Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

Hey again,
I was told by a dealer that the suspension on the 20y/o AQ7000 NSX was probably shot and that it would tear up my LP's. That's why I bought the Kleos. Was this bad info, myth, sales pitch or what? Do suspensions really wear out even when the cartridge is not being used very much?
Any answers from anyone in this group greatly appreciated.
I think that the compliance on the Kleos is similar to the AQ7000.
John 

Hi Chris,
Thanks for nor banishing me from the thread.  Perhaps it's just coincidence but my go to LP for set up has long been a Keith Jarrett on ECM.  It is an all analog fine European pressing.  Problem is it is just trio music and doesn't present the full spectrum.  In my recent saga, as soon as the needle hit the RCA LSC Shaded Dog, large orchestral it was obvious something was very wrong.  Just ear splitting strings and brass.  I just started dialing down the VTA and everything smoothed out.  In addition the low frequency foundation of the music appeared.  Once I had it "right" on this LP I did some fine tuning with the ECM disc.  My poor Delos must have been standing on its nose. 😩  I guess the silver lining is that the nose of my diamond took all the wear and the part that now hits the record is still mint.😅

Not only has the top smoothed out without the loss of any detail, it was like I had been missing the entire bottom half of the scale.  I now have that magic "bloom" so many of us chase.

Like you, I buy almost no new music.  I don't find much of it matches my taste (Diana Krall excepted).  I do buy some reissue 180 gm stuff,  but a lot of that is trash and, contrary to claims, are not done from original master tapes.  I think Chad Kasem at Analog Productions does a terrific job, albeit he is pricing himself out of my market.  Rumor has it Pure Pleasure also does nice work.  I have one on order.  I'll let you know how it sounds.

Thanks for your patience.  Lord knows without your suggestions and encouragement my poor Delos might still be standing on its nose.
Harry

We have all plowed for potatoes with our vinyl Harry :^)

Right now - not sure I will see the day again when I can drop $50-60 on a new LP record again. My two - 22 year old fraternal millennials are still draining me down faster than the world's oil supplies. I did not plan good for this. They have absolutely no sense of ownership, only know debt; and with the Greater Toronto Areas housing market going up 25 % a year they will never know home ownership here.

Was this bad info, myth, sales pitch or what? Do suspensions really wear out even when the cartridge is not being used very much?

John

So searches kept bringing up the Acura sports car then I found this.

AQ7000 NSX

Output: 0.3 mV
Tracks: 1.8g
Loads: 200 Ohms- 47 kOhms
Unloads: 10 Ohms
Compliance: 12
Weight: 11 g

Its a really nice cart. Since you asked; my two cents if I were in your shoes.

You have three options I can think of.

1) contact J Carr direct and ask for his opinion. maybe send it to him for inspection and possible tune up. this will probably take a long time

2) contact one of the Cart retippers/rebuilders in the US. Have them look it over. Of course due to age they will probably recommend something.

3) start using it on a select set of records till you can determine its real condition. Listen to them with your Lyra first then do the switch.

The chances of it being a time bomb is low due to who built it and you know its full history. But...... there were other reports on the internet of people losing the stylus.... 8^0 

So with this info I would be inclined to put into use.
 
Then again I am not much of collector with carts as they are wear items - I see them like tires on my cars. If I am not using them, they are sold. I have maybe 5 carts remaining.  A couple MC and 3 or 4 MM's.

How much would it cost to replace it with a like new cart today - that would help me to decide.

My two cents. hope it helps a little.  

Chris 

Hi Chris,
Thanks for your thorough answer.
In fact, I've already replaced the AQ 7000 with the 
Kleos, and it is now my backup just in case of disaster. Luckily I have no cats, the kids are grown, and if I ever get some housekeeping, they will not be allowed in my listening room.
I looked at the link for a tonearm cable as well as yours. This would be my last upgrade. I like to have something to look forward to. Eh?
Cheers,
John

Hi John,

"I like to have something to look forward to. Eh?"

yes, for me there has to always be something there, that I am looking for, pursuing. I have found that keeping these "somethings" simple, but not easy to reach, is the secret to being sort of satisfied. Keep me from getting into trouble.

re: the kitty

I have always been a dog person. never had a cat. He is not allowed downstairs due to the hairs. My daughter acquired a dog and a Bengal kitty. We have been babysitting them while she travels. I show her dog called Lucky as my new RCA Victor dog on my systems page. Now this Bengal kitty; she has charisma, is independent and does not ask for much. I like those qualities. As a small kitty my daughter and I would watch her climb over my frequent play albums in rows on the floor; which was kind of cute. But no one told me she would grow to be able to jump 6 feet, and walk up the sides of walls.

Chris