I will take some pictures of my new Graham Phantom II with Micropoise bubble level today and post a link to my Photobucket page. |
If anyone hear from Bob about adding this feature (micropoise) without having to send the arm back to him, please post here. Thanks |
I did a search for a picture of this new II, but all renewed the text, but all pics show model I.
Can someone shoot a pic from II+ gauge and link it here? |
Taylor514,
Bob mentioned "the older arms can be upgraded easily (well, quite easily, if the customer is handy at all..."
So I think the older II can be upgraded to the latest with the micropoise. As to how it can be done, ask your dealer or wait patiently for Bob to answer your email. It took him a while to respond to my emails back in March 09. |
Thanks for the info Audiolui ... too bad Bob is not responding to e-mail messages. I assume the micropoise is not an upgrade that can be made to existing Phantom II's ... it does sound like a useful addition to the tonearm. |
Bob is a genius. Agree, he always thinks useful improvements. This is a good addition. |
Let me help clear the confusion for you all.
Crystalref already stated the differences between Phantom I and II. The latest Phantom II has a spirit level (bubble) on the right side of the arm tower.
I asked Bob Graham a few months ago this question, "Other than the bubble (micropoise) on the right side of the arm tower of the new Phantom II, is there any other difference between the old Phantom II and the new Phantom II?"
He answered "No, that's the entire difference... And older arms can be upgraded easily (well, quite easily, if the customer is handy at all...
Additionally, he said, "new Phantom II is the same as the first Phantom II, the Micropoise was an after-thought..."
So, there is no Phantom III. The latest Phantom II does not have longer arm tube. The current Phantom II arm tube fits any version of the Phantom.
I don't think there is any sonic improvement with the spirit level. It is only a convenient feature. I do like this feature because I can easily start with parallel on the VTA first with the bubble in the middle of the markings. Then I can adjust it up or down very easily. Without the bubble, I used to eyeball it to start with parallel. Not any more. Bob is a genius.
Hope this clears everything for you all. Happy listening. |
I e-mail Graham too, but I never get reply from them.
I got the Phantom I and ask about upgrade to II, but some info show that II has longer armwards, so I ask the Graham that it can be a direct replacement of II over I .
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Smoffatt - We must have the 1st production run Phantom II tonearms. I e-mailed Bob asking about this feature but I doubt I will get a reply ... |
I do have the II as well but it does not have the spirit level. Perhaps this is the III version some people are talking about. |
I used to have the Phantom I and now have the II. It is not day and light difference, but noticeable. With the Phantom II, I heard quicker transient, more air, deeper bass, better dynamics (more explosive), and more presence with instruments and voice. I really like the upgrade and the counterweight can accommodate heavy cartridge like the Goldfinger v2 which is 20g. |
I own a Phantom II but it does not have the spirit level attached to the pivot housing ... when did Bob add this feature to the II? Very happy with the arm and found it to be a noticeable improvement over my 2.2. |
Syntax
I had a Phantom and thought it was a great arm. Mine was a Phantom, but it essentially was a II. I think the only difference at that time was the armwand.
A friend has a old Phantom, one of the early ones. I helped him set it up and thought the sound was as good but it was not as easy to setup as you had to be carefull because the magnets would pull the bearing out of the bearing pocket, and mine would never do that. The fit and finish is improved as well on the more current models.
I think the Magnaglide refinements make it a better arm in that repect as it is more stable and predictable, other than that I think the old one sound great still. |
I never owned the original Graham Phantom arm but I have just taken delivery of the latest incarnation of the Phantom MKII (there is no official MKIII designation). The main differences between the original and the MKII are a more refined Magnaglide stabilizer system, titanium as opposed to ceramic arm wand, better internal wiring for improved detail retrieval and freedom from mechanical resistance, and an improved bearing pivot design. There is also a small spirit level attached to the pivot housing which makes levelling the arm and setting VTA easy.
The fit and finish of the arm are superb and easily comparable to an SMEV (my previous arm, owned for 20 years).
I have the Phantom II mounted on a TW Raven One turntable with a new Transfiguration Orpheus L mc phono cartridge.
The mc phono stage is built into my Karan Reference MKII preamp and provides for 70db of gain and adjustable resistance and capacitance settings. |
I dont know if it's true or not but I was told there is a Phantom Mk. III available now. If you were going to upgrade then might as well go for the latest. Personally I have not heard the latest so I cant tell you if it's worth it or not. |
