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looking at upgrading my tonearm from a triplanar


I have a Galibier Gavia table, ZYX Universe II cartridge and a triplanar tonearm running through a Doshi Aalap preamp.

The sound is wonderful but I can't help but feel I could enhance the vinyl rig by upgrading the tonearm,
particularly gaining low level detail.

I've read up on a few models and I am looking for input on an arm that would be a significant step up from the triplanar.

I am particularly interested in comments from previous triplanar owners on sonic improvements with a new arm

the Durand Talea, Kuzma 4 Point and Graham are on my short list. I am not considering anything above $10k

thanks

Tom
128x128audiotomb
thom_at_galibier_design's avatar
thom_at_galibier_design
729 posts
 
Syntax - your comments (Graham vs. Kuzma/Tri-Planar) are very instructive.

I would state it differently: that the presentation of the Tri-Planar and Kuzma are dramatically different from the Graham's presentation.

I wouldn't call either superior, but I would virtually guarantee that someone would line up in one camp or the other, much as you have.

You probably know my biases, but that's not the point of this comment.

Cheers,
Thom
audiotomb's avatar
audiotomb OP
1,112 posts
 
I was able to purchase a Durand Talea MkII used. Really looking forward to the synergy. Thanks everyone and I will comment on the sonics when things are up and playing
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,875 posts
 
Tim Paravicini chose the Helius Omega for his EAR table. I'm guessing it's pretty good!
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Had Triplaner TW 10.5 is much better.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,875 posts
 
Ralph, your mention of the hardness of the bearings in the Triplanar brings to mind a couple of questions for me. Could you give us your design engineer's perspective on the following?

- What is the significance of the hardness of a tonearm's bearings? At the tonearm weights involved, that alone wouldn't seem to be important.

- On the other hand, beside the bearing design itself, two bearing characteristics would seem, at least conceptually, to matter a great deal:

1- The bearing's ability to transfer mechanical energy out of the arm tube and into the mass of the turntable
2- The smoothness of the surface of the bearing material, for lowest friction.
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