a half hour, but here's the quick impression: harmonically richer and warmer; loss of resolution and less articulate bass. I'm unsure about the extent of the latter two since I didn't have time to dial in vta.****
Banquo363, thanks for the pic of your chopstick/ET2. Your description of increased harmonic richness mirrors what I experienced with my wood (balsa) I-beam. That was the main attraction for me when using the mc's that I used at the time; they tended to be leaner and not as harmonically rich as what I hear in live music. The apparent reduced resolution is, for me, a deceptive thing because I think sometimes leanness is perceived as increased detail. I also experienced fuller bass which I believe was the result of having the counterweights further back and not because of the wood. While I could improve the articulation of the bass by adjusting VTA, it was easy to have bass which was overblown; obviously not a good thing and I ultimately preferred the stock I-beam (double spring) with the MM's that I have been using over the last few years. Speaking MM's, the 420STR remains one of my favorites and I too wish I had bought a couple of extras. Happy New Year to all! |
Bravo to the Acutex 420str. The little cartridge that could. Our Cracker Jack Box prize cartridge made famous right here thanks to Frogman, Bruce Thigpen, Slaw and others... 42 x 10 (-6) cm/dyne 1.0 - 2.0 tracking 47 kohms Perfect STR You know...this is how analog legends start...... Three cheers... Hoorah...... HOORAH ......HOORAH ! The $520 US ebay selling price, these days is more than $600 Canadian plus shipping... :^( This hobby (especially analog) continues to defy all odds. Banquo363 - Me, I just wish I had bought more of these toy like carts at pre-bubble prices. Frogman - the 420STR remains one of my favorites and I too wish I had bought a couple of extras. I believe AudiogoN'r NANDRIC bought seven of them. |
What I heard the first time that I put that little Cracker Jack Box cartridge on my ET was something that specs (as valuable as they are) seldom explain. The music MOVED! Sounds simplistic, but it's something that is hard to describe and very obvious when it happens. Music (when performed well) should have a very strong forward impetus that tells the listener it's going somewhere and is more than a series of temporal events; THAT is the main thing that good analog still has over good digital. I have not tried the 420 in a different arm (the Forsell still awaits), but I think there is an especially good synergy happening between it and the ET that I doubt specs can explain. The "groovy" quality of the bass is especially good; and as Chris reminds us "It's all about that bass". Perhaps it's the romantic in me, but I actually like the fact that in our hobby there always seems to be more going on on a technical level than we will ever fully understand or are able to explain; I think it makes us better listeners.
Happy New Year! |
Back in the 70's I worked for a big dealer who had every known MM cart known to man in stock.Thousands of them.
The only thing that could beat an Acutex was probably the best MM cart ever made ,the Empire EDR-9 .
A 420 cost him about 40 bucks as I recall. But he bought hundreds at a time. |
Welcome to the thread Schubert. Back in the 70's I worked for a big dealer who had every known MM cart known to man in stock.Thousands of them. The only thing that could beat an Acutex was probably the best MM cart ever made ,the Empire EDR-9 . Sounds like a real cool job to have. In the mid 70's I was in the middle of puberty working as a busboy scraping for money. If I worked for your audio dealer guy I may have been tempted to stuff some cartridges down my pants pockets (making sure stylus guard was on of course). I'm sure some on the MM thread would challenge your Acutex claim; especially Raul once he returns from his "sabbatical". Don't expect a challenge from him here however. From personal emails he never figured out the ET2. A 420 cost him about 40 bucks as I recall. But he bought hundreds at a time. Was he Italian by chance ? Lets assume "hundreds" is 300. $40 x 300 = $12,000 $520 x 300 = $156,000 I paid $70 Cdn. for mine back in 2012 incl. shipping. I remember it vividly because it was advertised as a Puntina. Very close to Putana that I am familiar with so it made me laugh. There is that brothel theme again. The first time I heard the 420 I also laughed, then some singing and dancing. Maybe some of that later today also. Happy and safe New Year to everyone and its already Jan 1 in NZ as I post this and just after midnight as I hit submit here, Downunder. Cool |
I meant he ordered about 500 Acutex at a time , all models.
With about 3-4 million dollars worth of stock in warehouse at any given time 12K was chicken feed. Last year I worked for him did about 35 million in audio, Big Jap companies were giving him 20% off their best-best- price with 6 months to pay. |
Well, based on Schubert's latest "updated" information I feel a need to update part of the wording in my last post.
