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Replace OL Illustrious 3 with Graham 2.2?

Is this an upgrade or a lateral move??

I'm using a Teres 340 and really stretched to get the TT itself. Therefore I had to use a lesser arm due to budget constraints.
However, I have made some upgrades to the power system and am finding that mu cdp has benefited more from it than my TT

Dont get me wrong. The TT sounds very nice. But my cdp is now rivaling it in many respects. This makes me question my vinyl setup and its weak link. FWIW, I haven't checked setup parameters ie vta yet. Nor have I played with loading.
This is mostly due to all the recent upgrades and tweaks and trying to evaluate them. Nonetheless, my system sounds better than ever. But I am curious about the Graham 2,2 arm.
artemus_5
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Thanks guys, I practically feel like a teenager again. This year's only our 27th. ;-)

In 1991 I snuck in a new c-j PV-11 to replace a Phase Linear 4000. The sound gave me away though, it took Paul about 3 seconds to notice. Oops!

john_tracy
344 posts
 
Hi, I was wondering if your OL arm was the current MkIIIC with the carbon fiber arm tube. I ask because last summer I sent my older model Illustrious for repair and upgrade to MkII status. The repair didn't take and it had to be sent back. The upshot is I now have a new MkIIIC with balanced wiring. The MkII arm made an incremental improvement over the original; but the new carbon arm is a whole different animal. If your arm is the newer version, I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss it.
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,992 posts
 
Thanks John
The arm is the version 3 just previous to the carbon fiber arm wand. After re-reading some info on the OL, I am in agreement with you that it should not be dismissed easily. I guess i was feeling somewhat insecure about it and needed reassurance.
Thanks again
john_tracy
344 posts
 
An upgrade to the carbon arm and balanced wiring might be a cost effective upgrade. Check with Mark to see what he'd charge. With the current exchange rates between the dollar and the pound it might be worth contemplating. The carbon arm made a very significant difference in my system over the previous alloy one.
hifidaddy
28 posts
 
Some years ago I had a Graham 2.2 and changed to OL Encounter Mk.1. Even this old generation entry-level OL tonearm provides better articulation and bass secureness than the Graham 2.2, while being on par with resolution and detail. If you swap your Illoustrious Mk.3 for a Graham 2.2, this could be a wrong move rather than a side move.
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