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Tonearm choices

hey all

newbie here but like many, I have been getting advice from you guys for years....and thank you:)

I recently had all my kit stolen including my TT. If you ever see a TW Raven One with a broken Jelco 10.5 and cantilever-less Benz Wood LP, it was mine :)

I was fortunate to have some a little 'windfall' which I used partly for a new/used Merc and wife and whatever left went to the audio. So I got myself a great deal on a TW AC and Transfiguration Orpheus, Whest Audio MC REF V Mk4 phono preamp, Ayre K5 and V5 pre-power and Wilson Watt Puppy 8.
The puppies they did not take!!! I wonder why?

I have spoken to a few people about arms but have now got it down to about 4 arms. TW Raven tonearm, Graham Phantom, Triplanar OR wait another 6 months to see what happens.

James at Whest Audio recommended the Graham and TW but favours the TW because it might take a while to get a Phantom (so he was told) and he has heard a lot of positives about the TW arm. My dealer recommended the Triplanar because he has one and feels it is MUCH better than the Phantom. A good friend and Phantom user recommends the Phantom but has not heard the other 2.

I like the Whest approach as there is no bias there.
I like the dealer approach as he is a triplanar user.
My friend is a nutcase but I believe him.

Which way do I turn? At present I'm using a modified REGA RB351. It's good but I think you all know what I mean. The amazing thing is the Raven AC/Orpheus/ Whest MC REF V/ makes the Rega sound quite stunning. But I tried an older Graham 2.0 and it just blew the RB351 out of the water.

So the question is has anyone compared these 3 tonearms or is there something else out these?

grubbie

grubscrew

Showing 4 responses by barbapapa

barbapapa
244 posts
 
I have a Raven AC with full BN upgrades for more than 10 years. Allways had Da Vinci Grandezza 12´´ . Finally wanted to sell this combo for another one. The first thing I sold thas the tonearm. The tt was long trip to sell so I bought a used SME3012-R for listening my music until I sell the Raven (I need to sell for having money to spend for the new baby).
It was a big surprise to hear music from the old 3012 and much better than with the DV arm.
Not that sur I still want to sell the Raven now...
barbapapa
244 posts
 
I don’t have Raven arm. I had Da Vinci Grandezza and sold it. Now I have SME 3012-R instead.
In the beginning I wanted to sell the TT and the DV tonearm for buying the Swissonor TD124 with TA10 arm.
I managed to sell the arm rapidly, but I did not succeeded to sell the Raven the price I asked.
So I bought the 3012 waiting for the Raven to be sold. As I discovered what the TT could do with a top arm, not sure I still want to sell the Raven.
The Raven is full BN upgrades but the best offer from a gentleman was only 8000€. I don’ want to sell it for this price.
barbapapa
244 posts
 
I think the 3012-R is better than the Da Vinci Grandezza. I don’t know the Raven tonearm. In one word it is more dynamic, more alive, but always right.
with the 3012 I feel more easy to be « in » the musical event without thinking to sound.
The DV is very nice and sweet, calm,  more on the harmonics, less on the fundamentals. 
barbapapa
244 posts
 
Please keep in mind it is in my system, with MC Anna cart, Air Tight electronics and Analysis Audio speakers.
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