Description
The Phantom Platinum tonearm
Incorporating many of the foundation features of the Phantom series tonearms, the new Platinum exceeds even those renowned models in several key areas, resulting in even closer reproduction of the original recording performance.
Some of these features are:
The Bearing:
The unipivot bearing principle, common to all Graham Engineering tonearms, has been refined even further with the Platinum series arms. The tungsten-carbide matched bearing set is made to our exacting specifications by a precision Swiss manufacturer, specializing in micro-dimensions and zero tolerance components.
It’s not simply a sharp point, but is instead a carefully machined and polished tip with a microscopically small radius. This is seated onto the matching cup with a slightly larger internal radius. This design allows for virtually friction-free movement in both the horizontal and vertical directions. With proper use and adjustment, this bearing has the potential for an infinite in-use lifespan.
As with earlier Phantom arms, this new bearing system is surrounded by a silicone damping fluid which provides micron-thin lubrication and further resistance to outside vibrations.
Stabilization:
While the unipivot bearing principle is not new, earlier efforts have always required some sort of secondary contact point (which cancels the advantages of the unipivot concept) or has to have the fulcrum of the pivoting system placed well above the actual pivoting point location.
In the latter design, the desired neutral balance (meaning, the arm does not favour only one position to be stable) is not possible. Raising the arm up – as in traversing a record warp – will cause the tracking force to increase.
This also means the cartridge cantilever angle is being changed even slightly at that moment, thereby altering the proper stylus profile/record groove interface. Our solution to untie this long-standing Gordian Knot is described next:
Magneglide ™ magnetic stabilizing system:
This unique patented design positions two magnets, one on the side of the main tonearm housing, and the other placed about an inch away on a ball-bearing movable bracket, positioned in a direct horizontal line with the pivot point.
This secondary magnet is set at the same offset angle as the headshell itself, there by insuring the same stylus positioning as in a fixed-bearing arm, but still retaining the solid advantage of only one contact point (instead of four).
In addition to providing a nearly perfect and friction-free pivoting arrangement, the secondary magnet is adjustable in height, which in turn provides for easy adjustment of the horizontal azimuth (no more twisting of headshells)..
New Armwand design:
In the past, we’ve used aluminium and, more recently titanium for use with the Elite and Phantom IIIse. While those are entirely excellent for their purpose, we found that working with a specialty manufac-
turer of carbon-fibre products, we could obtain a custom-made tube that is stronger than the other materials but also more light-weight and well-damped.
The headshell was originally going to be the Elite aluminium version, but we’ve also found that Magnesium can be even more light weight and further damped compared to aluminium.
With the same concept of a removable armwand that has been one of the signature features of Graham tonearms, this new armwand allows for off-turntable cartridge mounting with our precise (and patented) alignment system..
Wiring:
For the Platinum armwand uses a new design of 4-9’s silver plated copper wire with a spiral grounding
shield, and all covered by a silicone jacket which further assists in damping of the armwand.
It is this same cable construction that is offered in our optional IC-100 tonearm cable. The internal wire of the main housing is comprised of 5 strands of #42 gauge litz wire.
The extremely small size of this wire allows the tonearm to pivot freely in all directions with virtually no friction interference to impede the arm.
Visual design:
We feel that it is desirable to have not only a functionally superior design, but also one that is pleasing to the eye as well as to the ear. Like a fine watch, we have made every effort to design and build a tonearm
which you will be proud to own and demonstrate for years to come.
We are sure you will agree that this new tonearm will provide the smoothest and most dynamic acoustic path for the music of your valuable records into the rest of your high-end system.
All tonearms are supplied without tonearm cable.
“Although the basic design principles, thinking, and features of Bob Graham’s classic Phantom unipivot tonearm remain unchanged, the Elite represents a substantial upgrade from previous iterations, with improvements in materials and implementation, constrained-layer damping in the pivot assembly, a new high-density, non-magnetic tungsten insert for zero-tolerance bearing-contact and high spurious-energy absorption. No other ‘arm known to PS can be more accurately and repeatably adjusted to extract optimal performance from any suitable pickup.” – PS, The Absolute Sound, Issue 254
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