New TechDas Armwand for Graham Phantom Elite Tonearm

[MylesBAstor]

PHANTOM Elite Upgrade arm wand for tone arm wand (10 inch type)

Titanium tone arm wand TDTW - 01 Ti

Extraordinarily high rigidity tone arm wand by integral processing of pure titanium material subjected to special hardening treatment

We have developed the pure titanium upgrade · tone arm pipe "TDTW - 01Ti" for the tone arm PHANTOM Elite made by Graham, with all the power of metal processing technology possessed by Stella raised. We fully comply with PHANTOM Elite 10 inch. In order to accurately take out the music signal carved in the groove of the record, it is required to securely receive the cartridge with a highly rigid tone arm. However, materials with higher rigidity than ordinary aluminum pipes have large masses, so the mass of inertia becomes large, resulting in unstable operation such as low-frequency resonance due to synergistic effect with cartridges. Therefore, TDTW-01Ti adopted pure titanium material which is lightweight and high in rigidity, and further subjected to surface special curing treatment. In addition, by cutting the tip of the arm pipe close to the cartridge to be thin, the fulcrum side of the tone arm is thick, cutting into a tapered pipe shape reduces the inertial mass of the tip and increases the overall rigidity. We have cleared the contradictory requirements of inertial mass and rigidity. In addition, seamless loss is eliminated entirely by seamless integral processing. We are trying to raise further rigidity. The low string of the contrabass and the low string of the piano which were mixed in unison. Furthermore, even the floor of the hall clearly separates. The singing voice of the vocalists supported by the low region, the region that grows everywhere, firmly glossy midrange. Extremely delicate high region which is not added anything. Even though it is energetic, there has never been taste so far, a detailed sound of each instrument and breathing. Please enjoy the excitement of the music that rushes like anger. * Since the finger attached to the shell part can be removed easily, please remove the unnecessary one. Also, since the sub weights are included, please install it on the tone arm rear part according to the cartridge to be installed. Price: Probably around $5200.

Specifications

Dimensions Length: 223 mm Width: 32 mm (including fingers) Height: 20 mm Weight 54 g Accessories Subweight 2 types

[RoadDawgWest]

That better be a MAGIC Wand for $5200. Amazing how the Phantom keeps getting refinements.

[rockitman]

I'm not excited at that price. I imagine the high price is due to the difficulty and cost to machine titanium...like the platter option.

[Garth]

And what is it you own that is not high priced

[JackD201]

According to TD the high prices have more to do with the external hardening process than the machining which they say is a lot easier nowadays. They use a process similar to but more extreme than the DLC precesses we find in some of our watches. Nishikawa-san said that the problem with Titanium is that it scratches rather easily. Having seen the scratches on my driver faces (golf) I don't disagree. It is a sight to see in person though. I would like to try one as I am out of spare wands.....AGAIN! Arghhh!

[MylesBAstor]

As they say, too many cartridges is just enough! ❤️

[JackD201]

'Tis a disease with no cure!

[mep]

According to TD the high prices have more to do with the external hardening process than the machining which they say is a lot easier nowadays. They use a process similar to but more extreme than the DLC precesses we find in some of our watches. Nishikawa-san said that the problem with Titanium is that it scratches rather easily. Having seen the scratches on my driver faces (golf) I don't disagree. It is a sight to see in person though. I would like to try one as I am out of spare wands.....AGAIN! Arghhh!

Jack-Since titanium is so damn hard which is why it's used in aerospace applications, I'm surprised it needs to have any further hardening. You have to use titanium drill bits to drill through titanium. Low speed, heavy feed. It's a bitch to work with.

[Metamatic]

seems a bargin compared to the headshell

[Beaur]

I believe what they mean is that the oxide layer that forms is easily scuffed/scratched. This shows up more readily than other metals in the contrast between the dark oxide and shiny metal. While I have no isea of the specifics my guess would be that the process applies a coating that prevents the oxidation.

Next on the list would be a Tungsten carbide wand. Would be pretty hard to scratch that! How about a wand or platter made from diamond? Could use a vapor deposition method to coat a seed unit if you didn't want to go whole hog!!!

