Graham Phantom vs Triplaner

Downunder you should have called me to come and listen. I'm just down the road from HiFi Junction.
Copperhead has been running since Xmas 07.
Continuum re-drilled the TW Acustic armboard to fit. It's only cosmetic reasons that Raven are supplying a new armboard (which incidentally has been ready for months but is waiting shipment with other items).
The phono cables of the Copperhead needed over 100 hours of break-in and didn't sound good whilst that was happening.
Now the sound is simply staggering.
I don't want to pre-empt the description until I have the DaVinci Grandezza mounted with the ZYX Universe. This should be in about 3 weeks.
I have heard that the Grandezza is as good as (if not better than) both the Phantom and Triplanar so a direct comparison between the 12" Grandezza with the Copperhead will confirm whether the bar has been raised as high as I believe, by the Copperhead design?

Regards

Halcro,while I am absolutely fascinated by the Copperhead(hey,multiple patents on much of their stuff,surely means something),the "bar" stays in about the same place(as far as I am concerned),unless the Copperhead is compared to both the Phantom,and Triplanar.
Just comparing it to a well regarded Grandezza,says "nothing" about the Triplanar and Phantom.
BTW,while I was in my lengthly wait for my "newly arrived" Phantom I did look into alternatives.The Grandezza was one.In my circle the Grandezza is not thought of so highly(which does not mean much,in the overall picture)as the Triplanar,Phantom,and Vector.Hey,as of last week,I have to throw in the new VPI 12.7 too.
I stste this NOT to be controversial,but until serious "direct" comparisons are made,evrything seems to be conjeture!
One thing for sure,these are ALL superb designs,and truthfully(aside from financial constraints)I could live happily(I mean it)with any of these arms.....Yet,I am at the moment really fascinated with the Copperhead.Just from "fandom",and it's smokeable!-:)
Best.

Sirspeedy.
Sorry I wasn't very clear......the comparison to the Phantom HAS been done many times (I have not heard the Triplanar).
Unfortunately the Phantom could not compete in any meaningful way with either the Copperhead or Cobra.
Mikey Fremer has his Caliburn set up with mounting boards for both Cobra AND Phantom (the Phantom mainly because when he has to review and compare turntables, he can compare them with the same arms (Phantom, the Cobra would be impractical).
Because of his friendship with Bob Graham, I doubt that Mikey will do any comparisons in print between the Cobra and the Phantom (he also has the Copperhead and it will interesting to see if he will compare these?).
I've heard all three (not at the same time nor in the same system), but the Raven AC with the Copperhead sounds as good as (or even better than) the Caliburn with the Cobra.
Email Mikey to see if he will tell you the truth about HIS comparisons with the Phantom, Cobra and Copperhead?

From where I sit at the moment, a major part of the 'sound' of the Continuum Caliburn is the Cobra arm.
The reason I want to reserve judgement is to hear the comparison to the Grandezza directly on the same table to see if the gap that I hear between the Copperhead and the Phantom is repeated with the Davinci arm?

Regards

PS Sirspeedy,
The distributer in Australia for the Triplanar arm is in fact the CEO of Continuum Audio (Dr Murali Murugasu) and he has listened at length to the Triplanar vs the Cobra and Copperhead.....not good news for you Triplanar fans?
However this is understandable.
The Cobra and Copperhead arms were designed by Mark Doehmann of Continuum from first principles and early prototypes were tested against the Graham, Triplanar and Schroeder arms to ensure that these benchmarks were exceeded by a LARGE margin.

The sad fact is that most of you in the USA will probably never get to HEAR one of these arms let alone own one?!
Because of the sorry state of the US dollar, even the Copperhead is more than twice the price of the Phantom or Triplanar.
Continuum can't keep up with world demand and even though I know Murali and live close by, it even took ME in Australia, 6 months to obtain a Copperhead?!

Until other manufacturers understand and impliment the new design principles discovered by the Continuum team, the majority of the audiphile world will NOT be aware of the true dimensions of the information contained in the grooves of the simple vinyl record.

Regards

Yes,Halcro I did read Fremers comments.Hey,if something pushes the emvelope.... "great".I don't recall Fremer doing a "real" comparison against the Copperhead,as it was itegrated into the Criterion(gorgeous table,btw).
He did make mention of the Phantom vs the "16,000" dollar Cobra(Hmmm),and though the Cobra seemed to be his preferrence(I did not get the impression he thought it was a huge chasm),he did not seem to make a big deal about this.I have no interest in E-mailing him,as to his preferrence.His tastes are "his",and his music of choice differs from mine.I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this scenario!....But I DO hope you are right!!...Actually I did hear the Continuum/Cobra,at HE 2006.Sounded superb,with the given system.So did the Walker!
I truly am happy if there is something else "pushing the envelope".My point of view(from experience,and just my own taste)is...... #1-I would have to hear it enough times,in familiar systems,with program material I know well,and...#2-If item #1 cannot be easily done,then there "must" be enough good word of mouth,by enough experienced folks(that I respect),to create "believeability" in that product.Of course this would take quite some time,to develope such a reputation!No?
The Phantom is highly regarded,and I know it well,but it's only been around for about two to three years....The Triplanar has been around for around thirty years(and refined to the max).Not to mention I had one for three years.Even with a not so hot coupling with my table,it was "way" good enough to not be so happy seeing it go(to my accountant,as a barter-:).....That's a serious track record!!!
We'll see!!

Btw,you are SO right about general value,as it relates to the US dollar!I love alot of stuff,but must think HARD about getting something that is inflated.Either by economical considerations,or by high profile reviews.
Best.