anyone gone from the Graham 2.2 to vecteur arm ?

I too have wondered why the basis arm hasn't gotten alot of attention,what with the designer's reputation!It seems to be a fine design.

Also,it always amazes me,how well respected and proven designs(in this case the 2.2)get the quick "hook",once a newer product comes around.Here the 2.2,but in the past I've seen this with almost all types of audio products.Note how suddenly the Dartzeel solid state amp is good enough to replace the beloved "TUBES" in so many set-ups(in many cases replacing Lamms,on Kharma speakers,which was HERESY 2 years ago).Both formats(tubes,as well as solid state) are fine,in given situations,yet audiophiles,at least MANY I know, LOVE to run with the sophomoric "it must be better if it is so and so,or you can never have too many tubes,or solid state is the only way to go,to control a woofer,or only dipolars can sound real,or box speakers suck" and so on and so on.What a crock!!If you don't know what you're doing,maybe!

We love to spend,and feel vindicated for our particular component choices,but how many of us make choices SOLEY on what we hear,in our own set-ups,WITHOUT feedback from media,reviewers,friends,web sites.Are YOU that secure???I doubt it!!I know I'm setting myself up,for a BIG hit here,and don't care.I've felt this way for a long time,and am stating it for all of the 6 people who will probably read this,but it does make me feel better.I guess I'm self centered.I don't take myself seriously either,and everyone is entitled to their way of thinking(listening).Yet I still believe what I'm spouting.Boring as it seems.

PS--I'm not singling anyone in particular out,just a generalization,which becomes more clear to me as time,in this hobby,goes by.

The 2.2 is NOT adding any sibilence to anyone's ears.I can assure you that if this is your perception,something else is not quite right!I'm perfectly willing to take any venom,that may come from that statement,but I know it(as abnoxious as it sounds.Tough!)to be true.That doesn't mean I think it cannot be,or is bettered,but audiophiles are SO fickle.Raul happens to be correct,when he states that there are many variables at play in "correct matching" of arm/cartridge,and this will play a MAJOR role in any arm's performance.While I will most likely improve upon many parameters of performance,in my system,in time,I don't expect any new revelations to come from a new tonearm(I live,happily with a 2.2)at present.Though I won't keep it forever.Also,the 2.2 does NOT need to be fotz'd around with,constantly.It can be voiced,a hell of alot,with fluid/vta/downforce,like a rubic's cube,but if you know it well,which alot do not(let the bricks fly on that statement too)then you can set,and look elsewhere in your system,for other ways to change presentation.There are SO many OTHER choices to make.Just my 2 cents worth!Regards!

I ADMIT that I must seem like a bit of a fanatic,and obnoxious in some of my posts.Sorry!That being said,it is correct that we all just want to find our own concept of musical reality,whether digital/analog/I-pod/car radio etc.

Obviously some systems will sound better with certain combinations.Some will vary,and I've seen some of my own friends' systems where a product worked in one,and not another,so I respect all of you guys' findings,and opinions.

I will add that I have NEVER (and both of my friends with the same arm) had any mistracking with my 2.2!If I had mistracking,I would certainly not think it was the 2.2 that,itself,was the culprit.As with the rediculous claim of any kind of sibilent nature to the 2.2,these can easily be attributed to other dial in parameters,or the set-up person themselves.Best regards.

Lgraef,You are a true, quality citizen,and nobody I know would doubt it.I admit to trying to bait some folks,but haven't gotten the responses I thought I'd get.Though a brick did come through my window,yesterday.The getaway car had an audio mag's logo on it.

Of course many products,by reliable mfgrs are considered superior to previous designs,and in this case,the Phantom does look like a winner.Graham has a great track record,so I have no doubt as to it's attributes,as well as for the seemingly fine design,of the Vector.My only complaint(my own problem)is the issue of Sibilence in the 2.2,which ain't there.I suspect anyone(including MF,in his review)of not maxing out that design's potential,if a claim of a "mechanical/sibilent" nature exists.Of that I'm quite secure,as I had a subtle resonant characteristic for quite some time,before learning to "eliminate" it.It is way too easy to just give up,and in this hobby,dump more money into another design.It's a cycle I've had way too much exposure to,and am getting a grip on,myself.

Best regards!!

Please don't think I was implying Lgraef was my target.I was,and am not.It was a generalization,on the 2.2,which happened to be Hi-Fi News and Record Review's Analog component of the year,for 2004.Sibilence?The British didn't hear it,in awarding it such a high honor.Yet,now that the inevitable (and expected) great review of the new and universally? better product appears,lets star to look at our bank accounts again.That does not mean the 2.2 can't be bettered,but Teres felt he heard a sibilence in the 2.2,when he did a comparison,and suddenly Michael Fremer,in his Phantom review,after having a 2.2 for years,and loving it,claims that he "never was really wild about it"!!Hmm???

Hey,why do the English press like said product SO much,as to single it out,only six months ago,but now a sudden sibilence appears.I'm not rationalizing that other designs may better the 2.2,but I cannot get away from the fact I run a 7 gm cartridge,have a table with vacuum,so the magna glide is more minimal here,and don't really want to put a heavier arm on my sprung suspension table.I believe that the Titan which Fremer used is 12.5 gms.Big difference,and the arm mass makes a diff,as Raul points out,which few give his correct observation credit for,but that wasn't mentioned in Fremer's review.Not that 12.5 gms isn't negotiated well on a 2.2,but I'll bet 7.5 gms is a better match.Here I may be rationalizing a bit,but I deserve to.I may be over reacting,and probably am,a bit,but these are issues I consider before allowing my hard earned monies(and carefully chosen components) to fly out of my pocket!Anyone really savvy,will jump on the 2.2's that will be going used,for probably 1500.00 bucks,fairly soon!!

Best regards!