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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 ?
ct0517
xbart
10 posts
 
Dave,
I tried just using a toothbush and IPA to clean the manifold as per the manual instructions and it still is not working. So that was going to be the next step. I need to find pipe cleaners to clean out all the holes.
   -Brad
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
Right. :)
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
Hey Brad,

Also check for obstructions in the airline and nipple feeding the body of the manifold housing.

Dave
xbart
10 posts
 
Hey Brad,

Also check for obstructions in the airline and nipple feeding the body of the manifold housing.

Dave

Dave,
I made a little more progress, it turned out to be an issue with the pump.
After taking the pump apart I found one of the two magnets had come loose from the arm and it was only doing half duty.
I got the pump fixed and I now have good pressure!
-Brad
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
That’s great Brad! When you get it re-assembled, make sure the stylus is tracking directly straight down the imaginary centerline aligned with the platter’s bearing spindle (not to the left or right of the centerline or even slightly diagonal) and move the weights out on the I-beam as far as possible even if you have to remove some weight to hit your tracking force (VTF) target. Do not put to much torque on the screws that tighten the arm base to the armboard as this can warp the base.

It is good to get the platter completely level but the only real way to level the arm is to use a test or other LP with blank sections where the second or third track would be and at the fifth track (the two points where you would measure the cartridge alignment with a pivoting arm) and try to get it leveled to where the stylus does not try to wander toward the center of the LP or away toward the edge at these two positions. When you get it close, you will find that even the slight tension of the wiring coming out of the end of the arm will create enough force to influence the arm's movement. Try to minimize that. It takes some doing, but will pay big dividends in sound quality.

Dave


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