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Graham Engineering B44 Phantom II Tonearm


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Graham Engineering B44 Phantom II Tonearm
The original Phantom tonearm is the result of over two years of research into design theory, materials analysis, and extensive testing. This involved not only testing of the individual design components as they were being evaluated, but also comparing the several prototype models against their own Model 2.2 and the available competition.

In designing their newest tonearm, the Phantom II, Graham Engineering knew it had to be far superior not only to other fine tonearms available, but also to their own earlier efforts. If it weren't, there would be no reason to continue the project.

The final result, the B44 Phantom II , has exceeded even their highest expectations, surpassing even the highly-rated Phantom I.. And when compared to other tonearms on the market, tests and user comments consistently reaffirm that the Phantom II is in another, far higher plane of performance.

Compared to the orignal Phantom, the new Series II has a similar outward appearance, but has important internal differences. These include a refined Magneglide (tm) stabilizer, new internal wiring for even better detail and improved freedom from any mechanical resistance, an upgraded pivot design for even greater dynamics, and a new titanium armwand. Together, these improvements yield greater performance in the areas of dynamics and sheer musicality, while retaining the quality and convenience features the earlier Phantom was noted for.

The reasons for these and other significant improvements are many, and are covered in three patents, with other applications pending.

The armtube itself, easily removable and using their patented alignment system, offers the safety, convenience and accuracy of off-turntable cartridge installation and alignment, as well as allowing quick interchange of multiple pre-mounted cartridges. It is significantly improved from the earlier armwands, and attaches to a nearly half-inch wide stainless-steel post-and-connector that supports the armwand under tension, resulting in virtually a one-piece armtube/pivot assembly with high damping.

Secondly, Graham Engineering have addressed the all-important (and often ignored) area of dynamic balance. Tonearms should have as little inertia as possible; yet, too often, as a result of the correct placement mass distribution being overlooked, they contribute excessive resisting forces in opposition to the requirements of the phono cartridge as it attempts to follow the ups and downs of a typical record. The Phantom, in spite of its robust appearance, has been designed with a very low moment of interia, so that the majority of phono cartridges can be used with ease and maximum performance.

At this point, a brief description of Balance Theory may be helpful: There are basically three types of static balance systems, Neutral, Stable, and Unstable. STABLE BALANCE, normally seen in laboratory scales, occurs when the CG (center of gravity) of the moving system is placed BELOW the pivot point. This system resists a change in postion; when a tonearm utlizes this type of system, and such a tonearm is displaced from its preferred rest position, it will generate an immediate and opposing force which tries to return to that same position.

UNSTABLE BALANCE, when the center of gravity is placed ABOVE the pivot point, is entirely useless for tonearm design, and will exhibit serious problems, including reduced tracking force as the arm is raised.

The third, and most desirable system for tonearms, is NEUTRAL BALANCE. With this system, the pivot point and the Center of Gravity of the moving system are in the same plane. When the arm is raised or lowered, there is no opposing force trying to return the arm to a rest position; the pivoting system doesn't really know or care if the stylus is at the record surface level or a half-inch above or below it; as a result, there is no opposing force to the arm as it is traversing record deflection during play. The only downward tracking force is that of the adjustable counterweight, which remains a constant.

Previously, all true unipivots - that is, those with a single contact point for the bearing and NO secondary stablizing surfaces, bearings, etc. - required the use of side weights or a significantly lowered counterweight in order to provide stability. And generally speaking, those arms with a secondary stabilizer point require a lowered center of gravity in order to provide constant contact with the stabilizer guide bearing.

The drawback to both these conditions is that this design becomes a Stable Balance system, which will cause a tonearm to have a preferred rest position and always tries to return to this point. ANY time the tonearm is raised, as in tracking warped records, it results an immediate and equally opposing force that tries to push the arm back to its rest position. The higher the warp, the more counter-force is applied.

This unalterable Law of Physics will work against the cantilever, deflecting it during warps and causing the magnetic system inside the cartaridge to be displaced. This, in turn, will certainly affect the reproduced sound, with diminished performance in all areas, including soundstage compression, loss of detail and dimensionality, not to mention record wear. (This is why most tonearms must have their tracking force measured at the record surface level; any height change during the measurement will cause an incorrect reading).

