Graham tonearm tweaking

Jeff,The wobbly aspect is supposed to be there.To me,that is one reason unipivots are SO GOOD.Think "car suspension" here,with the pivotal nature(WOBBLE) coping with micro bumps and depressions in the groove,some dirt as well.Although there may be some responses to the contrary,and I can't proove anything,the opposite effect of the unipivot would sort of act like a plow through the groove.They work fine,but the unipivot design is a "KILLER".So don't worry!

Sounds like the damping fluid was too low,originally,and may have contributed to the distortion you heard.As I, and others, have stated previously,the stuff can make or break the ultimate performance of the arm. Also,make sure your anti-skate is where it should be.Check Graham instructions.Also,even though it's a pain in the tush,read all previous posts.If you want to grow in this hobby,then you can never get too much information.You can,also call Bob Graham.I have,in the past,with questions.He is a nice guy.

Although having a captive audience is nice,truthfully, I'm played out on this topic, of the tweaking of the arm.There are some very nice people that have responded to this thread,and you can find valuable info with many of them.Many seem to be far more experienced and capable than me.I've been at this hobby for 35 years or so,but,am constantly learning things.Don't be coy about trying something for yourself.

Anyway the 2.2 is a great product and should last a lifetime.I don't see any other arms,other than the very pricey and ergonomically difficult air bearing designs outperforming it to a great degree.If I ever get rid of mine that is the only direction I'd move in!

Good Luck!!

Goodbye sirspeedy, your work here is done. It’s been great knowin'ya. Seriously though, I'm working a document called Setting Up The Graham Tonearm. Copying the vital pieces from this and other discussion threads and pasting them in one cohesive word document. I'll refer to it frequently in the upcoming months.

Sirspeedy,
I certainly wasn't trying to argue, but I wasn't offering an opinion either. Unlike many things in audio, thread pitch is easily measured. 0.7mm per turn is more resolving than 1.0mm per turn. Opinion really doesn't enter into it. (Now I'm arguing!)

I agree about the "slop" in the TriPlanar's VTA threads of course. To use that adjustment consistently one must bring the tower up to the desired position by at least 1/4 turn or so. Doing this allows the weight of the arm to take up the slop, which is easy to feel. Tighter threads would be better. Perhaps that's what you meant when you said the Graham's VTA adjustment was more resolving.

Many thanks again for posting your breakthrough results. Damping the Graham effectively is so critical that every owner owes you big time.

Jeff_ss,
Are you going to post your document? I'm actually working on something similar for the TriPlanar. There are a number of things a user needs to know that aren't in the TriPlanar manual, just as a good explanation of damping is not provided in the Graham manual.

Raul,
I can't imagine why you'd object, but I do in fact listen with closed eyes at live concerts. All the time. I'd better stop doing that or I'll never see you coming!

Jeff ss, I would be interested in a copy of the article you are putting together for the Graham tonearm. Let me know how to get a copy of it.

Thanks,Brad

Doug,I never took any of your,useful and educated comments as argumentative.I was very happy with my Triplaner,but,found the Graham a better match for my table.This had more to do with the fact that in order for the Wheaton to fit my arm's mounting area,and to fascilitate the "DOWNWARD" pitch of my arm,with respect to my Transfiguration Temper V's excessive vta "backslope" I needed a spacer between the cartridge and the headshell.You could imagine how pissed off I was at my dealer for not realizing this.Especially when I asked him to check this out.

That being said,who cares if I have to move the "FRIGGIN" Graham adjustment a little more than the Triplaner?It's still "dead accurate".It is supposed to be a more finer pitch than other arms,so what?They are all(other arms as well)capable of this level of adjustability.At least those I've seen.Gives new meaning to the term "Let your fingers do the walking"!!Who even thinks about stuff like "thread pitch" when you can still get the desired result?

By the way,I ALWAYS close my eyes(AT TIMES) whether listening "LIVE" or to my own set-up.I'll bet Raul has too!!!

Please take ANY comments that may seem confrontational as "SIMPLY" comments I'd make to a "Friend" during a listening session!!BOY,you would not believe some of the "REALLY HEATED"audio debates that constantly break out in my listening group,and not from me.I'm too busy ducking.I LOVE it,though!!!