Graham Phantom , simple tweak for improved sound

Interesting, if partly counter-intuitive. On the face of it one prefers rigidity in an arm mount. All threads have free play, else they couldn't move, thus we have locking screws to prevent even slight movements which absorb dynamics and soften or muddy the sound, not to mention allowing tiny deviations in mounting distance, azimuth, etc.

OTOH, tightening a lock screw does affect energy transfers between the male and female halves of threads. I'd posit that snugging the Phantom's VTA threads together allows stray energies to reflect off that interface back down the armwand toward the cartridge. Leaving a tiny bit of free play allows those stray energies to be dampened by free motion of the resonating part - less noise reflected back toward the cartridge.

Rega arms are well known to behave in similar fashion. Tightening their lock nuts is widely observed to degrade sound quality. OTOH and IME, Schroeder, TriPlanar and Talea tonearms do not behave so. On those arms the sound is clearer, more dynamic and more stable with the VTA threads snugged down. Presumably they manage stray energies by other means. Every tonearm's implementation is unique ...

I don't own a Phantom but it would be interesting to read owners' detailed descriptions of the sonic effects of this set screw. Downunder hasn't investigated but JebSmith73 reports significant sonic differences. What are they, specifically? As we know, one audiophile's improvement is another's disaster. ;-)

I recall reading a post where someone tried the same thing with a VPI tonearm and got the same result. If I remember the post correctly, the person called VPI and Mike told him that what he was hearing was a "pleasing distortion". Maybe it's the same case here?

Cheers.

You can also try:

1. Different cartridge screws (material aluminum, Steel, copper...)

2. When you live in areas with different temperatures, replace the Silicone with Bearing oil

Interesting. I didn't hear any sonic difference with tightening or not tightening the VTA screw. Great that serves as a tweak to improve the sound for you.

I played around with this quite a bit on both the 2.2 and Phantom for about two weeks,a "while back".

I really had a hard time being "absolute" in my preference.One day I'd like a snug fit,and another listening session I'd opt for slightly loose.

I came away leaving it snug,but only because I then thought it was technically more correct.

Now,if I still had the arm,or a similar design,I'd opt for Doug's explanation,and the reasonable scenario of diminishing stray resonances coming back to the cartridge, as it just makes the most sense.