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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 ?
128x128ct0517

Showing 4 responses by sary

sary
4 posts
 
No, I switch it on just when listening. 
The fact to consider is that there is pretty high humidity over here, but this happens always, even on "dry" days...
sary
4 posts
 
Hi,

I am wondering if any of you is having troubles with water condensations in the air bearing section?

I got ET2 that I refurbished (changed manifold sealing rings, removed and cleaned really well the manifold as well as aluminum tube that rides inside the manifold, etc...) but have a repeating problem with humidity condensation.
Was first using original aquarium AT pump at about 2psi and then upgraded to Medo AC0110 which delivers about 10-12psi trough my "buffering tank".
I run even double filters on input as well as water separating filter and then even added a silica air drying filter; still get condensation visible in clear tube where air gets into the tonearm as well as getting bubbles coming out between the manifold and the aluminum tube.
Result is that this compromises how the arm glides and makes the needle jump the grooves when playing.
By cleaning everything with alcohol I can get it to work well again, but it will just soon return with same problem.
I am using AT33ptg2 cartridge tracking at 2.1g, all mounted on SP10-mk2 turntable.
 If anyone experienced similar problems and found a solution please share your advice as I am sadly at the point of removing ET2 and replacing with conventional arm....
sary
4 posts
 

Hello, OK, understand, might try the setup with storage tank in the future.

At the moment I got exactly following setup:

Medo AC0110, 4 ft of 1/8 vinyl hose, air filter/water separator, second air filter (disposable filter as per ET specs), silica filled humidity filter, another disposable air filter, 0.6 gallon buffer tank, 2ft of 1/8 vinyl hose connected to the arm.

With Medo pump I am getting about 10-12psi (0.7-0.8 bar) measured at the tank (about 2 foot of hose ahead of the arm).

I looked at possible compressed air air-dryers, but this solutions are really bulky and expensive...

Looked at possibilities to build a copper tubes system (or use a condenser from AC or refrigerator) where compressed air could
be cooled down so water can be separated but did not come with practical solution; has someone maybe try something like that?

At the moment, I get condensation everywhere; in my first water-separating filter, silica filter gets water saturated, I can see water in clear pvc hose entering the arm and finally I get water coming out trough air bearing.....

Might be that here in Hawaii is just too warm and humid for this type of arm?

Obviously, possible solution would be buying a bottled industrial air, but I guess it is just a bit over what I am prepared to go for; it is enough having to take cooking propane bottles to be refilled every so often :) 

sary
4 posts
 

It is Hawaii; humid, but not crazy wet :)
While medical air supply would definitely be the optimum, it is a bit more than ready to commit at the moment; not the actual cost on ebay which is pretty reasonable, but space and shipping...

At the moment I went back to my Audiomods arm and while I think was preferring ET-2 there is lots to be said about simplicity of simply swinging and lowering the needle into the grooves; no more jumping even on demanding tracks....

I still want to re-visit ET-2 setup in the future and when looking again into my exact setup I guess there is logical explanation why there is water and most of it just at the air bearing.

Since I had Motor Guard Filter/water trap in front of the buffer tank, it is likely that the highest pressure in my system was just in short PVC tube run between the buffer tank and arm; there was no filter here any more.

Highest pressure would mean most condensation...

Now, I am thinking, if I would actually have a filter/water trap after the buffer tank and then have pressure regulator just in front of the arm problem could be much better?

Could someone who is using Medo AC0110 please share exact configuration (pump, hose, tank, filter, regulator,...) that works well; would love to give it another try.



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