Normally it is no difficult decision. I am in Tonearms for about 12 years (the better ones you can see in my System, those which didn't survive a week are not listed) and in all those years every Manufacturer/Distributor told me, that his new Design beats a Graham easily. They "compared" and know from what they talk. The world is black or white. I did those comparisons, too and i got some very interesting results. Indeed, mostly the differences were not subtle, they are huge (are, because nothing changed). A correct geometry, the ability to adjust a cartridge correctly in 3 minutes, a correct tonal reproduction, expensive material for superior vibration transfer, a real high quality bearing, expensive material which ruin the tools pretty fast...all this can create confusion. Especially when the Arm is one of those, which can show exactly what kind of quality the Turntable or the Phonostage is.
All this can create a kind of "taste" which can confuse. Too much detail, no softness, some nice distortions compensated with a matching cartridge is an alternative to find the right product. The market does offer those..
For those the Phantom is not the right choice.
All this can create a kind of "taste" which can confuse. Too much detail, no softness, some nice distortions compensated with a matching cartridge is an alternative to find the right product. The market does offer those..
For those the Phantom is not the right choice.