SME 20/2 & Graham Phantom issue

Hi Dgad,

I haven't really scaled up to digital imaging capability yet. (Duh.) I'll try to get a pic this weekend using my son's camera and contact you via email.

Verbally, I would say that my Phantom's pivot is located at the correct position, and the armrest rotates on the same axis. I had to point the armrest slightly away from the spindle (vs straight out = parallel to the right side of the plinth) so as to provide adequate clearance for the antiskate assembly away from the ring clamp. There's enough room, barely.

Rlawry
Thank you so so much for the photos earlier..you are too kind. Seems like your Phantom has a different "SME" mount...or is that what they called Graham's "CUSTOM" mount : custom-made for SME (or any other mounting profiles).

When i ordered my Phantom, i specified that i would mount it on a SME 20/2 turntable. So they shipped the arm with an SME mount..but this mount is nothing like yours...it has four elongate holes which allow you to slide the whole thing back and forth to position the arm correctly (similar to regular SME mount, but instead of dead-bolted the base and let the whole arm assembly moving back and forth, in this case you move the WHOLE thing -arm and base- back and forth). Is this the type you originally had?

The Graham "custom" mount you mentioned and showed on your pictures is stationary, right? by that i meant you just screw it down on to the table, and no need to do anything further to position the arm correctly? If this is the case, i'd say it makes much more sense, easier to set up , and more rigid.

I wonder why they didnt ship this with my Phantom..Or is it BECAUSE i said SME??? either way, they should just simplify this and send a "custom" arm base for SME...so we users can skip the step of positioning the arm...this would save time, cost, and avoid errors!

Jaytea, I believe your description of your "SME" base is the same as the one I originally had. Yes, my newer "Graham" base was developed shortly after I had the SME base and yes, it is stationary. Since I did not have to change the holes in the plinth for mounting the arm, you should be able to get this base from Graham and just bolt it to the plinth. I think the Graham base is now considered his standard base for most tables. I am not sure why there is so much confusion as to the type of base used for the SME table. I found the Graham base to give better resolution and extension in the bass and better dynamic range, as well as more detail in the midrange and treble. Part of this may have also been due to the newer, sharper pivot bearing. BTW, if you move the turntable after setting it up, you may want to check VTF when you get the table in place. When Brooks Berdan set VTF at 1.85 g I got it home and noticed initially that it would mistrack on dynamic passages. I checked VTF and it had fallen to about 1.5 g. I think the arm had "settled" onto the new bearing. I haven't had any problems since resetting the VTF.

Hello jameswei,it still sounds good if you position your Phantom tonearm in a bigger angle to fit your VPI ring. The TT and tonearm geometry isn't correct. It is ok but not maximize your Phantom performance. I know Granham makes a armwand that is 1/2" longer to fit in VPI (or other) TT that uses the ring. The hole in my arm board was make to fit longer tonearm.

Hi Samleung,

Thanks for your comments. I am not able to change my armboard but I can play without the ring clamp if it makes a real difference. Can you explain why you think "The TT and tonearm geometry isn't correct"? And, why is the performance less than "maximized"?