Graham tonearm tweaking

Thanks for the comments,so far.As for me,I'm "FAR" from a genious,and think that for the 3200 clams that this arm commands,and for the fact that this arm has been featured in the "Analog Corner" column for over 4 years(by a reviewer that passes himself off as an expert of experts)we "the consumer" deserve alot more.I "DO NOT BELIEVE"that I am the discoverer of some secret here.There are "PLENTY" of hard core critical listeners out there.I've met a ton.I'm sure that there are those that have figured this all out.Don't give the press such a free pass here(not that we can really do anything about it,though).

I guess many of you just don't remember the days when magazine like "TAS" REALLY were "TAS LIKE".This would have been covered there.There is NO excuse to accept the fact that there is a point of "Mere Acceptability" with regards to getting the best possible sound from something costing so much!There is a HUGE difference in performance from this arm,between just OK and SPOT ON.

This takes me back to my original comments that unless "WE" as hobbyists start to hear some other "HOBBYIST OWNED" set-ups that are truly fine tuned and "RIGHT"(NO bright or overdamped rooms,or rationalizing of weaknesses,which we ALL do)we will "NEVER" know if our own set-ups are "IN the Zone",for lack of any useful comparison(not "live" music,since it cannot be reproduced effectively)."Eyes OPENED OR CLOSED"!!!

If I had not been privy to my (FANATICAL) friend's system,I would,to this day,be as happy as a lark with my arm setup,thinking the slight grainyness(compared to the Air Tangent)was line noise,or Transistor noise,or tube noise,or my cartridge etc.You get my point.

To anyone less critical,I'm just a critical bloviator.To all else,we have a TON of money invested in our stuff,and deserve a little attention to detail!!YES,Salvatore is "MY HERO"!!The poor guy!!!So alone,is he!!!

Sirspeedy,

I think the blame for ignorance about the critical nature of the damping fluid is clearly on Bob Graham himself. He designed the thing and should know; He wrote the instruction sheet that has been used by everyone setting up the arm including reviewers. Even though I don’t care for the self anointed analogue guru over at StereoPhool, I can’t blame him for not figuring this out because I didn’t either until I read it here.

The audio rags have changed drastically since the early days. They are no longer the hobbyist experimenting and reporting what they find. That function is being done by all of us and the net these days. The rags are now run by business people as a business and that is a completely different kind of animal. I personally know one reviewer and you couldn’t give me his job. Stuff coming and going before you hardly get a chance to know it. It takes me a long time personally to get a system to really sing and even then I continue to learn how extract more out of what I have. Nope, that’s not for me. I would much rather chase records than equipment.

I do agree the it is good to hear others systems. It’s too bad that we all live so far apart! The biggest problem in most of the systems I’ve heard is the room. There always seems to be some compromise in terms of speaker placement to keep peace with the Ms. I not immune from room problems as I have too much speaker for my room. Finely tuned systems are hard to come by in these parts.

Regards,

Scott

I want to personally invite all of "YOU GUYS" to my daughter's wedding.In a couple of years.I promise I won't forget.Just as HP of TAS promised,3 yrs ago,that he would "NOT" let the magazine slide!!What a laugh.I can't help but think of him coming down his stairs,at the behest of his latest set-up man(paid schleper),with pipe in hand,only to listen to the component,or musical selection at hand and,quickly,giving the Roger Ebert thumbs up or down.Then retiring back to his video rig.That's it!!

I was smuggled into Sea cliff,by a former friend(old critic)some years back.Time of fire.Sonically,once I got over being on HOLY ground,similar to the sound I had heard that month,while viewing the HAGLER/Sugar Ray Leonard fight at an area disco.I swear!!Like I said,we're "all" just hobbyists!!HP was away at time.The former critic obviously was NOT a good friend of HP,or mine,but wanted a business favor from me.Heck,I wasn't about to turn down that invite!!

Doug,I'm really sorry to say that at the time being my friend has decided not to take you up on that offer.SHUCKS!!It has more to do with his present state of trying to secure a replacement TITAN.Also,I think he feels he would not be able to swing the 5 LARGE,should he like it.

Probably a good defense mechanism,though.He did ask me to "truly" thank you for the offer.He also said he may take you up on it someday,should his current situation deteriorate,regarding a n/c replacement.Since you were so open about bringing this over, to a total stranger's house,I think,even if he doesn't try a UNIV. you may be welcome to come over for a listening session.We can then "MUG" you in BKLYN!!PS---You will still get the "LEON's pastry!!

Sonically,once I got over being on HOLY ground,similar to the sound I had heard that month,while viewing the HAGLER/Sugar Ray Leonard fight at an area disco.

ROTFLMAO. That's quite a sound stage. So HP's system had plenty of punch?

I think he feels he would not be able to swing the 5 LARGE,should he like it.

In that case, he probably shouldn't listen to it. I have a friend who made that mistake. He's skipping lunches to get one. That's a lot of lunches.

What does ROTFLMAO stand for?

As for the HOLY ground,that was then.I'm sure today would be a different story.The only "POSITIVE" thing that came out of it,for me,was the fact that I started to believe that I could come up with good sound,on my own,and that all the "HOITY TOITY" dudes just got there first!!

Any "HOITY TOITY's" following any of this?

Are any of you "HOITY TOITY" enough to remember your commitment to your readers?We actually DO spend money on subscription renewals.Although I'm considering letting mine run out,and reading the latest DRECK for free,at Barnes & Noble,as I have a latte!!I'd rather re-subscribe,but you don't deserve my loyalty.Who am I kidding I'm so conditioned already!

Too bad a guy like,Larry's pal,Arthur Salvatore doesn't publish a newsletter that I can sit and read in my car,during lunch breaks!!I love the guy.What BALLS!!To be hated and loved at the same time.Sounds like my system.Too bad Arthur was actually wrong about the later Dutch pressing of Prince of the Pagoda's being superior to the earlier English one.I have both!!Not close! The 2 Dutch pressings I own don't touch the 1st pressing British.I think Arthur really has to upgrade to that UNIV. REAL soon!!!Hey,at least he's human.

Anyone not following my blather,please refer to HIGHEND AUDIO.com.Hope you all get as much out of that site as I did.As a matter of fact,I printed copies out for all my friends!!All 3 of them.