Basis Turntables: Worth it or Ripoff?

Funny as I found this thread for some reason.  I know it's old, but it's still relevant.  I sold my 1400 to Tomic.  I miss it e very day.  It was the best TT under 5000 that I auditioned.  Yes, ti was that good as he states and that's the discontinued 1400.  I have MS and have an issue getting up every 20 minutes to clean and change a record.  

I have The Memory Player with every update for digital.  It's the best digital server, streamer that I have ever listened to and I went this route because I can't do analog for the most part.  I now am thinking about getting a simple all in one TT to get to hear my albums that I can't find in digital.  I will MISS that Basis 1400 greatly.  I've heard most of the TT offerings in the Basis price ranges (new not used TT's).  Basis and the Linn LP12 and one of the VPI tables just sound incredible in the under 6k or so range.  Basis may be the best value table that I've heard.

First off, thanks for sharing guys.  I too have Primary Progressive MS.  The Mandell MS Center in Hartford, CT is on the cutting edge of things.  I started with Howard Weiner as my primary doc.  He was the best for me when I started this journey.  Was blessed to be seen by him.  My doc now has MS himself and can relate to it all.  I am part of a long term genetic study at NIH.  They fly me down twice a year and we are doing amazing things.  I'm very involved with the CT chapter of the MS Society as well as nationally and I'm also active/advocate with Trinity Health Group.  I still have ideas even though I can no longer implement those ideas.  That's why we are all a team.  Back to audio, lol.

Mijosten, I understand that many won't look at a product due to looks.  As for saying their tone arms aren't as good as someone else's because of their pivot, that is plain wrong. AJ's arm's are considered of the best in the world.  Which ones did you audition?   If you don't like how they sound, that's totally different.  Would love to hear your views on the sound of each table and what other components you heard them with as that's the most important thing (arms, system, Cartridges, cables, phono and the rest of the system).  

The other tables you speak about have sounded great for me also.  (for what I enjoy hearing).  There are a ton of great tables on the market now.  Very few are rip offs as the OP was asking (even though it's a veiled attempt to run down Basis).  We are blessed that we can get a full set up under 1k that is fine for those of us who just want to play albums when someone else can help set it up, lol. 

Thanks Larry,
This is a problem in audio. Many of us have summarily not liked something based on what we've read or know or heard without listening to said product.  I'm sure that everyone has done this at one time or another.  Many actually do this all the time which is why they are constantly chasing their tails and keeping AG in business (so thanks for that, lol).

I'm nothing close to an engineer, but I do know what I like to hear without listening to sales folks for even friends.  I've been looking at TT's again this week, thinking I may get another lesser set up than what I had in the past.  I have been told that direct drive is now best, because they can control the vibrations better.  I've been told that this arm is better than that arm and that this bearing will sound better than that one.  It's really interesting to hear folks tell me what sounds best, yet only two stores so far have told me to come in and audition.  Fidelis in NH and Audio Connection in NJ are the two and both carry a nice array of tables including the Technics.  

I can't afford a Basis this time around, but if I could, I'd still audition it next to the Technics, Acoustic Signature, VPI and the Music Hall/Project tables to name a few.  To me, convenience and sound are the only things I care about.

mijostyn, good minds think alike. I've been in touch with them about their rebuilt tables. I have decided to just have my albums that I don't have digitized or can't stream, recorded for me.  It's cheaper in the long run and my server/streamer The Memory Player sounds better than most vinyl I've heard that is under 5k.  I'm blown away at how good it is and they do constant software and hardware updates that are reasonable.  

My friend just got a rebuilt Sapphire.  If I were to have gotten back into the race, it would be the Acoustic Signature, Technics, VPI, Sota and not sure who else.  

As for reviewers, I'm friends with a few.  Very close friend just had his first one published in TAS last month (NAD M10).  I don't really go with what they say or do as they all have special systems to review with. They get their gear for free or industry cost (much of the time) as it's free advertising for companies.  Many have been very aggressive in getting reviewers to use their gear publicly.  In private many I know are using Vandersteen speakers, which I find ironic.  Sorry to get off topic.

Bottom line is that Basis is a great TT company who makes as exacting a table IRT tolerances as anyone on the planet.  Even their belts are specially made and the cost reflects it.  I will tell you that it makes an audible difference. Not huge, but it does even on the older 1400 model with the rebuilt Rega 300 arms they came with.

For a spell, they were easily the Best Buy in the true high end tables I think.  Even now, they are priced fairly IMHO.  Tables are darn expensive right now, but if you want a top digital server, it's going to cost you over 8k.  The Aurender N10, Linn Klimax (over 20k), Innuos (their top 16k server are three of the top servers I've heard.  As I stated above I have The memory player by Laufer Technik.  Not sure how much they are going to be priced at as he's using a new case and has totally rebuilt them, but it's probably about a 20k player or so.  Good digital is not cheap either.

I really miss AJ.  He was just fun to listen to.  He made GREAT TT's.  That Vector arm is just a sick piece of audio gear.  Best Buy for high end?  Quite possibly. I'd put it in that category.  

Congrats and enjoy the heck out of it.  What a great buy.

Costs went up greatly. We will see this with all audio soon I think.