Shelter 90X Tracking Force

No offense taken, Speedy One ...

I find myself in the difficult situation of trying to give anecdotal evidence while at the same time not coming off as being self promoting or condescending of other manufacturers.

Of course, I can speak only of arms I have extensive experience with, and in the last 24 months, I've lived with ... well, you know...

My 9 month stint with a Graham 2.2 in 2003-2004 was too long ago to be relevant to any current discussion. Since then, I've changed (and I'd like to think improved) my electronics and my speakers.

Part of the problem I had at the time was that my electronics and speakers had the same system bias as my Graham 2.2 did. They were all oriented toward a thin sound which tended to exaggerate "detail" at the expense of body.

I had only my turntable to balance this out. I didn't, I would likely have ripped many of these components out of my system a lot sooner.

Please don't misconstrue this as my being a bass fanatic. I can very happily live with speakers that drop like a stone below 60Hz, but I don't like components that play a slight of hand game with detail.

I'd like to re-visit the 2.2 as well as to play with the Phantom on a clean slate. Of course, this would still be in the context of a single system, but at least it would be a different system, and might better help me to triangulate in on the truth.

The Summer is a good time for this type of exercise, as folks slow down with things audio and I have time to play ... to the extent that I'm not out on the cliffs.

Gosh! What happens if I love the Phantom and start selling it. I'll be back in the same boat again (sigh).

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

Agree with John Tracy above, you can build a copy of Wally Malewicz's 'ladder' for less than a dollar. All you need is a cheap 50c plastic ruler and a plastic bolt/nuts. Can be made in 15 minutes with very basic tools.
Here's Wally's original.
Here's my copy
Use a fairly stiff plastic ruler, not the really thin bendy ones. The lower platform on my jig has the flat side of the ruler (ie reverse side of ruler) pointing up for a nice flat cartridge platform.

Thom,you simply cannot love the Phantom!!Think of what it would do to your fan base!!-:)

Best!

Mre2007,
VTA (and SRA, which is more important) have little to do with whether your armtube is level.

VTA = the angle of the cantilever to the record surface

SRA = the angle of the stylus contact surfaces to the record surface

You should be trying to achieve the optimum angle for your cartridge, preferably by listening. Struggling to visually level your armtube is a waste of time.

Hey Thom,the Durascale 100 looks to be a SUPERB product.With the modification you are going to do to it,it would be hard to beat.I love the fact that it has a thirty year warrantee!I like quality stuff.
Could you elaborate as to when you will be selling this(with ledge/shelf mod),and what it would cost.If I could fit it in my budget,I'd consider selling my cute new,but cheap looking,guage.

Best!