Graham Phantom vs the Graham 2.2

WOW!Great discussion,Thomasheisig.You pretty much nailed it.However,CELLO,now that I've just been hit with 14 inches of snow here in the northeast,do you have any guest rooms?

Cello.PLEASE, do follow up on that comparison!

Raul,while I,unlike so many other audiogoners,feel that you are a well meaning and knowledgeable audio hobbyist,you don't know what you are talking about regarding the differences between a good pivot and the Air Tangent or Kuzma arms.As you probably know I have intimate familiarity between the Air Tangent and other pick up arms,in a friend's system that is TRULY state of the art.There is no contest!There is a BLOOM to music when you eliminate the bearing resonances that all pivots(except the Schroeder)have.Add the linear tracking and,in a really revealing set-up there is no arguing(something I'm sure you will)the comparison.I don't mean to be disrespectful,truly,but,I don't think you can comment on any comparisons unless you have had extensive exposure to both types(pivot and Air Bearing)in a system you know really WELL.That is why I can only comment on the Air Tangent and not the Kuzma.By the way I remember on a past thread you had mentioned to Mr. Schroeder,himself,that you had gotten access to a Schroeder REF. and would make comparisons.What happened to that?Hmm!

You guys ALL make very good points.I'd love to have the kind of animated and passionate listening sessions with some of you,as I do with my current pals.However the points made here apply to virtually any Hi-FI component.Amps,Preamps,cabling,especially tubes(I have done my fair share of tube rolling).Who is to know all of the variables?Sometimes a really good product stands out on it's own(look at the Quad)and that was my point regarding the Air Tangent,so I don't think it has to be all that technical.Actually the only reason I keep harping,ad nauseum,on the AIR TANGENT(even though I probably never will own one) is that I've heard it like"a million times"on some of the finest and earliest pressings of some of the most sought after discs (some of which I never knew existed,and I've got a ton of them),and through considerable component,including arm, changes.I suspect the KUZMA is at least as good,and from the word on the street,as they say,maybe even better.The other 2 air bearings that are also considered in the top tier,though not sold individually,I believe,are the Rockport(that was criticized,in comparison to the KUZMA when Roy Gregory reviewed the KUZMA)and the defunct but supposedly very good FORSELL arm.I heard the forsell for a very short time so can't comment.The table looked flakey to me,but is supposed to be GREAT if you get to know it's idiosyncratic nature.I believe these are the best of the lot in linear trackers,and anyone willing to purchase one would be silly not to want to deal with the drawbacks of proper set up,even if it's Royal Pain.Time will tell and if we stay on the vinyl highway(I do have digital for the new stuff)than getting so obsessed with getting that last degree of analog performance won't seem so "nuts".I can think of worse things out there that people get carried away with.At least this is all harmless fun,and when you discover a really GREAT new piece of music on a totally new album,that also happens to be well recorded,you ALL know what I mean!

Larry,that is my correct e-mail.Maybe my box was full.Thanks.Don't worry,I was just kidding around a bit yesterday.At least my tennis game has not abandoned me.That was always my first love anyway.In case you are wondering about tennis in snow,I play indoors at Princeton Univ.,1/2 mile away from the Princeton Record Exchange,so I am a happy guy,after all,even though there has been DRECK there lately!

Thank you,very much,for the fine feedback!I,too,am very interested in both the SCHROEDER and the AIRLINE.Here are my concerns though.As for the Airline,the feedback I've been getting from the preliminary press reports,as well as from my own audio friends tell me to expext this to be a sensational,and probably,final purchase.That being said,aside from the high price(and the fact that the 2.2 is way better than I'd previously thought,as I now really have inate knowledge of the effect of that DAMN DAMPING FLUID on the arm's performance)I just can't,at this time get around the fact that it will be a major pain in the tush to run the tubing and position,as well as deal with the pumps,compressors etc.But,BOY do I love to ponder the possibility of this arm becoming a reality in my system, at some future point.The SCHROEDER,also,looks to be a fine arm,only there seems to be almost a shutting out of any potential buyers,when it comes to being able to get any kind of exposure to it in the NY/NJ area.Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this one.Last year at HE 2004 there was a Schroeder shown,but,not set up for music.What good was that?I aso don't know of any dealers that demo this,seemingly great arm,in my area,aside from the fact that good ANALOG dealers died out about 10 years ago.So what does someone like myself have to go on?The feedback on the NET!Which is great,but I'm not spending any money on something that is just so RARE.Also,the Schroeder is VERY PRICEY for a pivot.It may well be worth it,though,but I admit to being sceptical of that price.As for the Airline,It is also going to be almost impossible for me to audition,but,I have a dear friend that already has the FABULOUS Air Tangent arm,so at least I have a guage of the difference between a really good pivot and the INARGUABLE superiority of a well set up air bearing.SO,one could easily live with the 2.2,but I know how much better the Air Tangent is,and like pondering the posibility of other potential ENVELOPE PUSHERS,which I've narrowed down to the Schroeder,Kuzma Airline,and Air Tangent.On a system,like mine,which is extremely revealing and has a soundstage that I can,literally,walk into,I'm convincd that the best possible arm will yield greater and greater rewards.So the quest continues.Now,please pardon me!I have to go out and kill myself.

Strapper.Just wanted to ask you if you think one of the factors for the better performance you are getting might be the higher weight of the Koetsu being a better match for the more massive(than 2.2)arm tube of the Phantom.

Cello,now that I've exhausted myself shoveling out of 14 inches,and am expecting 2-4 more inches tomorrow a.m.I am obviously a little down due to the winter doldrums(did I spell that correctly?).I also spent the entire afternoon Saturday disassembling my new COSMOS,because of a faulty motor.Now it has to go back to SOTA(who were truly sorry about this and I have no doubt that it will come back to a high standard).However the process of breaking down a table and arm is a MAJOR PAIN,'cause I'm really,really,really freakin' tired of fotzing around and want to hear my music.So I ask you this simple request(accompanied by some sad violin music).Could you,please give me a time frame as to when I could have some audio excitement,again,and let me know when you will be performing this anticipated comparison.I can't hold out that much longer!