Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

08-26-15: Pegasus
Interesting “facts discussion” about linear vs. radial tonearms, most have probably read it:

Are linear tracking arms better than pivoted arms?

Sadly mostly boring (ie. repeated, but skewed arguments)… but some interesting points.

Hi Pegasus - nice to hear from you again.

Re: Pivot versus Linear discussion.

IMO - Everyone that has been in this audio hobby for any length of time knows its all a "set up" game - vinyl. My personal experiences have been a good pivot arm set up well, will out perform a below average set up of an ET2. So in my opinion we need to be very careful with reviews and experiments, as they are based on that person's setup only and it doesn't represent other set ups. Rooms are different as is the gear right down to the TT setup and condition of the cartridige. No two are alike . So I say for all these professional reviewers who know this already.

THEY HAVE ALL SOLD A BIT OF THEIR AUDIO SOUL FOR SOME AUDIO DOUGH. ....heh heh heh ...

So its an individual basis thing just like all our systems. With that the better design always has the most potential. And potential for this audio hobby is defined to me as more ROPE for The Vinyl Hangman :^)

Still to this very day, FOR ME, Bruce Thigpen said it best. Re: Pivot Arms.

Page 46....... ET2 Manual

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There is a force component (vector) that is directed toward the center of the record. It results from the stylus drag force vector not falling in line with the pivot point of the arm. This force pulls the tonearm inward and the stylus can be observed as bending outward.

THIS FORCE AND THE RESULTING BENDING CAN BE DEMONSTRATED BY CONNECTING A RUBBER BAND TO A PIVOTED ARM AROUND THE CARTRIDGE BODY AND PULLING IT STRAIGHT AHEAD (AWAY) FROM THE TONEARM. NOTE: THE MOTION OF THE TONEARM IS INWARD AND RESULTS IN THE BENDING OF THE RUBBER BAND (CANTILEVER).

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You guys with pivot arms should try it. put a rubber band around the cartridge on your pivot arm and pull. (Hey - not responsible for any beheaded styluses). Been there, done that. Watch and .......feel...... what happens. You will never again doubt why Antiskate is needed on a pivot arm.

Run away ET2 Spindle.

Indicates a problem with leveling, wiring or manifold.

Some options.

Leveling - the ET2 spindle in the manifold is extremely slippery. Almost feels friction-less. No bubble level is accurate enough. Level with Gravity only. I use a Blue Tac pancake on the lead weights and make the armtube free float with VTF 0.

Wiring - Push or Pull from the wiring as the spindle in manifold is very slippery. I have found where wire exits the armtube immediately down and over to your phono in a happy face loop is the least intrusive.

Location where the wire connects at the opposite side is at the mid-point of arm spindle travel.

Manifold -

Couple of things to try.

Take a draft leak detector pencil (bought at Home Depot for $5 dollars) and place near each end of the manifold. Is the air exiting creating similar flows or is one side more active? They should be the same.

Remove the manifold and check the torque on the screws. Ensure they are torqued the same. Check for water deposits of minerals in and around the holes, screws. Clean it out.

This pic was posted previously on this thread (from a friend)
Before and After Manifold Cleaning

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The way I level is by using test record with blank track.

I can't see how to setup corectly with out one.

I have been following this thread as I now have 2 ET 2's and a 1. Only one 2 running for now though. I have set up a audioquest 7000nsx and am being rewarded with great sound. Not sure of the specs of this older cartridge though so I was wondering if anyone had those and how you guys would recommend me setting this up. I only have the aluminum wand but am thinking of springing for another. And I am going to buy some more I beams with different springs.
Also Chris I believe we may be almost neighbours! I tried to email you but it bounced back.
If anyone has a accutrex for sale I could be tempted to purchase it.

Output: 0.3mV
Stylus: nude line contact 0.3 x 1.6mil
Compliance: 9 x 10-6cm/Dyne
Mass: 9g
Load Impedance: >40 ohms
Tracking: 1.75 to 1.8g

Nice cartridge. I had the original 7000 mounted on my ET2 for a short time during a period when my system was making the transition from all ss (Threshold, BEL) to all tube. My original 7000 was a very detailed cartridge which I much preferred to the other Scantech (Lyra Clavis and Spectral) cartridges that I tried around that time. The 7000 was a little warmer and sumptuous than the other two which I found to be way too zippy and lean, but in the context of my all ss/heavily modified Magnepan MGIIIA's there still wasn't enough "meat on the bones" for me. I highly recommend you try the magnesium arm wand. A single leaf spring I-beam will produce a "fuller" sound, but I usually end up with the double leaf spring for a more organized sound that is less "lumpy" in the bass. Good luck!