Graham IC70 v. Furutech Silver Arrow

I'm not touting the VH Audio cables specifically for phono use - just noting that, in my system, a lightly sheilded version of that cable with the silver Eichmanns outperformed the Ag-12.

More pertinent is that the criticisms I've read of the Graham IC-70 sound similar to the shortcomings of the copper/gold Eichmanns. If I owned that cable I would definitely be investigating the silver Eichmanns, which redress these shortcomings. Like I said above, I was very surprised by the difference in the connectors.

The reason is very simple, Silver can carry 6% more information than best
copper, 15% more than gold plated connectors (AES Standard).
When silver lot is used, then you have the possible transfer line.
but normally the loss will start then at the cheap Preamp (8.95$ / pair)
inputs :-)
You will hear an improvement but it is far away from the maximum...

Tobes
Your comparison of phono cables between the step up transformer and the phono stage is irrelevant because the signal coming off a moving coil cartridge is current not voltage. Your step up transformer converts the signal from the MC from higher current/lower voltage to higher voltage/lower current. In this situation the cable impacts from LCR differences in the cable are radically different. Basically from step up to phono you want as little wire as possible because the signal now has very little current after the transformer, signal losses are potentially higher due to the lack of current to drive the wire.
Now as far as phono cables go, the shorter the better. I have compared my own skinned/stripped MIT ( raw cable ) in 18" lengths and these will sound better than almost any phono cable beyond 1.2m regardless of cost.
If you want the best - short as possible, even if you have to rearrange your equipment. Otherwise you are simply swapping tonal colourations and different losses from one cable to another, whichever flavour you like - Neopolitan, Chocolate or French Vanilla take your choice. These flavours will vary again with cartridge/phono stage.
1.2m and beyond, I would use MIT Oracle

10-30-12: Syntax
The reason is very simple, Silver can carry 6% more information than best
copper, 15% more than gold plated connectors (AES Standard).
When silver lot is used, then you have the possible transfer line.
but normally the loss will start then at the cheap Preamp (8.95$ / pair)
inputs :-)
You will hear an improvement but it is far away from the maximum...

Syntax, sometimes its difficult to tell if you're being serious or sarcastic.

The clear audible improvement of the silver Eichmanns (over the copper/gold) is somewhat perplexing (to me).....why should it make such a difference given the various other (inferior) materials/sockets etc in the signal chain?
I suppose the possibilities for further gains could drive the neurotic audiophile crazy.

Dover, you are probably correct saying that the advantage is with the shorter cable in the SUT to phono position (ie in comparing the 1.2m Ag-12 and the 30cm VH DIY cable). I included this disclaimer.
I've certainly found that low capacitance appears to be an important factor in this position - and my short DIY cable is about as low as you can get without placing inside the chassis. I believe the (good sounding) Ag-12 is quite low, about 55pF, but the DIY cable is more like 5-10pF.

My other point - the Eichmann copper/gold vs Eichmann silver - is more valid because this was a direct substitute on the same cable/s in various positions throughout the system.