Previous wording
"If I worked for your audio dealer guy I may have been tempted to stuff some cartridges down my pants pockets."
Revised wording
"If I worked for your audio dealer guy I would be walking in with deep pocket pants, and a knapsack, which going in, carries my lunch** "
** Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. |
12-26-14: John47
... HOLD HERE. Hi John I believe the words HOLD HERE have very significant meaning to a married audiophile. My personal experience has been that these two words are effective for the first three years of marriage if you're good. After that you are on your own. That is if your marriage is still intact. If not these two words could be one more reason to why there is so much stuff for sale on this site. |
Funny, just last night when I said "HOLD HERE" my wife (still intact) asked "honey, are you positive that's the long I-beam?" |
Frogman u give new meaning to "Woody" I beam...
Just to add as well for audiophile newlyweds; attaining the 3 year mark is easier if you combine nice words with HOLD HERE. Words like honey and please.
For example...
Honey, HOLD HERE please (so I can xxxxxx this)
Replace xxxxx's with,
rotate
insert
level
balance
remove
tighten
loosen
shimmy
eyeball
pinch
solder |
Oooooooooooooh no - you omitted the dayglo label! |
Audiophile newlywed - part deux. Honey, HOLD HERE please (so I can xxxxxx this) Replace xxxxxx's with words below. (occasional hints provided in brackets) straighten (cantilever) push flatten (record) wriggle (cartridge lead) strip attach roll ( 8^0 ) inject (tonearm damping fluid - what were u thinking ? ) bolt paste highlightcheck rinse (record) tie (string drive) blot dry (record) twist mend wipe knot (string drive) . . . . lick- (day glo label for ET2 Allen key) Important before attaching - Affix to short end of key) your choice of colorsThe above is meant to help out audiophiles, newly married. @John47 If I ever manage people on a paying project again I will send u a job offer for the QA role ? :^) I am still till today kicking myself for not including your moniker in the brothel post story. |
We are always hearing about New Old Stock (NOS) cartridges, tubes.... Here is something you don't see everyday NOS Base ET2 According to the seller "This item has never been out of the box." A quick look at the pics I can't seem to find the armtube. But the coffee has not kicked in yet. Probably buried under the blue foam. If anyone is interested in it, this should be verified with the seller. (not affiliated with the ad) Cheers |
I asked the seller: it comes with an aluminum armtube. (No affiliation.) |
hmm.... 34 watchers on the ebay ad now..wow
this thread ...about to hit 800,000 views - wow - who would have thought ?
When and will any of the 34 watchers commit ?
Kind of like watching the Daytona 500 yesterday ?
the race was a bit of a let down for me.
I would like to personally thank the seller and watchers for providing some temporary cabin fever relief, as we head into the home stretch.
Lets consider something.
I have a Canadian friend who would like to partake in this unique ET2 world and is considering this item.
A used parts complete base ET 2.0, not 2.5 and non-HP, with aluminum arm tube, no pump - sells for approximately $700-800. Give or take.
This NOS one with a base pump has a $900 American reserve. $900 US is now $1132 Canadian dollars. :^(
Add 13% Canadian tax., shipping and customs fees. hmm... :^(
If I was selling this ET2 for $900 Canadian, an American buys it for about $710 US. |
BAD ET2 Behavior
If I may be permitted to use the analog of a dog.
Bad dog ....bad, bad dog !
So what do you do when your dog is bad ? You send them to dog school of course !
But we all know that dog schools are really for Dog Owners :^) so.......
EXAMPLES OF BAD ET2 (Owner) Behavior
The ET2 was designed as a unique universal tonearm able to be mounted on a number of different table designs. Some were good even great combos; but in the name of business and sales some combos were not so great and this leads to the first Example of BAD ET2 (Owner) Behavior.
This involved my old VPI HW19MKIV Spring, Sprung turntable.
If nothing else this thread has driven home the message of staying level. The ET2 needs a flat surface and it does not even need to be level since it has its own leveling spikes. But once set - the level of the surface can not change. This VPI table never stayed level - whether due to environmental season changes affecting the self/suspension, and or an ET2 owners careless bump after two glasses of New Zealand white wine.
