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Tonearm cabling for Graham Phantom

Hi guys,

What cables have you guys used on the Phantom I arm ?
Is it advisable to use straight din to rca or is it the right angle din to Rca ?
Would appreciate some inputs.
Noli
nolitan
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
Right angle or nor depends on the Space you have below the Armboard. With the Raven Armboard you can use both. I use a right angle one for example.
There are lots of choices out there. Depends on the Design (shielded, real Phono Cable or rebranded RCA), the interaction with the rest of your chain, copper...silver....
I made last year a comparison with
PAD Venustas
XLO Signature Phono
Siltech Phono
Graham IC-70
Kondo KSL-VZ
Cardas (their latest at that time)
and a few others I forgot.
The PAD can create a huge soundstage, but I did prefer the airy Speed from the XLO, the Graham IC-70 was another cable which showed a very good balance in all frequencies from top to bottom.
The other ones were much more expensive but didn't show that kind of balance, most were dominant in one or the other area.
When you use the Search here you will find lots of posts about Phono cables.
nolitan OP
865 posts
 
thanks for the inputs syntax
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
Hi, all good comments above.

On the right angle vs straight, sometimes this also depends on the cable, the Purist Audio Designs I use has a very flexible 6 inch lead allowing fairly unrestrictive movement and ability to bend. Others maybe more stiff dictating a right or straight for you. I used to have a SME IV.Vi than has a similar din arrangement as your Graham, I used both straight and right angles...

I think the next question is what are you wanting to accomplish? You can spend more on a arm cable than your arm if you want.

In my opinion, they are a critical element of your analog playback chain...and like most things, system matching is critical.

Good luck !
hi5harry's avatar
hi5harry
185 posts
 
I know it's really expensive, but the Tara Labs GX phono cable is just fantastic! Two friends with Graham arms (and great systems) were so thrilled with theirs that I bought a used one here on Audiogon. It has made more difference than any cable change I have tried. Probably more like changing to a great cartride. It's hard to justify the price,but it will be the last time you buy a phono cable.
audiolui
295 posts
 
I agree with Hi5harry. I have a Graham Phantom II and now use the Tara Lab GX phono cable which offers the most airy and spacious presentation of all phono cables I tried in the past. Retail is very expensive. I would look for it in used market.
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