Phantom B44 vs The SME V Tone Arm

Dear Macallan25: TheRedscouser link is a very good place to start.

Now, I know the importance that the tonearm has on the analog chain but I recomended that before you choose for a tonearm try to think about the phono cartridge that must match that tonearm: this couple is really that: a couple, the choice of tonearm must have to take it with a cartridge in mind. Which is your?

Btw, wonderful TT you have that I understand comes with the SME V, right?

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Macallan25: In my opinion there is no " best " tonearm perse. Every top high end tonearm has its own up and down strength but when you copled with a cartridge that up strength could go down or could go higher, it depend on the cartridge combination and the arm board.

To say that one tonearm or other are the " best one " is a misunderstood about.

In my long analog audio experiences ( not only because I own several tonearm/cartridges ) the best tonearm is the one that help and permit that " that " cartridge always " shine " over other tonearm combination.

Do you have any opinion about?

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Sirspeedy: Yes, the arm board makes an audible difference.

I think that the TT manufacturers put on all their " attention " in the TT it self with out any or at least very low interest in how crucial is its own interface with the outside world. Parts of that outside world are the tonearm/cartridge and us and our music priorities.
Some of those manufacturers don't take that responsibility and others, like Rockport and Walker, go beyond that responsibility and take decisions that, in my opinion, are and individual decision of each one of us about which tonearm we prefer: they take " our decision " and put their own tonearm!?!?!?!?!!

I think and I'm sure that in the times to come the TT manufacturers will take seriously that arm board responsibility .

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.