Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

Hi Chris.  Thanks for the feedback.  I've found that the string tension needs to be pretty loose for best performance.  As for the arm situation -  I did in fact have the Delos mounted in the Carbon arm for a good while and was getting good results.  Then I went and switched speakers and cartridges and started fiddling with other parameters and the magic disappeared.  I may be switching the Delos back to the Carbon arm, I just dread setting SRA and VTA again, as just last night things were starting to sound pretty decent again.  I've done a good bit of switching around of cartridges lately, and both the Delos and the Soundsmith have good stylus protectors.  I'm not saying it's easy or foolproof, but at least it's not a scary proposition. A great opportunity to engage in mindfulness.

Actually, when I said I dread setting VTA and SRA, I meant to say SRA and Azimuth. 

When setting up Azimuth
If I am using a tube amp/s, make sure its channel output is even. Then I set up digital first and with the speakers in near field (takes the room anomalies out) . If your main speakers can't be moved use a temporary smaller pair of speakers. Then go to the vinyl with the same material. Match it up as best as possible by ear.
I don't like the idea of using test instruments for Azimuth because, if the generator is not aligned with the stylus, you will be chasing your tail forever. Its an unknown. We can't tell if the Cart generator is lined up properly.

Hi Chris,

Merry Christmas my friend!

I am a bit confused by the last statement above. If the cartridge’s generator is misaligned, I can easily see why listening will give a better result than setting azimuth using visual alignment tools, mirrors, etc. that use the cantilever orientation (or even worse the cartridge body) to try to roughly approximate true azimuth alignment. But, given the same misaligned generator scenario, why would using a test instrument (say a Fozgometer or an oscilloscope) that reads each channel’s signal output independently and also the output signal balance between both channels give an improper result?

Best to you Chris,
Dave

Hi Dave.

why would using a test instrument (say a Fozgometer or an oscilloscope) that reads each channel’s signal output independently and also the output signal balance between both channels give an improper result?

Sorry for any confusion.
It is my understanding that "some" good carts yielding very high levels of separation, are not necessarily Symetric. They are Asymetric. If you try to use an electrical device in this type of scenario to balance the channels, you will not set up the cart as it was intended to be setup from the factory. It will be an "improper result".

I got this information years ago in talking with Peter at Soundsmith who has retipped for me in the past (two - carts I had bought used), and one of my own - that I beheaded. *^(

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Now Mike just happens to be using a Soundsmith cart and a Lyra Delos.

Mostly I’ve been swapping between two full arm looms (cartridge, arm wand, wiring), one with a Lyra Delos and one with a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC.

Assuming two full ET2 arm looms implies to me that Mike is pulling the Gooseneck bolt.... to exchange armtubes ...thus leaving Azimuth settings intact for each cartridge.

Mike pls correct me if I am wrong.

Now what if.......

the Lyra has balanced channel db levels (by design) ........and the Soundsmith Cart....... not (by design) They would need different azimuth settings.
I am not saying that Mike’s Soundsmith cart is one of these Asymetric Carts but what if.........

I set the cart visually level, then fine tweak Azimuth by ear, match it up with Digital. If one chooses at this point, test out the channel separation with an electrical device. If there is an imbalance, contact the Cart manufacturer and ask if this ok. That’s what I would do.

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This got me curious so I did some digging. Here is a video from Peter at Soundsmith. Watch at the 3:30 mark.

Azimuth

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And to throw another can of worms out there.
SRA is a moving target and it depends on your records and the plant they were made at. European standards differ from American plants. Angles differ by plant. Every time they put on a new cutting stylus (every 10 hours ?) it is never put in the same way as before. Think about it.