The above would result in the owner performed maintenance involving turning one of the two Vertical Post bolts to right (re-balance) the situation. The problem builds up over time as one or the other bolt are turned down further, resulting in immense pressure down on the plate, and upwards as well into the Pillar post and the adjoining VTA Block/manifold possibly throwing it out too.
If you want to see the abuse your ET2 has had in the past; undo both vertical pillar bolts and see if there is an indentation from both bolts in the base mounting plate.
Now - how to avoid this problem, and make sure it never happens again ?
1) Choose a turntable that is able to stay level. (in the case of the VPI HW19MK IV - rubber pucks can replace the springs ensuring it stays level.
2) If a turn of one of the vertical bolts is needed for maintenance, FIRST ...undo both bolts so that the pillar post is floating on its horizontal bolt mount. Then re-balance the air bearing spindle by gently turning down both vertical bolt screws as required. Ensuring firm but not rigid contact.
other ET2 Bad Owner examples ...
;
;
;
|
I'm guilty on both counts, Ct0517.
I used to rest my turntable/arm atop a pneumatic isolation platform. Sounded great...until it didn't. The platform would lose air, the et2 would register it and then spit out inferior sound. I put up with this for months (trying out various fixes), but I finally had to concede defeat and removed the platform.
One of those 'fixes' was to constantly mess with the vertical leveling screws. For months I did exactly what you say not to do: I just turned the screws tighter and tighter. I should have known better since the first et2 I bought had indentations so deep into the mounting base that I had to sand the thing down in order to mount the pillar correctly.
So, send my dog to school and me to the dog house. |
"analog of a dog" Good grief. Just read the 2nd line of my previous post. This is what happens when u prepare a post in email; it passes spell grammar checks; u r full off a large coffee and nature calls so you cut and paste and go about your day. :^( It's actually kind of growing on me this morning. Analog of the Dog. A good name for a new album from a 70's rock group maybe ? Banquo363
I should have known better since the first et2 I bought had indentations so deep into the mounting base that I had to sand the thing down in order to mount the pillar correctly. Banquo - At least you looked under the cover to find out. Some buy these arms already mounted on a table - 20 + years old sometimes. They never take the tonearm off to check it out. Who knows what lies beneath. A new ET 2.5 from Bruce is $4500 American dollars and it does not come with a pump. A Used base ET 2.0 comes on sale every few months on ebay. I know because my Ebay alert is still there. Mentioned in the previous post a base used ET2 sells for about $700 - 800, so it can be an alluring option if someone is looking to try one especially compared to buying new. However it can be a bit of a crap shoot as you Banquo show us. Every long term ET2 owner has learned with their ET2, ET 2.5. It is not plug and play. No one can come on here and say they knew how to set it up and use it from the get go. The ET2 manual although very long and thick; is actually written at the 5,000 foot level IMO. To get to the heart of a refined setup as we have discussed here would add XX pages more to it. Anyone disagree ? To use an "ANALOGY" again (amazing what one letter does) Consider this. Well I did this morning anyway. Buying a used ET2 can be like buying a used Manual Transmission car off someone that learned how to drive stick on it. A new clutch, (think ET2 VTA worm gear block and mounting plate to start) may be required due to the abuse some give to the horizontal and vertical bolts in learning 1) how to set it up 2) then to make music with it, and 3) refine the setup of this instrument. Hopefully if they get to level 3 they have gone easy on the bolts - firm not rigid. Think musical instrument. It is good practice to get a car checked out before you buy it. No different here and even more so and not just from the headaches and frustration it can save you. You see although an expensive car clutch can be replaced on its own; Bruce does not sell the VTA blocks and mounting plates separately. Something to think about. Maybe makes the NOS ET2 that just sold more appealing; if u were in the market for one? Cheers |
The last acutex 420 str I saw fetched an astonishing price . Any bets on how much this one will go for? At any rate, a good opportunity for those who have been searching for one. |
