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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
slaw's avatar
slaw
20,508 posts
 
Since there is no standard for the run-out grooves on vinyl, each individual lp is different. The majority of lps have a less aggressive approach, (this is when one should never see any arm "kick back" at the end of a record). Some have a more aggressive approach and this is when no matter how level/true your arm is set up, you will get backward/inward movement, but it should be gradual if things are set up right.
slaw's avatar
slaw
20,508 posts
 
by the way, in my decades of owning my ET, I never acquired the set-up jig. A big waste of money.

Bigalt: Did you just say.. adjust the two leveling screws while the arm/cartridge was spinning on a record?

You are "dead to me"!!!!

There are so many things wrong with this method that I'll defer to the other Sharks.

I'm sorry, but I have more, way more feelings for my records than to even comprehend this action. You're "dead to me"... as Kevin from Shark Tank would say!

Of coarse, I'm having a little fun with you but please find another way!

Thank you!
bigalt
14 posts
 
Slaw
The arm was lowered onto a spinning Blank ( no grooves at all ) record and the leveling screws adjusted until there was no drift in either direction. I know this method is not appropriate for pivoted tone arms but it seemed it should be OK for air bearing tangential tonearms. If there are reasons not to use this method I'd appreciate the information.
richardkrebs
418 posts
 
Bigalt

Wouldnt your process potentially take the spindle out of parallel with the record surface?
This would mean that the tracking angle would change as the cartridge traverses the record.
Not a good thing.
dover
2,188 posts
 
06-04-15: Richardkrebs
Wouldnt your process potentially take the spindle out of parallel with the record surface?
This would mean that the tracking angle would change as the cartridge traverses the record.
Richardkrebs,
"tracking angle" does not apply to the ET2 as it is a tangential tracking tonearm. "Tracking angle" only applies to pivoted arms. The correct terminology if I interpret what you are trying to say is Azimuth may be out. It appears that you are suggesting Bigalts azimuth may be out, notwithstanding that if his platter is level, and he levels the arm, then assuming the wand is mounted correctly, it is not possible for the azimuth to be out, unless the stylus is not mounted in the cantilever correctly..
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