Graham Phantom vs Triplaner

I have to agree with Rfogel. The Tri-Planar has great leading edge energy but listener fatigue is not from the Tri-Planar. IMHO, there is not a better value in a tonearm. It seems to get the most out of a wider range of carts than the Graham. I am listening to a Koetsu Coralstone mounted on a Tri-Planar right now. Magic!

There are a handful of great arms on the market today. The Phantom and the Tri-Planar have to be included in that list. However, they sound quite different. To answer a few of your questions, the TP has better bass and treble for my taste. The Phantom is warmer and more laid back. To answer the rest of your questions, you need to listen for yourself and pick your own poison!

Cheers, Steve

Ask 5 Audiophiles and you'll get 6 opinions :)
Each of them has some strenghts and some "weaks", it depends on your cartridge, your Phonostage, Turntable etc. how they will show it to you.
I am always ready to learn, specially about that drift from the Kuzma Airline. I use it for a longer time now, but I never had something like this, but I guess, it is because my TT is level.
That's important too.:)

Thomas, considering you have both arms I would appreciate your views on the strengths and weaknesses of both arms.

Of course any views are only relative, however considering my musical preferences and how my system currently sounds, smoother upper mids/lower treble coupled with good dynamics and tonal "meat on the bone" are my priorities.
This to another is warm and turgid. each to their own.

I have seen but not personally tested these arm and their picadillos. I have a VPI arm wired with Valhalla, and I too was prepared for increased brightness, and detail. It took a long while to break in, however, it is now very natural overall. I suggest you listen to it before ruling it out. The VPI seems like the perfect arm for you with its very easy repeatable VTA, and seperate arms for all your cartridges making almost an instant swap.

The Triplanar VII is a excellent unit with its good cable and when using Cartridges below 10gr.
With heavier carts it simply looses information in the high frequency area, it is a bit lifeless and the "airy speed" is not there anymore (compared to other Arms, for example the Phantom, DaVinci or very heavy Arms).
I know, some use this Arm with Koetsus and are happy, but to be honest, what's not there, you can't hear....
The Phantom is much better in this, based on its very heavy block, it can handle lots of different cartridges (I used a few from 4-14gr) at a superior level.
To the sound
I like the Triplanar, it is good to listen to.
The Graham Arm is very precise and the results can vary based on the connected Phono cable. The differences can be huge (I tried XLO Sign., Siltech, Purist, IC-70 Graham Phono, Kondo Phono cables and some others with it).
The Phantom has a excellent frequency range, linked with an absolutely amazing Speed in the lower range.
With the XV-1s a amazing trip into dynamic reproduction.