Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

***Parts availability announcement***

I was emailing Bruce about the thread size for the air inlet fitting when, in passing, he let me know that newly manufactured aluminum joints are now available. The price will be $225, incl. shipping.

I run mainly MM carts and I've been meaning to acquire an aluminum arm wand (I own the carbon and magnesium wands) to see whether it would better match with my carts. So, I ask Bruce between the alu wand and alu joint which should I get first.

He answers, "I would go with the aluminum joint first, I think this will make the biggest improvement in the low frequency sound with a MM cartridge."

Sold!

I know that contributors to this thread once got  together and did a short run on the joint. Perhaps they can discuss the merits of Bruce's assertion?

Incidentally, the air inlet fitting has 10-32l threads (not sure what the 'l' denotes, but I do know that 10-32unf does NOT work) and, like the leaf springs, Bruce offers them for free. This is magnanimous of him especially given that the fitting was impossible for me to find.

The price will be $225, incl. shipping.

How is Bruce able to makes these Joints, aka the "Gooseneck" for this price?  Machine shop rates are $150 an hour.
We ran into much higher estimate costs to do a run of Goosenecks as discussed on this thread a while back. So the aluminum Mounting Base and Joint/Gooseneck are about the same price.
Is the Gooseneck not more of challenge (labor & material wise) to make ?

Hi there,

I recently acquiref a used VPI TNT MK3 with ET2 arm. It came with Medo VP0140 pump, two filters and an Airtech surge tank.

Since the VP0140 pump is rated for 30mins operation. I planned to get a used Medo 0201 pump and fit a pressure regulator as well. Then I will place the 0201 in an enclosure.

My question is the sequence of hooking these up.

1) Pump->Filter->Regulator->Surge Tank->Arm
Or
2) Pump->Filter->Surge Tank->Regulator->Arm

Which one is correct?

Thanks
Tequila

Hi Tequila

been up north trying to find HD Satellite 82 through a mess of woods.
talk about frustrating. nothing in Audio so far matches this type of frustration when you don’t have a clear line of sight., and mosquitoes biting at you.

re: VP0140 pump

I still have a couple of those stored away.

For a simple pump the order would be .

Pump =====> surge tank =======> regulator / filter ======== ET 2.0, ET 2.5

This ensures the PSI and Filtering is maintained closest to the tonearm.
If you have gone through this thread you know we are all running different pump systems. For this reason and others when buying a new ET 2.5; it comes with no pump but Bruce will help you acquire one.

Pumps that have adjustable PSI will also have their own internal regulator. So it is possible to have a couple regulators on the line - start and end. A long air line of say 50- 100 feet coiled up also acts like a surge tank and smooths out the air pulses.

Tequila, your moniker brings up Mexico. Anyone buying a used ET2 from Mexico should give the capillaries a thorough cleaning due to air quality. Sonics are greatly affected by quality of the air. if they (capillaries) are partially blocked you will need to run a higher PSI to make it work. This is a band aid and the sonics will suffer. Any used ET2 purchase should be cleaned out.

The quality of the air going into the arm is most important and affects the sonics greatly in two ways.

1) Clean dry air keeps moisture carrying particulates from clogging up the pores of the capillaries.
2) Stable pulse free air ensures great sonics - you will know when you hear this. Music flows like from a water pipe - a relaxed presentation.

fwiw
I used to have a VPI mkIV with my first ET 2.0 many years ago. The springs can be a PITA as they have a tendency to go out of level easy. Replacing the springs with pucks helped, but then you need to introduce different turntable footers.

My 2 cents. hopefully others can offer their opinion. Welcome to the thread and AudioGon.

Thanks very much for your reply!