Тонармы — Graham Engineering Phantom Platinum

The Phantom Platinum is the newest arm in the Phantom unipivot series from Graham Engineering, the US tonearm maker founded by Bob Graham, and is described by the company as a comprehensive revision of the bearing parts, materials and internal wiring. It went on sale on 21 April 2026 in two lengths, 10 inch and 12 inch, at about EUR 33,000 and EUR 34,000 respectively. Earlier models in the family include the Phantom Elite and Phantom III SE.

Key specs that matter

For the shorter arm the effective length is 246.8 mm, the effective mass 10 g and the overhang 16.7 mm. For the longer version the corresponding figures are 308.8 mm, 12 g and 13.2 mm. Both use a unipivot bearing, a detachable carbon fibre wand and a magnesium headshell. Mounting follows the standard SME arm base, and the signal leaves the arm through a 5-pin DIN socket, so any tonearm cable with that plug can be used.

Engineering and use context

The arm is built around a matched tungsten carbide bearing set, made to Graham's specification by a Swiss specialist in micro-precision parts. The bearing tip is machined and polished to a microscopic radius and runs in a matched cup, and silicone damping fluid surrounds the assembly to provide a very thin lubricating film and to reduce the effect of outside vibration. Lateral stability comes from the patented Magneglide system, in which two magnets placed in a direct horizontal line with the pivot hold the arm in a strong field sideways while leaving vertical motion free. The secondary magnet sits on a movable bracket with ball bearings and can be set in height. Graham describes the carbon fibre wand as stronger than aluminium or titanium alternatives and the magnesium headshell as lighter and better damped. Because the wand is removable, a cartridge can be fitted away from the turntable. Internal wiring is five-strand litz of number 42 gauge, about 0.063 mm per strand, in silver-plated copper of 99.99 percent purity, and the external lead has a spiral grounding shield under a silicone jacket. The counterweight is decoupled from the arm.

Pairing

The SME-type base fits turntables with a matching cut-out or armboard, and the longer version requires a turntable able to carry an arm of that length.

Alternatives

The Graham Engineering Phantom Elite is the unipivot tonearm that sits directly below the Platinum in the Phantom range.