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.
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Enjoyed this post tremendously! I bought a Basis 2800 TT earlier this year with Vector 4 Tonearm/Hana Umami Red after 20 years with a fully loaded LP-12. I initially looked into VPI and Clear Audio because of familiarity, budget, and access with the CA Innovation winning. Then I came upon Basis and researched all I was aware of and decided to swing for the fence since this would be my last TT. The last cartridge on the LP-12 was a Shelter 90X which was >7 yrs old. I mounted this on the Basis and was IMMEDIATELY ABSOLUTELY AMAZED at the openness/depth of the sound-stage. The resolution from top/bottom was beautiful. My Maggies really sang......and this was an old cartridge! The Hana just increased everything previously mentioned especially bass definition. Worth is a relative thing of which I absolutely believe the TT was worth it. Worth is what your budget is as these manufacturers have bottom lines which are determined independently of us. What we really need are more participants so the prices could come down. Even so the question of worth will remain regardless of price point. BTW Basis customer support is excellent.
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@xagwell , enjoy and use your new turntable in good health! |
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. |
My first turntable was the Basis 2001. Had it roughly a dozen years. When it came time to sell I was very pleased to find it sold for exactly what I originally paid for new.
Enjoyed this table, and learned a lot with it too. If this really will be your last table then you will want to know, the silicone damping fluid will evaporate away over time.
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Great TT. Is it overpriced? Isn't most things in high end audio? |
Basis tables may be expensive, but, they are certainly not ripoffs. The precision in their machining is impressive. You will not see any visible wobble or eccentricity or up and down movement in the platter--their machining is absolutely perfect. For their suspended tables, the suspension holds its setting for a very long lime.
The only regular maintenance you need to be concerned with is occasionally replacing the belt. The belt is an ultra precision ground thin flat belt. This belt performs very well at isolating the platter from vibration, but, because of its thinness, it does need to be replaced once in a while. The first time I replaced the belt, I heard a bigger improvement in sound than when I purchased Basis' quite pricey motor control unit--the belt is that important. I own a Basis Debut with the vacuum clamp feature; I like the table a lot. |
@larryi, every 250 hours the belt should be replaced. That is usually around two years. What happens over time is the belt gets polished from the spindle rubbing on start up and stopping. Traction becomes irregular and wow and flutter increases. When I replaced the belt on my old Sota wow and flutter went from 1.4% back down to 0.5%.
A friend of mine has a black Debut without vacuum. It is still running great and is a very attractive unit. AJ and David Fletcher of Sota and Sumiko fame were friends. AJ took David's design and spiffed it up. If you remove the cover of a Sota you will see a rough version of the Debut. AJ also borrowed the vacuum design from Sota. David probably did not care as his company was really not in the ultra high end market. He cared more about value. The concept of a suspended table goes back to the AR XA. The LP12 comes next. LP12 owners complained about the the LP12's sensitivity. I'm not sure but I think David owned one.
Just looking at it made it skip but, it was the best sounding turntable in it's day. David attacked that problem with the Sapphire creating the first reasonably stable suspended turntable at a very reasonable price. AJ being the perfectionist that he was took the design to the extreme. I live ten miles away from the Basis factory and cam close to buying one on several occasions. AJ loved having guests visit the factory. He loved audio. RIP |
I met AJ twice and he was such a nice, soft-spoken gentleman. You could also tell how passionate he was about getting the best out of analogue gear.
I know it is time for me to get a new belt. I will be ordering one shortly.
I like the Sota tables too. They represent very good value.
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@larryi, for all intents and purposes my Sota is a Basis Debut with a wood cover on it. Great minds think alike:-) |
Entry level Basis is better than top of line Rega |
Costs went up greatly. We will see this with all audio soon I think. |
I started with a basis 1400 signature and moved up to a 2200 signature with a vector 4 tonearm a few years ago.
The dealer that got me back into vinyl carried Basis and VPI. I am sure glad he steered me to Basis.
It put me out of the digital business for good! I sorely miss AJ. He was a real gentleman and visionary.
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