thanks Kdtran
based on your listening experience I would prefer the tonal balance of the Phantom. |
Heh Halcro
Do you live in Sydney. I would luv to hear the raven and copperhead.
Can one get a demo of tyhe copperhead or cobra??
Does the copperhead have VTA on the fly?? |
Gents
to clarify, all I am asking is one's personal view of both arm's relative to each other if they have indeed heard both, as they are both SOTA. Understand there is no such thing as best in this obsessive world of hifi.
My preference is for a slightly organic, warmer tone compared to my current table, the HRX while maintaining great dynamics and bass.
I believe that may be the triplaner, however I know the phantom is a lot differenmt beast to earlier versions and I have not heard either in my system.
my cartridges are dyna XV-1, koetsau rosewood, denon 103r, ortofon jubilee, clearaudio concerto, audio tec OC9.
cheers |
Hi Sirspeedy. Watching the Aust Open at the moment - pity Roddick got rolled last night - go Hewitt!!
You have not answered any of my questions :-) - come on your opinion is valid or are both arm that similar??
ps - I was comparing phantom with graham's previous arms prior to to when the phantom came out, as I believe they are quite different sounding.
I have the HRX with heavy platter. I am not that interested in the 12.7 as valhalla cable will probably add more detail and less weight, when I have plenty of detail now. I also have 2 x 12.6 arms so changing to a 12.7 is a little counter productive.
I find the HRX/12.6 a little forward / thin in the upper mids/lower treble. cartridge makes a difference however my impression of the sonic trait is always there.
My Linn LP12 / naim aro has a slightly smoother treble however does not have that great VPI bass weight.
cheers |
Thomas, considering you have both arms I would appreciate your views on the strengths and weaknesses of both arms.
Of course any views are only relative, however considering my musical preferences and how my system currently sounds, smoother upper mids/lower treble coupled with good dynamics and tonal "meat on the bone" are my priorities.
This to another is warm and turgid. each to their own. |
Raul
You are starting to add a complexity to my question that sounds like a lot of work :-) I like the lazy options of repeatable, adjustable VTA etc.
eg - re the dynavector arm with 6 headshells for my 6 cartridges. Don't you have almost reset most of the tonearm parameters each time you change a headshell??
The VPI solution of replacable arm wands seems a lot cleaner and quicker as you only have to set up the arm once and then change the VTA each time a new arm is added to the table.
Since when does Ortofon and Audio technica sell new tonearms??
Why is an Ikeda or any tonearm with removable headshell any better than a VPI, Graham, triplaner etc arm??
Are there that many different headshells available for all these arms? Where?? |
Tim
Yes I agree, hifi is a great hobby and it is enjoyable reading and listening to other people's experiences even if there outcomes are not the same as yours.
Are you still looking for a new tonearm to replace the SME V?? |
Hi Tim
Yea I had the same opinion you had, however after TAS review where Garcia reviewed them both on the same table and same transfiguration cartridge and some of the views here it would almost seem that opinion's are reversed. Phantom being smooth and less dynamic and tri-planer being more dynamic and a more detail (or a little eadgy).
I assume you still have your atmosphere amps, hence being aligned a little closer to tri-planer.
I heard the atmosphere amps with tri-planer arm I think with a grand prix TT with some nice big horn speakers at the Show. Sounded excellent and credit given to this room as one of only 3 that played rock n roll rather than the jazz volcalist crap that all were playing.
I also met Tri-Mai and he is a lovely gentlemen who refused to get into what tonearm sounds better conversation, just that he was very happy the tri-planer was competitive with the best out there.
Still no closer at what is best for my warmish, dynamic tastes :-) |
Raul
Humor me here. What is the difference between VPI or Graham type arm and using different headshell weights compared to using same arm with different headshells??
Also where can you get the Ortofon tonearms from?. They are not on the Ortofon website. |
Atmosphere
It was towards the end of the last day, almost when you were packing up. Tri gave me a copy of the Tri-planer manual to look thru, however stupid me somehow lost it before I could read the thing. |
All
Just an update on my table. The Phantom / Triplaner may have to wait a while, as there is still life left in the VPI HRX.
SirSpeedy, I have taken your advise and spoken to HW and he very kindly offered to swap the 12.6 arm wand with the new 12.7 arm wand ( copper wiring not valhalla) with damped bearing at a very resonable price.
Well I got the 12.7 arm wand and have put it back on the table with the undamped bearing. Just after a few hours it sounds more balanced than the 12.6 arm and does not seem to have the leaness in the upper mids/lower treble. Transparency and detail seem to be in tact. I'll fit the damped bearing this weekend so I can play around more.
Kudos to VPI for their great customer service & focus.
Me I'll probably end up trying the Rim drive which HW says is really excellent.
cheers |
thanks Sirspeedy - After all its the music we all live for and to play. HW is one of audio's nicest guys.
The 12.5 arm has the damped bearing, 12.6 has undamped bearing, 12.7 back to damped bearing with motor honey instead of silicone.
I am actually packing up my 2nd 12.6 arm wand to send back to HW tonight.
Me I am not game to go the 12.7 with valhalla cable - not because i don't think it won't sound great, just for my tastes I believe I will prefer the slighty warmer copper cable to make my pop, rock and alternative records sound a little nicer.
Let me know how Sid goes with the Rim drive. HW said that Roy gregory went banana's over it and Fremer will have his chance to listen to it very soon - he just needs to choose what table he wants it with.
Hope you are enjoying your phantom |
Halcro
Have you the copperhead properly set up yet??
Phil from hifi junction showed me one yesterday and boy hemp looks and feels strange but overall an impressive looking arm. All the wires made me a bit nervous thou.
He said you were still waiting on TW Acustic to supply the correct arm board. that must be a bit frustrating.
cheers |
halcro
Fremer reviews the copperhead and the cheaper TT in the current mnth Stereophile.
Just need to wait til my copy arrives |
heh Gents
I changed to the damped bearing on the weekend and I am a happy audiophile again.
Big difference between 12.6 and 12.7 arm's for the VPI HRX. the music now has the required fullness in the upper mids / lower treble combined with great transparency and dynamics. records just sound great from start to finish - one of the positive attributes of a 12 inch arm.
I don't need to think about sinking more money into another table - not for a while anyway :-)
I am now starting to really appreciate my expensive speakers that I spent my life savings on!!.
thanks to Sirspeedy for nudging me to try the 12.7 arm and especially HW at VPI.
Now to what about the RIM drive :-)
cheers
Shane |
Z
I agree. TRi Mai is a very nice guy. I met him at CES this year.
Harry from VPI is also a great guy and an even greater tinkerer. That is why sometimes some of his designs seem to be a work in progress as they are - sort of. he is always thinking of better and more unsusual ways of making music.
He thought the RIM drive idea would be a piece of shit. The fact that he spent time playing around with it, he said that even he was suprised at how much better it made his table sound. like a "master tape" was his words.
I'll try one out in the next 2 mnths or so. after I get my 2nd 12.7 arm wand back from him |
Z
The rim drive from memory was being use on Mike Herron's own HRX. yea it looks a little hatty
12 inch hifi+ on its way |
DOH!!!!!
I mean Keith Herron's room |
Z
312S in part 2 with the brinkman, consonance & cartridge man linear tracking arm.
You can't just go to the summary dude!! |