The famous Italian Puntina is back. Not to be confused with Puttana. Although this cartridge, if set up properly, may make you forget, temporarily, the later? nah... And this time coming to us from......drum roll please......... Oh Canada. We stand on guard for thee.... But ! ...just as our Canadian dollar is doing its best impression of acting like a hockey puck, that has just been tossed into the water. This Canadian seller...... has smartly priced out the Puntina in American dollars. Oh...when will that US dollar ever fall ? Do you guys remember when I posted about the high price of gas here? It was in the same post that I made reference to how Bruce has held his prices on ET 2 parts. Well two weeks later do you remember what happened to the price of gas .... coincidence ? Could this post trigger something again...... hah hah For ET 2.0 and 2.5 owners. this cartridge allows you to use One FAT and One THIN lead weight at the very end of the I Beam. My current cartridge is an MC, a little heavier and requires two Fatties on the I Beam yes the 420str really is that light- hence its nickname Cracker Jack Box Cartridge. Set up this way, it allows the ET tonearm to achieve its greatest vertical inertia. For me, this produces the best tuneful bass; When used in a room that is easily pressurized without stressing the amp/s. btw - did u know that authentic Canadian made hockey pucks make great audio component stand legs/isolators ? First bid in... anyone here ? |
Yup! Need two for when (if) I get around to doing a shootout between my ET2/TNT5 and the Forsell (which STILL sits in the box). |
- Successful Frogman? > Timeter Aridyne - Spring pump maintenance gone bad. Every spring and fall the exhaust nozzle on my pump where moisture gets dumped out, gets soaked in CLR to clear out any mineral debris. here is a pic of the exhaust tube showing spring loaded nozzle at bottom. exhaust nozzleFrom within the pump cabinet a little lift is needed to pull out the nozzle. This time I felt something give at the other end when I did this. The O-ring that holds the nylon tube tight to the nut gave a little and started leaking air. This exhaust tube has a spring loaded valve on the end (part below the chrome part) and its spring tension is based on the the PSI setting that is used. This spring tension is how you get the pumps Air Performance to be normal, dry, very dry air .... As discussed here before - The ET tonearm likes Arizona like air . The O ring was now leaking (air & moisture), and it was throwing off the spring loaded valve at the other end. to add to the complications - the brass elbow male threads, that hold the nut that secures the exhaust tube are between 3/8 and 1/4 inch and no longer made. The O ring itself (same material as tube) is a one time use thing like a car's oil drain plug crushable washer. It gets crushed and molds on the tube to fit tight. This 10 cent part O ring was keeping me from playing my records. So I attempted to undo the male elbow assembly prior to the exhaust tube, with the thought to replace it with a new elbow with threads on the one side that would work with current compression nuts. After much work and some very weird noises :^( when prying it off, I was also to remove it. old and new elbows.I inserted the new fresh brass elbow, and was feeling really good about myself about now, then I discovered; I now had an air leak at the other end where the brass elbow enters the bowl. I must have cracked the bottom bowl opening hence the earlier noises. This bowl holds any condensed drips of water where through the PSI are pushed down and out the exhaust tube. This pump system has no bowls that need to be emptied. I tried to tighten the connection using teflon tape and gel based thread locker. No luck. Had I done myself in? My backup pump is either a compressor, or a Medo good for about 8 psi at the arm; but the ET 2.5 in my main room will not run below 19 PSI. In fact it starts to skip around 17 or so psi ? I resorted to my secret weapon, leak savior. JB Marine Cold WeldI Iined some around the base where the vertical brass fitting goes up and into the bowl and let it cure. I realized I was closing this connection for good. And the bowl itself where the crack is; would need to be removed and replaced anyway, if this die not work. Waited 24 hours. It seems to have worked.....fingers crossed. Cost of the repair. My anxiety once I learned what I had done. $$$ My frustration in trying to fix the leak $$$ JB Weld Marine Weld - FREE - I had some from a boat repair, New Brass fitting with compression nut - $4.99 Canadian dollars. Listening to music on my ET 2.5 / Timeter Pump - 19 PSI - Priceless Being in the business of contingency planning, I have been looking for a second Timeter pump for years; found many where I would have been the only starting low bid. But the shipment costs were always too high to justify. Now I have to add the dollar difference on top of that. (sorry for any grammar/spelling errors in the above) |
Holy Moly .....just read my last post...Good Coffee....... eh? post correction if this die not work hah.. hah ....maybe its my subconscious talking ? corrected - "if this did not work" . |
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I bought two Puntina's at the time of their initial release .....to unsuspecting audiophiles. One is still in the box. When you are ready to do your review shootout, let me know and I will send it to you in exchange for your review here? :^) |
Very kind of you, Chris. I will take you up on that nice offer. Will keep you posted. |
