SME V, Tri-Planar or Phantom B-44 ?

Dear Benson139: I don't have any experience with that tonearm but I can't feel " free " and " calm " trying to match that unipivot design with a very low compliance ( 6cu on the IO-M ) cartridge.
I understand that Sheu have cartridges made by Benz-Micro that are at 12-14 cu and lower cartridge weight than the 11grs you have, a lot more reasonable to make a good match.

Other factor ( between other things ) is that I don't know which kind of internal wire use the Sheu where the Ikeda and Audio Note use a first rate silver one that could go better with your all silver cartridge.

Synergy is always the name of the game in audio, IMHO and if I was you I will go for the Ikeda or Audio Note.
Of ourse that you can go on a different " direction " and nothing wrong with that because at the " end of the day " you are the one that must live with it and your satisfaction is first than all.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Benson139: It could help to give you some advise if you can tell us which cartridges do you own or with which one do you want to match that tonearm.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Atmasphere: +++++ " I think the only rational conclusion is that the two arms are very similar in sound, and that setup likely has more to do with the differences heard than anything else. " +++++

I really would like to agree with your statement but it is almost impossible to do that, let me explain about:
first the Triplanar and Phantom are two totally different designs, one an unipivot one and the other a gimbal bearing one, both use totally different build materials and shape construction, different internal wiring, etc, etc, etc
Every single of those build/design factors ( and many others ) makes a difference and its combination in each design too.
This is not something that I just " talk " by " talk ", Guillermo and I already have two years on our self tonearm build/design and ( like you ) we have many years of different experiences through different tonearms designs ( today or vintage ) with different cartridges ( almost any. ) and we know ( for sure ) that two different tonearms have a different " signature " when you match with a cartridge ( even the same cartridge ).
I can't tell you ( for now. ) all the whole different tests ( scientific/measures and by ear. ) that we already make ( some ones are incredible like incredible its results. ) where we are learning some of the complexity interaction between a tonearm and the cartridge where " minute/insignificant " changes can/could make a difference when we can't wait/predict about, our target on our tonearm design is to be dead " neutral " ( almost no signature ) to take out of the " equation " ( the tonearm ) and leave any cartridge to show its best.

I have experiences on those three tonearms and I can't say that it sound alike: specially ( in reference ) the Triplanar/Graham like you say.

Obviously that like always the result is system dependent and ears dependent too along each one person priorities.

That's why I ask Benson139 to share with us which cartridge he own.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Tom: +++++ " would be more alike than different. " +++++

IMHO it is obvious that any two-three top tonearms are more alike ( they are tonearms ) than different but that " different " makes the whole difference, if not every top tonearm can be the " same ".

You can make a simple test with any tonearm to understand exactly what I mean: try to change the tonearm internal wiring or to by-pass it and put a different wire ( external ) or make a change on the headshell wires.

It is the same with almost any audio item, example a TT: almost are more alike than different, of course its main targets are almost the same ( all are TT and have to spin at precise speed with stability. ), but the sum of each one " tiny/small " differences makes the whole performance difference/signature.

Well, this is only my opinion and like always I respect the other people ones.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Benson: Very good cartridge and demanding on the tonearm due to its special characteristics.

My personal advise is that you go for the IKEDA 345 tonearm in its silver wire version or the Audio Note AN-1s, both are tonearm current models.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Atmasphere: Now I understand your statement.

The problem with " open " questions ( like this ) is that any one of us speaks of what are our experiences and in our systems and many times we think that the " best " is what we have but in the tonearm case that " best " is almost impossible to find in a precise way. Let me explain:

to say that the Phantom is better than the Triplanar ( it is only an example, I'm not saying it is. ) means almost nothing, maybe the Phantom is better with a specific cartridge in a specific audio system but we can say too that the Triplanar is the best with a specific cartridge/system. In either case we can't assume ( for sure ) that the Phantom/Triplanar is better than the other one.

The fact that a tonearm/cartridge combination is one product/item not two items makes things complex.

Now, IMHO even trying to take the tonearm as a stand alone item makes things only a little less complex but does not resolve the whole " best ", let me explain:

to obtain a winner we have first to " write " the standards/factors/targets " ( technical, subjective ones, look/appearance, execution, build quality, et, etc, ) against be " measured/challenge " any tonearm. Where are those standards " approved " or where can we find it?.

Imho, does not exist and IMHO too almost everyone of us have our self and unique standards. The Tom_mackris standards are different from yours/me or Syntax/Lewm ones.

Of course that exist a " best " but first we need those " standards " to qualified about.

I almost always give my opinions on audio subjects with first hand experiences and always with almost the whole characteristics of the items involve on a specific subject.

Now, I know that each single opinion from any person is welcome and was made triying to help to the person that ask. IMHO the person that ask ( sometimes ) has a very hard " task " to choose the right/better answer because ( sometimes ) some of the answers were/are even contradictory but this is what is an open forum like the Agon one.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Andrew: I wish thigs can be so " simple " like what you posted but it is a lot lot more complex than that, even if you try the ame cartridge with two different tonearms IMHO the best you can affirm is that that cartridge match better with one of those tonearms but not that that tonearm is better than the other.
Anyway, I think that the in deeep tonearm subject is for other new thread and not this one, sorry Benson139 for deviate your thread.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Dgad: I think that only because 2-3 tonearms and 2-3 cartridges but the whole system is totally different.
Where do you see it " exactly the same " or compare it? or maybe he has two different systems.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.