Jack-Since titanium is so damn hard which is why it's used in aerospace applications, I'm surprised it needs to have any further hardening. You have to use titanium drill bits to drill through titanium. Low speed, heavy feed. It's a bitch to work with.

[mep]

I believe what they mean is that the oxide layer that forms is easily scuffed/scratched. This shows up more readily than other metals in the contrast between the dark oxide and shiny metal. While I have no isea of the specifics my guess would be that the process applies a coating that prevents the oxidation.

Next on the list would be a Tungsten carbide wand. Would be pretty hard to scratch that! How about a wand or platter made from diamond? Could use a vapor deposition method to coat a seed unit if you didn't want to go whole hog!!!

You could be right. The Russian Alfa class of submarines had pressure hulls made of titanium. Nobody was worried about the surface finish looks.

[Rust]

Funny thing about those Alpha sub hulls. For whatever reason, welded seams, properties of the titanium itself, each dive to maximum depth stressed the hull in such a manner that the maximum depth was decreased for the next dive. Much like aluminum where stress is cumulative when approaching the limits of elasticity.

[JackD201]

Jack-Since titanium is so damn hard which is why it's used in aerospace applications, I'm surprised it needs to have any further hardening. You have to use titanium drill bits to drill through titanium. Low speed, heavy feed. It's a bitch to work with.

Like I said my friend, scratch resistance.

[mep]

Like I said my friend, scratch resistance.

I get it now.

[JackD201]

This thing rocks.

[MylesBAstor]

This thing rocks.

Care to share more? ☄️

[DetroitVinylRob]

Unabashed fan of this wonderful tonearm. But I’m becoming a bit less and less a fan of these so pricey tweaks. I concede, we are talking High-End audio. Though I believe that performance/cost return must be rapidly diminishing and I for one, still retain an eye for value. Too, realizing this design is indeed aging, but I can’t resist asking, does it really need enhanced stiffness to aid in its play performance??? Hmmm

[PeterA]

What would be the cost if the whole Phantom arm were manufactured and assembled by TechDAS/Stella? I wonder if the entire arm pipe/tube could have been tapered without the three sections similar to the magnesium SME tube or carbon fiber SAT tube. It looks like individual sections that have been bonded together. Is there an advantage to having separate arm wands instead of separate headshells? It seems as though Graham is one of the few companies that sell separate wands.

[Rob]

the SME arm tube is pressure cast in a mold and the Graham milled from solid billet. cast is inherently weaker than milled form solid. either technique is probably overkill for audio proposes but it goes some way to justify the Phantoms cost. Ti is also brittle and more difficult to machine, until just a few decades ago it was prohibitively expense for any consumer item to use Ti.

[JackD201]

Hi Rob, it is expensive, more than double the cost of an extra Graham wand. Now I love Bob but it did take me the better part of a year to get my extra wands. He tries his best but he is a victim of his own, well deserved success. So what is a Graham Elite owner to do when a better looking, better assembled (tolerances are very tight), more rigid option becomes available quickly? Well, I gave it a try and the gains were easy to hear. Did it render the original wand unlistenable? Of course not...but...I am now looking at the remaining mounted wands in an altered way.

Hi Myles! Having the SAT mounted on the same table has given me a better idea of what rigidity brings to the table, pun intended.Swapping TD-Ti's one on a stock and one on an aftermarket TD, confirms to me what Gomes has been espousing. One would think stiff would sound, well, stiff. It's the opposite. There's actually better flow, envelopes are just that little bit better formed, highs more extended while being less etchy which I guess is due to how much more snug the arm is on the turret. Lubrication is needed on the TD while the stock just goes straight on and the play is obvious. I think the midbass down might be a matter of preference. The original is warmer, the TD more tuneful and direct. TD wins on clean extension down to below 20Hz. In a nutshell, it brings the Elite closer to the SAT in character. No surprise that TD would do this. TD has its house sound and the mother company represents both Graham and SAT.

Hi Peter, it is tapered from headshell to the end of the tube on one piece. Towards the bass is a sleeve for the locking screw. I thought it was 3 sections too. Apparently it was shaped to respect the look of the original which I do think is very handsome.

[PeterA]

Thanks Jack. You answered many questions in that response. I appreciate it.

[JackD201]

I wish I could have offered more at this point Peter. As always, you are most welcome.