Thanks, everyone for your help. I am now leaning toward either the Triplanar or the Graham Phantom. Can anyone tell me where I might obtain an armboard for the 20/2 with Triplanar or alternatively the Phantom?
Ed |
Raul, my cartridge choice would be either Zyx Universe or Dynavector XV1s.
Thomas, I checked the Website and noticed the same thing. I will call on Wednesday and ask about that.
Thanks all. Have a happy and safe 4th.
Ed |
Well, guys, now that the issue of the cartridge has been introduced into the equation - as well it should at this point - my cartridge shortlist is only 2: the Zyx Universe or the Dynavector XV1S.
After reading all your posts, thinking about it and discussing the matter with the the guy I'm buying the 20/2 from and the guys at SRA (split decision between them), I am still leaning toward the Triplanar over the SME V.
How does the choice of cartridge influence your thoughts? |
Guys, what can I say? I truly am learning from each post!
Like any good story, some twists near the end elevate the story.
I have lusted after the SME 20/2 for the past 2 years, but had despaired of ever getting one since the price of a new one was not acceptable in my budget range. Recently, I was nearing a decision to order a Galibier Gavia when an almost new 20/2 became available at an acceptable price and I bought it.
I am scheduled to audition a Galibier Gavia with a Triplanar/Zyx Universe/Dynavector XV1S later this month. My reasoning is that if I get the Triplanar or the Phantom and the Universe or XV1S, I will have a reference to help me decide whether to keep the 20/2 or sell it and order the Galibier. If I told this part of the story to anyone other than other audiophiles, they might want to have me committed.
Does this twist change things for any of you?
Thanks for your patience.
Ed |
Thanks, Doug for validating my insane plan. And thanks Flyingred for your take on the SME and Galibier Gavia. A new Gavia BTW is much less costly than a new 20/2. The reasons for that are (1) Thom Mackris's tables would have to sell for about double their current prices if he sold through dealers because of his added marketing and dealer support cost and the dealer's markup and (2) the fact that the Bush administration has trashed the value of the dollar so badly that the exchange rate against the British pound or the Euro has made things from the countries about 40% more costly for us over the last 4 years (this is not political commentary, just a statement of fact).
Anyway, I think your comments support my mad scientist approach that if I get the either the Triplanar or the Phantom (either of which I'm sure would be happy with on the Galibier) and either the Dynavector or the Zyx cartridge (also either of which I'd be happy with on the Galibier) I can easily move to the Galibier if it kicks the SME's butt. However, with the SME V, I would want to sell that too because I would not want to put it on the Galibier.
Thanks guys. This has been fun. I will post back when I've got the the SME up and running with the Triplanar or the Phantom and the XV1S or the Universe.
Have a great and safe 4th.
Ed |
Sorry Dan, but I just returned from a trip to Ireland and Wales. The decline in the value of the dollar against other currencies during the last 5 years is rather shocking and is an economic fact not an opinion and not politics. It is also responsible for the remarkable run up in the cost of the SME.
I have a sneaking suspicion you are right, which is one reason why I jumped on the 20/2 when it became available. I think each of the SME's at their respective price points are probably the best of the suspended TTs, so with the same tonearms and cartridges, it will be a real face off that will leave me in a position to go either way without too much net cost for the comparo.
Thanks again,
Ed |
Tim, I sure do agree. This discussion has been great fun as well practical and informative for me. I'm much more comfortable with the decisions I'm about to make. And for that I'm really thankful to you all.
Best,
Ed |
Thom has an owner in Sanibel who has a Gavia with Triplanar and if memory serves both an XV1S & a Universe. Its a drive of just about 2 hours. I'm really looking forward to it.
Ed |
Thanks Raul. Could you explain what you mean by static balance rather than dynamic balance? I know the difference in wheel balancing in the auto world, but I'm not sure what you mean with respect to tonearms.
Ed |
Yes, I'm very comfortable with Thom, as well as with the theory and execution of his TTs. I can hardly wait to hear one!
Thanks, Raul, for explaining static and dynamic balancing with the SME V -- whether or not it makes a discernable sonic difference -- it is always good to know one's options.
Ed |
Have any of you, especially Thom, had a chance to experience a Phantom? I have not heard it myself, of course, but I'm very impressed with the ease of its adjustments and I always liked the earlier Graham arms, most of which I heard on Basis tables.
Bob Graham says he did much of his design work on the Phantom on an SME 30/2. I'm not sure how much of it was done on unsuspended tables, so I will leave it to Thom to comment or speculate on the Phantom on Galibier or other unsuspended tables.
Best and as always thanks for the education I'm getting here.
Ed |
OK, I've decided and ordered a Phantom.
My bottom line reasoning was (a) it has the adjustment flexibility of the Triplanar, but the adjustments are easier to make, (b) its craftsmanship, fit and finish are up to SME standards, (c) I called Bob Graham and he told me that his personal TT is an SME 30/2 and he developed the Phantom on the 30/2 and on an available 20/2, causing me to reason that the Phantom should be at least as synergistic with the 20/2 as the SME V and probably even more so since it was developed more recently on SME's current TTs and with the current best cartridges, (d) the guy I bought the 20/2 from is replacing it with the Grand Prix Audio Monaco TT, an unsuspended design I believe, and he evaluated it with the following arms: Dynavector, Phantom, Triplanar & SME V, which finished in that order top to bottom, with the Universe, XV1S, top of the line Lyra, causing me to reason that the Phantom should work very well with the Galibier tables, a theory I hope is born out when Thom does find the time to evaluate the Phantom with his tables (so it should work equally well for me with Galibier), (e) Bob Graham put a lot of time and resources into developing a current state of the art arm so it should have bettered most if not all of the current top arms out there, (f) being among the latest designs-redesigns among the top arms makers, it should be around a while.
In other words, I've listened to the many excellent points made by each of you on this thread, and I think the Phantom satisfies more of those points than either the Triplanar or the SME V, at least for my purposes.
BTW, Bob Graham is a really nice guy, very approachable and easy to talk with and he's using a new bearing (Swiss-made, I think) with the Phantoms he's making now which he says surprised him at how much better it was than his initial bearing.
Next up, which cartridge with the 20/2 and Phantom?
Thanks and best to you all. I will keep you posted.
Ed |
Thom, interesting that you should mention Dynagrooves. I love flamenco guitar and jaleo. My favorite recorded performance of this music (in my collection) is by Juan Serrano and it's a Dynagroove! I bought it in 1967 (that certainly shows my age!) when I had my first post-college system - Garrard changer, shure cartridge, Revox 10" Reel to Reel tape recorder, Sansui receiver and very large Sansui speakers.
Yeah, I would like to hear tha LP sound better than ever!
Best,
Ed |
Thanks, everyone. Karl, I did go for the SME mount on the Phantom. Thanks Dabugman, I'm looking forward to mine. Must decide on a cartridge now.
I'm considering Dyanvector XV1S or Zyx Universe. I listen to a very wide range of music:
Classical 20% (collection of 50s & 60s Mercury Living Presence & RCA Living Stereo), Pop (mostly female singers) 20%, Current Rock & Classic Rock 20% (everything but Rap), Jazz 20%, Folk (American, Irish, Australian 20%
Recommendations?
Ed |