A tonearm with Stable Balance can be identified by measuring the tracking force at the record surface level and again at a raised position above the record. If the tracking force INCREASES at the higher position, the arm has Stable Balance. Graham Engineering's own previous designs - the best they could make at that time - also had this limitation due to the use of side weights to provide lateral stability.

Other unipivots with low-slung counterweights will all exhibit this force; the lower the weight, the more counter-force is applied. Although this technique is often promoted as a "high-stability" design, it does so at the expense of consistent tracking force and linear cartridge performance. . It actually results in varying tracking forces during play when traversing even small warps, accompanied by non-linear cartidge operation, and increased record wear.

Once Neutral Balance is chosen for use in a unipivot tonearm, one must remember that both the vertical and lateral planes will be affected the same way; without proper lateral stability, such a design would not have consistenent, proper vertical alignment, and the pivot would tend to flop over to one side or another (usually in the direction of the weighted cartridge offset angle mounting). Obviously this condition must be avoided.

The answer to this lies at the very heart of the Phantom's design and its unique ability to retrieve groove information unprecended, in tonearm design. The key to this achievement is a magnetic stabilization system which Graham Engineering have called "Magneglide" (TM). With this unique, patented system, all lateral stability, and a portion of the damping, is provided by powerful neodymium ("rare-earth") magnets, placed in a horizontal line from the pivot point of the tonearm.

Working as an adjustable system, Magneglide (TM) provides the following six benefits: increased lateral stability, easy azimuth adjustability, a higher intertial lateral component for improved bass reproduction, augmentation of system damping, true vertical pivoting of the stylus tip with no rotation as the arm is raised, and easily adjusted anti-skate compensation.

In combination with pivot fluid damping (similar to that used with the Model 2.2), the Magneglide (TM) system allows normal vertical pivoting of the tonearm in true Neutral Balance, with vanishingly low friction; yet, provides a strong lateral stability that feels almost like fixed bearing arms. (No wobbling of the arm as it is lifted, for instance).

In addition, this dual-damped system forces the Phantom to pivot in the correct vertical plane of the stylus tip, with no rotation as the arm is raised. No regular unipivot can achieve this important geometric requirement. Even a few fixed bearing arms don't get this right!

If the vertical motion of the tonearm is in plane of the armtube itself (and not the correct plane of the stylus face angle), the cartridge will tend to tip over to its side as the arm is raised, as when tracking over warps. This will cause noticeable channel imbalance and reduced tracking accuracy.

With the patented Magneglide (TM) design, we have a high-load, chatter-free and virtually friction-free damped unipivot bearing, combined with true Neutral Balance, and with the all-important geometric accuracy of correct vertical pivoting parallel with the face of the stylus tip.

If all that weren't enough, the Magneglide (TM) system also permits the application of anti-skate through the magnetic coupling of the design, thereby eliminating ANY direct contact or possible resonance to affect the main pivot assembly of the tonearm. The anti-skate system is completely independent, mechanically, and is easily adjusted either by a thumb-wheel rotation or sliding motion (user's choice) of the bias weight for minute adjustments from near zero force to 3+ grams.

If your turntable already had a Graham tonearm on it (to get the angles correct), the Phantom is a true "drop-in" replacement. Although turntable manufactuers understandably encourage you to use tonearms of their own manufacture, this is not necessary; the modifications to make the Phantom fit are relatively easy, and we provide customer assistance in this area when needed.

And when the Phantom is installed you will agree with many others that it is a signficant improvement over any other tonearm. The proof is in the listening.

Claims - and counterclaims - abound in the high-end market and it can become confusing as to what's really correct; however, once you experience the new Phantom II for yourself, you will agree that this is, truly, the finest tonearm not only Graham Engineering have ever produced but quite probably the best arm that is available today.

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Availability Retail (inc. 20% VAT)
£ 3,625.53
£ 3,625.53
£ 3,727.66
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