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

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

Dear Atmasphere: Now I understand your statement.

The problem with " open " questions ( like this ) is that any one of us speaks of what are our experiences and in our systems and many times we think that the " best " is what we have but in the tonearm case that " best " is almost impossible to find in a precise way. Let me explain:

to say that the Phantom is better than the Triplanar ( it is only an example, I'm not saying it is. ) means almost nothing, maybe the Phantom is better with a specific cartridge in a specific audio system but we can say too that the Triplanar is the best with a specific cartridge/system. In either case we can't assume ( for sure ) that the Phantom/Triplanar is better than the other one.

The fact that a tonearm/cartridge combination is one product/item not two items makes things complex.

Now, IMHO even trying to take the tonearm as a stand alone item makes things only a little less complex but does not resolve the whole " best ", let me explain:

to obtain a winner we have first to " write " the standards/factors/targets " ( technical, subjective ones, look/appearance, execution, build quality, et, etc, ) against be " measured/challenge " any tonearm. Where are those standards " approved " or where can we find it?.

Imho, does not exist and IMHO too almost everyone of us have our self and unique standards. The Tom_mackris standards are different from yours/me or Syntax/Lewm ones.

Of course that exist a " best " but first we need those " standards " to qualified about.

I almost always give my opinions on audio subjects with first hand experiences and always with almost the whole characteristics of the items involve on a specific subject.

Now, I know that each single opinion from any person is welcome and was made triying to help to the person that ask. IMHO the person that ask ( sometimes ) has a very hard " task " to choose the right/better answer because ( sometimes ) some of the answers were/are even contradictory but this is what is an open forum like the Agon one.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Thanks Raul,what do you think about the synergy between my orbe+kondo and the Scheu Taco,thanks again

Dear Benson139: I don't have any experience with that tonearm but I can't feel " free " and " calm " trying to match that unipivot design with a very low compliance ( 6cu on the IO-M ) cartridge.
I understand that Sheu have cartridges made by Benz-Micro that are at 12-14 cu and lower cartridge weight than the 11grs you have, a lot more reasonable to make a good match.

Other factor ( between other things ) is that I don't know which kind of internal wire use the Sheu where the Ikeda and Audio Note use a first rate silver one that could go better with your all silver cartridge.

Synergy is always the name of the game in audio, IMHO and if I was you I will go for the Ikeda or Audio Note.
Of ourse that you can go on a different " direction " and nothing wrong with that because at the " end of the day " you are the one that must live with it and your satisfaction is first than all.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.