SME V, Tri-Planar or Phantom B-44

The ability of any tonearm to "outperform" another is largely based on 2 factors:
1. The cartridge(s) used. It's difficult to assess either the tonearm or cartridge performance without considering the other. There are very good and very bad tonearm/cartridge pairings. It's critical to match properly.
2. The skill of the user as it pertains to installing and aligning the tonearm/cartridge.

I have the opportunity to install, set up, and tweak many turntables; quite often the owner has, in some way, not optimized the alignment.

I had an SME V and the VPI 10.5 outperformed it - actually, so did my 9 Sig.

Raul, zero experince with SME. It did not capture my eye so to speak while searching. Just seemed to me either all in SME, TT and arm, or not. Also hit me as a diferent school from the ZYX Universe I started with. My bad if I am missing something.

TD

Dear TD: +++++ " the SME was never on my list " +++++

I wonder why is that: do you already try it in your own system?, if yes: with which cartridges?

Thank you in advance.

Regards and enjoy the music.
raul.

ALL..Trust me!! If you have any properly working arm be happy...Be very,very happy!!

I am "not" alluding to any delay issues either!...

Don't even ask!!

" -:) " I hope)

Tim, I took delivery of a Raven AC two weeks ago. I already had a Triplanar and ZYX Universe X and I think I will be very happy with the compination. I will double check a few elements of the set up when I have time in the next week but it is very nice now.

BTW, I had the Universe frist, later added the Triplanar before adding the Raven AC so its not like I set out to find the best match...it just evolved that way.

That said, I have realized the Raven and Phantom could be a better match and I would have spent more time learning about the phantom if I did not already have the Tri. You may know that Tom the maker of the Raven likes the Phantom from what I have heard. But then the Tri and Universe are a great match so it is easy to keep the two togeather.

I have no experience with the SME or the Lyras, but the SME was never on my list.

TD

Hey Sirspeedy, i should receive my Phantom in a couple of weeks after a 6 months wait. I guess with Bob's tribulations and problems with some of his part suppliers, it delayed the whole manufacturing/assembling process. Will be mounting it on my Cosmos. It will be replacing my beloved SME V. I guess i will be getting a series II. But.....i am not holding my breath. I will advise when i get it. Sly.

Dear Tim: I like the SME V/IV for the Lyras, is a very good match.

Regards and enjoy the music.
raul.

I've owned all three,but did not have the best table set-up for my Triplanar,yet it is definitely a superb arm.I liked it alot though,and you'll hear from alot of posters liking it too.

The SME was a good arm,but the Phantom is superb,in virtually any catagory....

BTW,there is NOW a NEW series II Phantom,which should be even better than the one we all know about.

Check Graham's web-site for details.

You will have a superb arm,with all these choices,so price could be a factor.

Good luck

I've had the SME V and the Graham 2.2 but not the Phantom. The Triplanar was immediately and obviously better than either of the others (with a variety of cartridges too). I've not heard the Phantom yet, but the word is that it is very good, so its down to a choice between those.

There is another thread here on that subject.