Looking for a great arm that is low maintenence

Splashkin,I LOVE the fact that someone is actually talking about the "software" aspect of this hobby.In a forum where equipment is taken WAY too seriously!ALL of the equipment we all love to discuss,is easily replaceable!!The software,in many instances,and especially if one has put together a truly "great music collection"(one that you can really take pride in,and one that your mother-in-law is impressed with,too)),is almost impossible to replace!!

I would love to see some of us mention some of the more interesting(obviously one's own opinion,but interesting to consider)Lp's we have come across.Ones that may not be of the norm.GOD,I LOVE to try to hunt down something different,and unique,that I've heard at a friend,that "blows me away"!How friggin' great is it when you finally get it?Locking yourself in your listening room,and "Going Back Through Time".To the "Event"!Anyone ever hear of the British EMI/Columbia pressing called "Conquistadors"?About the Spanish conquest,and destruction of the Aztecs.A disc where Raul's insistence that we "MUST" have TWO subs begins to make sense(I only have one)!In line with the DECCA recording "The Plague".Only better,to many,who have heard it.Stunning orchestration,and percussive forces,here.Man,those Spaniards were "MEAN"!Sort of like Steven Spielberg,for the ears!Finding that disc is another story.Took me ten years.

I have almost all the MERCS.WOW!!Are some of these magnificent.The DECCAS may be technically better,but as you probably know,there is NOTHING like the sound of some of the orig Mercury series discs.I hope I'm not going to get "yelled" at by someone for making that statement.It's JUST MY OPINION!!!There's a ton of newer music in this series that MUST be heard.One can source from archives(I'm fairly certain)the "GREAT" reviews by the INCOMPARABLE and "One of a kind" SID MARKS.This series was in TAS,as of a few years ago!!

Splashkin,if I can make a suggestion as to an incredible disc(one that sort of mirrors some of the Merc series,in content)that has some absolutely stunning sound(real demo quality,especially with a Phantom),as well as Phantomstic,oh sorry,I meant fantastic,and a "HOOT" fun musical content,it is the Deutche Grammaphone pressing of Russo's "Street Music".It is coupled with a fine Gershwin piece,but the REAL discovery is the "Street Music" side.It is(believe it or not) a Blues Concerto,for harmonica,with "slammin" blues piano,string bass and orchestra.It "ROCKS"!!!!!NOBODY,and this is NOT my opinion ,who has heard it,has been able to lift his/her jaw off my listening room's carpet!You should see the saliva stains on my nice rug.A bit like a dentist's office!I really should make everyone "RINSE",after the piece ends.

I hope you(or anyone else reading this)has this fabulous disc!If not keep an eye out.It should not cost more than 15-20 bucks!!And you thought I got off on equipment!!

Man I love this hobby,but it's WAY MORE FUN sharing "musical passions" with fellow music lovers!

Gmorris,

In response to your last comments to me,and REDICULOUS conclusion,as to my intent!
#1-Phantom vs Schroeder--you have a point!
#2-I specifically stated that I thought the Phantom probably was a great arm.Did I not?I also stated that it looked massive to me!Which it does!What the heck is the problem here?It's my freakin' taste!Actually,since you seem to be so damn condescending,I "think"(my opinion,which means nothing,and I'm sure I'm NOT impacting sales)my 2.2(and it's arm mass) will perform better with my cartridge,on my vacuum table;and I don't care that you have a Helikon,that sounds fine with an arm that you clearly have so much attachment to.Good for you!How dare I speak to my feelings,that OTHERS know is to be taken with a grain of salt,anyway.That was my advise to NRCHY,as well.So tough luck if I hit on a nerve,and you have decided to impress me with your propensity for arrogance.

#3-Your inference that I may be trying to position myself for a possible accommodation price on a Schroeder is so laughable that I "just have to love you" for making the accusation.
I have one child in the fourth year of med school,and another in the first year of graduate school.I have a mortgage,employees that actually like me(I pay all med/insurance expenses,and offer 3 week vacations,after 1 year),and have positioned myself to have a satisfying existence,with as little aggravation as possible.In other words-I haven't got alot of loose cash lying around,as of now.If I was to consider adding any additional expenses,after what I have spent on this hobby over these last few years,it would be ME not my wife who would have myself committed!Also,I really like the 2.2.

BTW-I have been gracious towards the Schroeder line because I think it looks like a finely designed and made product,has gotten tons of acclaim and because Frank Schroeder comes off as a very engaging guy, "committed" to his products(as I know Bob Graham is)and customers.If you have a problem with any of this,than all I can say is "TOUGH LUCK"!!

Nrchy,

The arms you're considering are all low "maintenance". Once set up there's little to do. The Graham 2.2 does require damping fluid and getting it right is critical. But once you've got it things should remain stable, at least until you change cartridges. The TriPlanar and some SME IV's have a damping trough, but unlike the Graham you don't have to use it. We haven't found it helpful on our TriPlanar. I cleaned the oil out months ago and the trough just sits there empty.

Whether you adjust arm height (or anything else) for each record has little to do with your tonearm. It has much to do with your cartridge, your ears and your listening preferences.

Cartridges with micro-ridge or line contact styli (including ZYX) are more sensitive to SRA than cartridges with elliptical styli, which in turn are more sensitive than cartridges with conical styli. If you truly want to set-and-forget then choose a Grado or a Denon 103. You won't need to adjust very much because they won't respond to the adjustments anyway. Of course you won't hear all the music either. That's the tradeoff.

Getting the very best sound from vinyl does require working at it. Anyone who says otherwise has a limited system or limited ears. If you're happy with and relaxed about a notch or two less than top performance that's perfectly fine of course. You can save yourself a lot of work, and a lot of money too.

Doug and others, other than the recommendation for the SME because Sota uses it a lot, do any of you think one of these arms will be appreciably better than the others with my Cosmos and ZYX Airy 3 combination?

As I said, the Wheaton is the best arm I've every owned. It is mounted on a TNT-6 Hotrod. Of all the arms you've mentioned, I feel the SME would provide the most synergistic match with the Sota.