Analog Source of 1995
Graham 1.5-T/C tonearm ($2900; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.14 No.3, March 1991; Thomas J. Norton, Vol.14 No.8, 1991; and Steven Stone, Vol.18 No.6, June 1995 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Kuzma Stabi turntable and Stogi tonearm ($3150; reviewed by Guy Lemcoe, Vol.18 No.5, May 1995 Review)
Symphonic Line RG-8 Gold phono cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.16 No.2, February 1993; and Jack English and Jonathan Scull, Vol.18 No.2, February 1995)
van den Hul Grasshopper IV phono cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Jonathan Scull, Vol.18 No.7, July 1995 Review)
VPI TNT Jr. turntable ($2800–$2900; reviewed by Steven Stone, Vol.18 Nos.1 & 11, January & November 1995)
Wheaton Triplanar IV Ultimate tonearm ($2375–$2550; reviewed by Steven Stone, Vol.18 No.2, 1995 Review) The Graham tonearm was voted best by a two-to-one margin, although one contributing editor confided that no choice caused him more tsuris than this one, given the embarrassment of riches among the candidates. Like last year's winner, the Lingoed/Cirkused/Trampolined veteran Linn LP12, this year's is a refinement of a basic idea that was already superbly thought-out and implemented. A unipivot design featuring interchangeable armtubes—the "T/C" refers to the latest ceramic tube—the Graham just may offer the last word in adjustability, and not at the cost of user convenience either: the tonearm must rank among the simplest to successfully set up and calibrate. It strikes a rare sonic balance, neither leaning-out the sound nor adding warmth-inducing colorations. SS felt that cartridges sounded more like themselves through the Graham, attributing this to its overall freedom from unwanted resonances. Certainly, for any analog fancier, to see it is to covet it.
Kuzma Stabi turntable and Stogi tonearm ($3150; reviewed by Guy Lemcoe, Vol.18 No.5, May 1995 Review)
Symphonic Line RG-8 Gold phono cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.16 No.2, February 1993; and Jack English and Jonathan Scull, Vol.18 No.2, February 1995)
van den Hul Grasshopper IV phono cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Jonathan Scull, Vol.18 No.7, July 1995 Review)
VPI TNT Jr. turntable ($2800–$2900; reviewed by Steven Stone, Vol.18 Nos.1 & 11, January & November 1995)
Wheaton Triplanar IV Ultimate tonearm ($2375–$2550; reviewed by Steven Stone, Vol.18 No.2, 1995 Review) The Graham tonearm was voted best by a two-to-one margin, although one contributing editor confided that no choice caused him more tsuris than this one, given the embarrassment of riches among the candidates. Like last year's winner, the Lingoed/Cirkused/Trampolined veteran Linn LP12, this year's is a refinement of a basic idea that was already superbly thought-out and implemented. A unipivot design featuring interchangeable armtubes—the "T/C" refers to the latest ceramic tube—the Graham just may offer the last word in adjustability, and not at the cost of user convenience either: the tonearm must rank among the simplest to successfully set up and calibrate. It strikes a rare sonic balance, neither leaning-out the sound nor adding warmth-inducing colorations. SS felt that cartridges sounded more like themselves through the Graham, attributing this to its overall freedom from unwanted resonances. Certainly, for any analog fancier, to see it is to covet it.
