Great Cartridge for Graham Phantom

Minimum level is fine.Just add or subtract a tiny bit at a time,for perfection.Based on YOUR tastes.
Good luck

Good news!The very latest Phantoms will have a new,slightly heavier counterweight,just for you guys wanting to eek out the absolute best from the heavier cartridges.A good thing,for Koetsu lovers!
There will also be a new lower viscosity damping fluid,and more incremental markings on the VTF dial.So I have been told.
Hopefully I will have mine,"in two weeks",so says my dealer.
I sure hope this holds up,as I am aware of the reason for Phantom delays,which is a darn good one.
Best.

Hey George(Gmorris),nice to hear from you.I will not be able to commemnt on the heavier counterweight,as I never had the original one.My friend has the original one,which sounds just great,to me.I was told the new one is for better matching of heavier cartridges,not that I see any problems at all,with the older weight.
The fluid was done,as advised by someone close to Bob Graham,who also thought it was a good idea.I know the older fluid was just fine,on my froiend's arm,but we took a bit out recently and found it fine.
I assume the differences would be minor,and the older fluid would require a bit less,in the well, as compared to the new fluid.Different amounts,based on viscosity.I'm certainly no authority on this,but just guessing.The arm,as is,is fabulous with the Orpheus,so I just want one!!
SOOOOOOON!!!I hope!!!
Best

Fjn04,I had two different stone body Koetsus.Loved them!I cannot see any reason for the Phantom(new or old) to have any problems with either.
The heavier counterweight would allow for the weight to be a bit closer to the bearing,but I cannot possibly see any reason for the older weight to not be fabulous.We all get a bit carried away with minutiae,in this hobby at times.
I'll bet one would really have to strain to hear the difference between the older Phantom and the newer one.
What happened with me,at my pal's home(he owns the original Phantom)was that we decided to get a bit nuts with the damping fluid,as we both owned the 2.2 awhile back.THAT arm is incredibly sensitive to fluid!The Phantom is not as sensitive,but it is still VERY critical of it,with the Orpheus cartridge.
So,we played around alot,and lowered the amount of fluid to the point of about half as much as previously used,as per Bob Graham's recommendation(that particular week,two months ago).
Of course he had gone from the Kharma 1.0 to the Magico Mini,so the different voicing of fluid was probably affected by the different personality(timbral/harmonic....and GORGEOUS)of the Magico Mini.
Needless to say,he is in audio heaven,as of now,and is not all bent out of shape about a micro improvement(if any),to an already great arm!
LP's we used for comparative results were Bang Baroom and Harp(RCA),Tabooh Tabuhan/The Black Maskers(Mercury 1s pressing),Decca Lp of Prince Of The Pagodas,Frank Sinatra Swingin' Session(capitol),Pop Pop/Ricky Lee Jones( re-issue),The Pendrecki Partita for Harpsichord and Orch.(EMI box set,and dynamics to die for)and a load of various violin cto's/solo stuff from Ida,Itzhak,Erica to "you name it"(my friend is a violin "maniac",and has about every violin disc ever pressed.Too many,IMO,but it's his money(he's probably spent more money on violin discs then his system)......BTW,theTransfiguration Orpheus is amazing with this arm!
Best.

"Do you feel the Orpheus leans in any particular sonic direction"?....
"A very good direction"!..Yet,don't sell a good Koetsu for one,unless you collect cartridges!
Whew,.....you guys are "serious"!!
BTW,a friend(not one I speak to more than two or three times a year) has the Titan-I,Lyra Olympos and a Koetsu Coral Stone.He LOVES the Coral Stone the most!Says that on vocals it cannot be matched.This is second hand info,so take it as such.
Personally I think the "looks" of the Coral Stone body is to "die for gorgeous"!!Fossilized coral,from what I understand.How old is that?...Jurassic?
Best!

Jdolgin..regarding suggestions under 2500....I have quite a bit of listening experience to the Lyra Helikon.My friend had it for three years,and he is an avid music lover/vinyl collector(mostly Classical/jazz).It IS a fabulous cartridge!!!We had a discussion(friend and myself)about how even today(although he has the Titan-I)the Helikon could keep us both happy.Just opinion,but a really nice pedigree in that design.I really respect that cartridge!
I'd love to say that Transfiguration has a winner in this price range(and I'm sure they do),but I am only familiar with the amazing Orpheus,and the discontinued Tmper-V.
Best of luck

Larry,good point about the jig.I always "average out" the set-up jig,by hand when adjusting this.I said,to myself,that if I ever actually receive my Phantom,I will attempt to re-check the set-up,with other devices too.Yet,the jig is still quite good,so let's not start a riot-:)
As to the "resonant characteristic" that can add dynamics to music.I totally agree with you again,insofar as I understand what you mean.
Yet,the Temper-V(which I owned and used on a Graham 2.2 is definitely NOT the least bit lacking in dynamics.The arm/table set-up will greatly influence this,IMO!I was able to coax(using the damping fluid)either a laid back sound,or very dynamic sound with that combo.The particular Lp played,and my mood, set the tone for how I wanted it that day.The Orpheus does blow the Temper away though,even though I was still in the break in mode,when I sold my 2.2,so I cannot wait to get back to that cartridge!
If you heard a lazy Temper-V,I assure you it was not the cartridge,unless old,or damaged!
Ultimately the "added resonant signature thing" wears on the listener,unless one likes to reset arm damping often,on the 2.2(still a great arm,btw,and I'm beginning to miss mine).
The "resonant thing" came into play,when I wanted to reset parameters on the 2.2.Meaning I used specific LP's to find the "right spot".This "spot" was always a moving target!I could get it right for a series of discs,but it always changed.
The Phantom(my friend has it,which replaced a 2.2 too)holds steady!!!.....GAD,I hope mine comes through....SOON!I'm beginning to look at the Caliburn Copperhead,and am beginning to think..."what if"?
One particular favorite LP I use for the "resonant thing",is a disc called "the Pealing Bells Of The Westminster Handbell Choir"!...A fabulously well recorded LP,of gorgeous handbell music!!Incredibly dynamic,and detailed(expensive too...mine cost a buck)Recorded in Princeton,at the church which is one block from my favorite collector's haunt.
If one is not careful with the arm set-up,the bells come off sounding like glass.....HERE you MUST be extremely careful with an arm like the 2.2,as it is easy to either get too much glass sound(the bells are metal,and pictured,btw),or a slightly overly damped sound.
A great disc to set a system to,because if gotten right,your entire set-up came to life.Almost!!The "resonant signature"(which is voiced to,on the 2.2) can work in favor,or against the set-up person on LP's like this.I still have lots to learn,and know it!
On this subject I would "then" concentrate on "that" resonant thing!A real balancing act,on this LP!Must admit,when I was alone(without my critical friends present)it was alot of fun....If my pesky/picky friends were in a bad mood,it was an annoying tweak session.I HATE to sweat,in set ups,where we go to a nice restaurant afterwards,and I am the only guy schvitzed!... BTW,I took this disc over to my friend,when he had the Air Tangent....there,surprisingly,it still had a slight glassy quality.I was not about to ask my friend to "voice" to this disc,as he has his own set of priorities.Still it was interesting to me.
I will definitely be interested in how the Phantom(a "phantom" to me,as of now)"does this" when I get it.Hopefully within a week or so.So I have been told.
Best.

It should be a great choice.

Good luck