looking at upgrading my tonearm from a triplanar



I have a Galibier Gavia table, ZYX Universe II cartridge and a triplanar tonearm running through a Doshi Aalap preamp.

The sound is wonderful but I can't help but feel I could enhance the vinyl rig by upgrading the tonearm,
particularly gaining low level detail.

I've read up on a few models and I am looking for input on an arm that would be a significant step up from the triplanar.

I am particularly interested in comments from previous triplanar owners on sonic improvements with a new arm

the Durand Talea, Kuzma 4 Point and Graham are on my short list. I am not considering anything above $10k

thanks

Tom
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Showing 3 responses by thom_at_galibier_design

Stating the obvious (and agreeing with you Lew), tonearm/cartridge auditions are the most difficult comparisons to make, and small differences in setup can dramatically influence the results of a comparison.

Your best bet is the experience of an audio buddy whom you can trust, and whose taste doesn't necessarily have to line up with yours as long as you can reliably map their feedback/comments into something that's meaningful to you.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a dealer for most of the arms referenced (Durand, Kuzma, Tri-Planar) so I will recuse myself from public comments about any of these fine tonearms, as well as the others which I don't represent.

Cheers,
Thom
Syntax - your comments (Graham vs. Kuzma/Tri-Planar) are very instructive.

I would state it differently: that the presentation of the Tri-Planar and Kuzma are dramatically different from the Graham's presentation.

I wouldn't call either superior, but I would virtually guarantee that someone would line up in one camp or the other, much as you have.

You probably know my biases, but that's not the point of this comment.

Cheers,
Thom

What Doug said (along with our friend at Helius) ...

Ralph, theory is fine, but the fact is that even our mother planet has a resonant frequency. I fear that it's a bit utopian to expect an armwand to accomplish what our planet cannot do (to dissipate all vibrations into heat).

Bearing precision (and perhaps hardness) are desirable attributes, and congratulations to Tri Mai for sourcing such good bearings, but to categorically state that one's bearings are superior for audio because one needs a Homeland Security clearance is a bit specious and obfuscates the big picture - that (as with all things audio), we're dealing with complex interactions.

I suspect that the relevant attribute of the Tri-Planar bearing has more to do with its ABEC specification (likely 9) - the fact that they are round and to a tighter tolerance, resulting in being less prone to rattling when excited (because the cartridge WILL try to excite them).

It's possible that its material (and possibly hardness) also contributes to energy transfer, but without identical bearing specifications of various materials, one couldn't prove this.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier