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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
ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 
^^^^^^^
Quantity versus Quality setups.
Dealers / Reviewers got to about a 6 or 7/10 tonearm capability on setup. I base this on the setup that was done on my previous HW19 MKIV and TNT turntables which both came with ET2’s.

The ET2 ’s needed to be shipped on turntables for customers, in a user friendly setup. This affected the wiring arrangement and I Beam length (dust covers), amongst other things. Dealers gave a cursory glance to the I Beam setup - meaning - the motto was to throw all the weight on, even if was not all needed, and let the lead blocks end up..... wherever they end up. Hmmm.... single leaf spring with all that lead.

Have you, Eric, ever witnessed this type of I Beam phenomena ?

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Anyway, that was the setup level that dealers and reviewers got to, and heard, and was distributed to customers; Still the arm was rated as one of the best based on this. And like all good business goals based on volume. "Hey Bruce, send me some more arms please" "Ah and don’t fret over this CD thing everybody is raving about ."

********************************

Now imagine if these dealers/ reviewers, got to hear the tonearm, with the setups discussed in this thread ? How many dealers , reviewers, in later years have even actually heard the latest ET 2.5 with Mag Wand - Optimized Long I beam , Single Shot wiring with an MC cart?
Single Shot ? Yes, even Bruce sets up with single shot in his personal set up..

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Eric, you represent on this thread a type of enigma to me. You see, from your postings, you are obviously one of Bruce’ biggest fans. Yet for some reason you have never chosen to own the product that this thread is about. So you can’t contribute direct end user tonearm experience. A real shame because you are passionate. 8^(

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Audiophile Trivia Answer

The TNT was designed for the ET2 when Harry and Bruce had a business relationship.

attached Pic from the Robert Redford Movie.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WR7wMt5bD7tVeYPC6

Then Harry brought out his own tonearm for the TNT - and guess what - it didn’t fit on the plinth ! I know , I owned it.

I also made a full plinth years ago. And I put the ET2 and the JMW 12 tonearms on it

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LXD18UujFqVxyoDA9

Cheers

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,504 posts
 

True Chris, and for one reason: Choosing to go with Decca (and later London) pickups, the best LP playing system to install them in was, and is, the Townshend Rock (for reasons I won’t go into here) That table prohibits the use of a linear tracker, of course. I have been listening to LP’s on that combination for 30 years now: a London Super Gold on a Rock Elite Mk.2, with a number of different arms, currently a Zeta.

It’s just like one’s favorite loudspeaker requiring a certain type of power amplifier, one which may not be as good with any other loudspeaker. I think the transducers should be the first components chosen when assembling a system, the two opposite ends of the chain (ignoring for the sake of this discussion the room). Then the most appropriate components moving towards the center of the system (the pre-amp) chosen to optimize the transducers. That’s my system philosophy.

You obviously know that’s a good approach by having a Music Reference RM-10 for your QUAD ESL’s. I’ve never agreed with the idea of choosing a power amp first, then looking for a loudspeaker it can drive. Transducers are the "voice" of a system. For myself, the character and abilities of the Decca and London pickups are more important than the arm they are mounted on.

But I recently got myself a couple of old VPI’s just for fun (and for a song), and happened to see a pic of a London Reference mounted on a linear tracker that looked like it was made from a children’s Erector Set (remember those?): the Trans-Fi Terminator. If Brooks were still around, and I had more disposable income, I would print out this whole thread and have him set me up an ET. But the Terminator is SO cheap, and so simple, it was just irresistible. It’s no ET, but the one Vic made me has the last of the silver wire he had: a straight shot from the cartridge clips to the KLEI RCA plugs on the far end. I’m waiting to get back from Harry the TNT bearings I sent him for refurbishing with Si3N4 ball bearings I sent along, the Terminator going onto an Aries 1 (with a TNT-5 platter).

ct0517's avatar
ct0517 OP
2,041 posts
 
Eric - Firstly understand that I respect your choices and approach. With that.

Bdp24 - It’s just like one’s favorite loudspeaker requiring a certain type of power amplifier, one which may not be as good with any other loudspeaker.

I have that amplifier that plays all speakers well. And I have that tonearm that plays all cartridges well and can be mounted on most any turntable. A few posts up read about the Linn LP12 / ET 2.5 project currently underway.  

I think the transducers should be the first components chosen when assembling a system, the two opposite ends of the chain (ignoring for the sake of this discussion the room). Then the most appropriate components moving towards the center of the system (the pre-amp) chosen to optimize the transducers. That’s my system philosophy.

It's been my personal experience, this being a Quest centered around resonances and vibrations to get a signal - that the more capable turntable/tonearm and less capable cart - will outperform - the more capable cart which is on a less capable tonearm/turntable.
so...

In my Audio Quest the objective has been to get to a .....Constant...... with the Turntable / Tonearm . The Cartridge becomes the ......Variable. The Cartridge is the wearable, ever changing variable, like tires on the car. Replaceable.

Now here is the "thing". What tonearm can play all cartridges, and be mounted on many turntables; for the above analogy is not possible without this tonearm capability. The ET 2.0 and 2.5 are two versions of such tonearms. just saying.....¯\_(ツ)_/¯

You obviously know that’s a good approach by having a Music Reference RM-10 for your QUAD ESL’s.


I have 3 available rooms of varying sizes and materials with 4 kits set up. A kit being any whole system which satisfies Audiophile primal needs.  In all The Rooms... - The Room is the Master ----> The Speakers are slaves to the Room ----> and Amplifier is the Slave to the Speaker.

slaw's avatar
slaw
20,482 posts
 
Chris,

The room "being the master".... Love it!
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,504 posts
 

Agreed 100% Chris. Except (;-):

1- The Decca/London sound is SO different, and unique unto itself. No other pickup I’ve heard makes LP’s sound so alive, so much like live music, and that is true regardless of the arm it’s mounted on, the amount of wear on it’s stylus, etc.

2- Yes, the RM-10 is great on speakers other than the QUADS, but it is totally inappropriate for, say, Maggies (the RM-200 is good on Maggie ribbon tweeters, though). Plus, Roger used the ESL (and the Vandersteen Model 2) for his load in the design phase of the RM-10.

I love your -----> master/slave illustration! The room, finally getting the attention it deserves. I just received notification my carton of Vicoustic Multifuser DC2 diffusers have landed (from Germany) in Chicago. I should have them the middle of next week, unless the virus is slowing things down. Stupid virus (uh oh, is that joke too "insensitive" for the now-easily offended?). I’ll bet there are people who want it to just go away so they can get back to their, say, golf course ;-) .

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