Phantom Supreme to 4Point-14?


I'm considering it. Who's done it and what did you think? Members who've heard a head-to-head comparison are also welcome to chime in.

The turntable is an SP10R in Artisan Fidelity plinth. Cartridges at this point are an mainlyan A90 and Benz Ebony TR, but I'm planning for a MSL Gold or Platinum sometime down the road.

Thanks.

wrm57

For the 4P-11 and 4P-14, the P2S measurement is very different from the mounting distance because the pivot is located on an outrigger platform. Mounting distance is where you drill out the armboard and mount the arm base. This outriggered pivot is what enables an 11 inch arm to fit where a 9 would usually go, which is an ingenious boon to most turntables but not our our SPs because of that big square escutcheon. The 4P-9 and Safir, however, mount at the pivot like many arms.

I would not go with the 14. Go with the 11. I do thing it is a better arm for many cartridges than the Graham and certainly a lot better value. My personal favorite is the 9. I understand the 11 and 9 won't fit. I own the MSL Signature Platinum and the 14 will be too heavy for it without a lot of damping which puts added stress on the cartridge. Take a look at the Schroder LT. It has the right spindle to mounting hole distance for your table and it is a tangential tracker that does not require anti skating. Very cool design. A 12" Tri Planer would work and a 12" Reed 2G would work. There is not much wrong with the SME V12 either. 

Thanks @mijostyn , that's good feedback. As you were you posting, I drew a scaled template of the 4P mounting base and broke out my UNI P2S tool. It turns out the 11 (or 9 or Safir) will fit on the back armboard--just barely. And because the plinth has a lot more area to the right than in front, the 11 would not hang the cartridge out over the edge if its mounted back there. Very interesting.... I have an Ortofon AS309S back there now for SPUs and like it well enough. But any of the Kuzmas would be a serious upgrade, I'm sure, and I can run SPUs on another turntable with my SME M2-12R. Plus, I'd keep the Graham on the Technics in the front position for daily drivers, etc.

So you like the 9 more than the 11? You don't miss the easy VTA adjustment?

I'll look into the Schroeder. I owned a standard Triplanar for years but sold it in favor of another Graham. Is the 12 significantly better?

Much to think about, all of it good!

Mijo just wants someone, anyone, to live out his dream of owning a Schroeder LT. Yes, a 12 inch TP will be different from a 9 inch TP; its effective length will be 12 inches. The possible sonic differences with any particular cartridge are possible to predict in advance.

 

As @mijostyn stated, sometimes I also prefer the 4Point9 vs the original 11" but it is a close call. Yes for the $$$ the 4Point9 is the better buy BUT if you are into adjusting VTA per different LP's then DON'T buy the 9" it's a PITA to adjust frequently and not easily repeatable IMO. Yes once set it's fine and it can be set precisily but takes a LOT more effort than the VTA adjustment of the 11".