looking at upgrading my tonearm from a triplanar

Tom,

Durand Talea would be a significant upgrade. The Beta version of the Talea easily bested both my fully tweaked TP and Dan_Ed's in direct A/B comparisons, in my system and his, using UNIverse I and XV-1S. The production models now available include improvements based on Beta tester feedback and further research by Joel. I assume they're even better than what I heard. I'd have replaced my TriPlanar with a Talea long ago if I had the funds and time. Well worth your consideration.

FYI, the Talea also bested a Kuzma Airline in that owner's system, using XV-1S and Tranfiguration Orpheus. While the Airline had a few advantages, the Talea had a notably lower sound floor... clearer and with more low level detail... a more realistic presentation of acoustic instruments. This was agreed by five listeners, including the Airline's owner. If the Airline is sonically superior to the 4 Point (assumption based on price)... draw your own conclusion.
;-)

IME, a Schroeder Reference is not an upgrade to a properly set up TriPlanar VII or above. It may be better with some cartridges, but with a ZYX UNIverse (I or II) it would be a lateral move at best. In a direct A/B, with Frank Schroeder setting up his arm and me setting up the TP, the TP more than held its own. This occured before I discovered or implemented any of the tweaks detailed on the "TriPlanar Tips" thread. Many of those enhance the TP's performance in precisely the areas where the Schroeder should have an advantage (low sound floor). If using a high end ZYX, a fully tweaked TP will probably outplay a Reference.

Haven't heard a Phantom except briefly at shows, so can't say how that would compare.

I found the Talea to be a disappointment compared to the Triplanar, after everything I had heard and read about it. In particular the Triplanar is better in the bass- so far, the best I have heard. I use recordings I have recorded myself for reference, as I know how they are supposed to sound (Canto General, if anyone is asking).

The Triplanar has the hardest bearings of any arm made. Its one of the reasons it works so well.

Recently the arm has been updated with more flexible wire, and there are two newer models, the 12" and a regular size that uses the new arm tube materials of the 12".

So it might be that the thing to do is get the older arm updated.

Did own the Triplanar VII U2 for quite a while and made a lot of comparisons with it, mainly against Graham Phantom first generation (which was replaced later until Supreme) with various cartridges.
The Triplanar was ok in the time when Graham 2.0 was the current one, but every comparison against Graham Phantom was disappointing for me. The Triplanar is grossly overrated, in no area, with no cartridge it was able to stand against Phantom Arm. That one is faster, shows much more detail in every frequency area and it works also with a lot of carts at superior level. The Triplanar looks solid, but it isn't, the energy transfer is mediocre. It is ok with cartridges which do not reflect any or few energy back into the Arm or are low in weight (Zyx is a good match for example). Koetsu, Lyra and others which need a Arm with good energy transfer, solid bearing to shine on their best, work much better with Phantom. Made these comparisons on same Turntable, same electronics and correct installation. The Kuzma 4P is also a loser compared to Phantom Arm, slow, it simply does not have the headroom and subtle details and so on other Arms can deliver, also a comparison on same turntable with identical electronics was done for that. But there will be other opinions who will write something different ...

My impressions are pretty similar to Doug's as they should be since Doug and Dan introduced me to the Talea ,on Doug's table ,many years ago. For almost a year I had the TP and the Talea2 mounted side by side ,on my TW AC . The carts were the Trans Orpheus and later , the Lyra Atlas. Having compared the 2 arms ,in the same system for over a year , to my ears there was no comparison and I sold the TP. In every conceivable parameter the Talea2 is a superior arm though I have not heard the later iterations of the TP, namely the 12" version. The Talea2 was intended as a 2nd arm but the differences were so stark it ended up as the solo arm.
YMMV
Best
Pradeep

So, Audiotomb, it seems you need a Graham Phantom AND a Talea2 to cover all the bases, if you replace your TP. I own a TP and have heard the Talea on a neighbor's system with which I am intimately familiar. I cannot say the Talea is better than the TP, because I would need both on the same tt and in my house, in order to compare them, but the Talea did sound superb, with a ZYX UNIverse.