Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

OK, I think I've got VTA set right now.  Cymbals are clean, soundstage back and I can hear the breath with vocalists and in Ben Webster's sax.  In playing with VTA, however, I seem to have run into another issue.  It appears that when I adjust VTA it throws the arm out of level.  Yes, I know the HW 19 is notorious for shifting balance but I don't think that is the problem.  I have a bubble level on the arm board and it stays level.  Just whenever I adjust VTA the arm seems to go out of level.  I've checked and tightened the two screws (pivot and lock) that hold the manifold to the post but that doesn't solve the problem and the VTA lever moves smoothly so I don't think I have chewed up the VTA block.  Any suggestions? 

Chris, I saw your picture about spacing (.02) but I am not sure which joints needs this spacing.  There are 4 screws in the VTA block (2 up and 2 below) and there appears to be two pieces of the block that fasten to the manifold housing.  I can't determine from your picture whether the .02 gap is supposed to be between the two pieces comprising the VTA block or between the VTA block and the manifold housing.  Could this spacing be the source of my issue?
Thanks,
Harry

Harry, I can't remember if you have the aluminum base and whether the three points of the base are on wood or metal. The points can dig into a nonmetal armboard throwing it out of level when you change the VTA. -Just a hint.
John

Thanks John.  No I don't have the aluminum base but I have a pretty hard acrylic armboard and the balancing pointed screws are nice and tight.  But good thought.

Chris, I was mistaken there are not two pieces to the VTA block there is a line across the top on both sides of the block that I thought was a seam. On closer inspection, those lines appear to be marks from a mold or part of the manufacturing process.  So....it is now clear from your picture and diagram that the .02 gap is between the block and the manifold housing.  I suppose if this gap were not the same on both sides of the block adjustments to VTA could be different from one side of the block to the other and this would change the leveling of the manifold housing. I'll check the gap on both sides tomorrow.
Harry

^^^^^^^
Ah - the VTA Block Harry et al.

So special the worm gear system in the VTA block has its own patent.
Is the reason this tonearm is the only one that doesn’t change VTF, and other settings like all other tonearms, with VTA adjustment do. Still remember the look on the face of an audio acquaintance from years ago, when I told him his $10,000 tonearm changed the VTF every time he used it. He was quite detailed, anal and used to use a digital usb microscope to set VTA/SRA. He was not happy. He had that look like someone had swindled funds from him. Tonearm manufacturers will never bring this up. Its the dirty little secret. The only one (Professional) that has mentioned it on this AudioGon forum is Johnathan Carr. He also discussed in that post how the ET 2 is the only tonearm that does VTA right. But to get it right is not so easy. Factory settings need to be left alone sometime; and as we know Audiophiles like to tinker and mess with design, and sometimes...not realize what they have done. We have all done it?

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The ET2 VTA design is probably also responsible for the biggest ET2 setup issue. And I blame Bruce. His documentation should say don’t mess with those bolts that are set at the factory, (unless you know what you are doing) but in nicer words. Lets face it - A Come to Jesus time moment..... as we used to say in my line of work.

Everyone that has bought this tonearm used, and not already setup on a turntable, in the last 5-10 years, and did not read the manual (too intimidating). IMO most of them, have turned those horizontal bolts to help in setting up the tonearm on the straight line. THEREBY - throwing their ET2 out and creating a mini version of the Leaning Tower of PISA. Too dramatic ?
So IMO the manual is at fault to start. Such a special process that is open to tinkering should have its owned section with warnings. If they told you, your computer needs a change made to the registry files to fix a problem; would you make those changes yourself ? Depends on your knowledge of course. Yet, adjusting those VTA bolts has a similar effect on your tonearm performance if not done right. It won’t work as designed. Is it any wonder that past owners who reach this point, with no instructions in the owners manual - have shut the VTA down - closed it - and said the hell with it. Never knowing what they did ? Just one of this audio hobby’s mysteries.

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The proper way to check your VTA torquing. (Setup on the table or not)

"Pic 34 on my virtual system"

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Turntable "Factory" Drilled ET 2 mounting holes.

The holes drilled into armboards at turntable factories are not all that great. If you have a factory drilled armboard mounting hole. Re-check and re-torque if necessary your ET 2 VTA bolts.
Now tell me, ......does the tonearm still track the straight line ?

Imagine
If your ET2 is mounted on a 20 lb isolated armpod. All you have to do is move it to the table wiggle the base around for the straight line alignment and you are done.

Thanks a lot Chris,
Now I have something else to worry about with this arm. Could you kindly elaborate on the gap between the manifold housing and VTA adjuster? Should the gap be the same at all 4 bolt positions or what? I thought that they simply adjusted the stiffness of the VTA mechanism, and had nothing to do with the arm's geometry. -Simplistic thinking on my part, huh?
Thanks, and g-day
John