SME V, Tri-Planar or Phantom B-44 ?

Dear Tom: +++++ " would be more alike than different. " +++++

IMHO it is obvious that any two-three top tonearms are more alike ( they are tonearms ) than different but that " different " makes the whole difference, if not every top tonearm can be the " same ".

You can make a simple test with any tonearm to understand exactly what I mean: try to change the tonearm internal wiring or to by-pass it and put a different wire ( external ) or make a change on the headshell wires.

It is the same with almost any audio item, example a TT: almost are more alike than different, of course its main targets are almost the same ( all are TT and have to spin at precise speed with stability. ), but the sum of each one " tiny/small " differences makes the whole performance difference/signature.

Well, this is only my opinion and like always I respect the other people ones.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Thanks everybody
As to raul qestion, i own the Kondo IO-M,had the SME V for
a short while ,and now im on the market again for a new ton arm,and i wish to add Scheu Taco Tonearm to my earlier qestion

Hi Raul, I've not had direct experience with the Phantom as I have a Triplanar for each of our Atma-Sphere 208s. I've seen a lot of people argue about which of arm is better and I don't doubt that there are differences in sound nor (more importantly) do I care to debate their merits.

But with all the 'goner' arguement about which is better, to me the only rational conclusion is that they must be very close, and set up issues (the room, the amps, the speakers, cables, etc., etc.) are playing enough of a role to account for the differences that taste does not. To that I add that Tri Mai's Of Triplanar tends to be very complementary of the Phantom and I know he would not say that to me if he did not mean it.

IMO the Triplanar, if not in fact the bona-fide item, is very nearly the state of the art. But earlier I tempered that opinion in an effort to allow for other's opinions as well...

Dear Benson: Very good cartridge and demanding on the tonearm due to its special characteristics.

My personal advise is that you go for the IKEDA 345 tonearm in its silver wire version or the Audio Note AN-1s, both are tonearm current models.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Hello all,

Its been a while since I posted something on the gon. Its unfortunate to have these types of"best of", "a vs b" posts answered by folks who have not done direct comparisons in the same system. Indirect comparisons, conjecture, assumptions, etc can have the unfortunate effect of confusing and misdirecting people.

On the other hand, very few people have the time and money to make direct comparisons in the same system. Maybe that's why we tend to settle for the next best option.even with direct comparisons, system differences can lead to different conclusions.

I am in the process of comparing the Phantom-2 to the triplanar-7v2 in my own system and will be offering my opinions in the near future.
The only person who has made direct comparisons of these arms that I'm aware of is "thomashesig"here on the gon in a related post, and mickelson on Soundstage and Garcia in the absolote sound.from what I hear so far "thomashesig" hit the nail on the head in his comparison.there are big differences between these particular two.

I would like to go back and forth one more time before posting my final conclusions.

Stay tuned