Graham Phantom 3 tonearm

Graham Phantom Mk3

Compared to the original Phantom, as well as the Series II, the III has a similar outward appearance, but has important internal differences.   In addition to the refined Magneglide ™ stabiliser, new internal wiring for even better detail and improved freedom from any mechanical resistance, there is an upgraded pivot design for even greater dynamics, together with a new titanium arm-wand, the III has incorporates a new pivot housing assembly.

This assembly, comprised of a constrained layer combination of brass and tungsten, provides greater energy control and damping, along with improved bearing performance. Incorporating a slightly reshaped counterweight to allow for great cartridge weight ranges and lower moment of inertia, the result is greater transparency, broader sound staging (both side to side and front to back), with greater bass impact and extension.

Combined, these refinements yield greater performance in the areas of thundering dynamics and sheer musicality, while retaining a delicacy of detail, quality and convenient features the earlier Phantom was always noted for.

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. Their 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 uni-pivot arms 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 cartridge operation, and increased record wear.

Once Neutral Balance is chosen for use in a uni-pivot 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 consistent, 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 is unprecedented, they believe, in tonearm design.  The key to this achievement is a magnetic stabilisation system, which we 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

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 extremely 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 uni-pivot 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 arm tube 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.