Is this why my analog rig isn't so hot?

Interesting thread. I have one of these .8 mV Gliders on my Vector tonearm. I am loading it at 250 Ohms using my Rhea tube phono stage and I don't notice any loss on top. Matter of fact it sounds pretty damn good. I really don't get the comment about it not tracking well. I have a few significantly warped LP's and it plays them beautifully. I'm sure there are cartridges that may sound/track better but I would not be quick to blame the cartridge or tubes over this issue. Echoing Newbee, I suggest NGeorge calculate resistor values that will incrementally give 100 to 500 Ohms or more resistance when placed in parallel with the Cube and try them before spending alot of money on another cartridge.

Now, now. You're going to have to do better than that, Yo'mama.

You sound like one of the reviewers from the magazines. Lots of generalizations and no real specifics. C'mon, give us some comparisons between Basis tables and others, or even Basis tables with different carts and arms. Put some meat on the bones!

"There's so little to say about something so wrong." Careful, don't commit to a real position on anything too specific.

I suggest that others go and read the rest of Yourmama's posts here on Audiogon. He/she seems very good at knocking down whatever product is handy for his/her attacks but never seems to offer a definite, hard example of what he/she prefers or recommends. Whenever he/she does mention a product name it is always something that he/she isn't using at the time. But I can understand that. It is very hard to hit a moving target.

Ken,

Thanks for giving us some examples of the tables you're comparing the Basis to. I am not familiar with the sound of many of these but at least I now I think I have a base to make some analysis for myself. I may be misinterpreting your preferences and please let me know if I am wrong here, but it seems to me that you would tend toward metal tables. Although you do mention that a Linn would be a good choice. But you also say that Teres should be avoided. Interesting given the well known testament of a long time Linn dealer about how much he loves his Teres, not to mention many other happy Teres owners. But to each his own. And that is what I, and I believe NGeorge, are trying to do. Learn and find out for ourselves.

As I said in a previous post, I have pretty much the same setup as NGeorge except that I have a Vector tonearm. I simply don't understand the characterizations that the table is dark and rolled off. Now my MMF 7, that's a different issue. :) But even with that table I can get very strong top end with good loading and VTA/VTF. Admittedly there are more tables and combinations that I have not heard than those that I have. That's why I bought my Basis combo recently. At slightly less than the retail of the arm alone it was too good to pass up. Most likely will not be the last table I own, but now I have one more tool in my toolbox to learn with.

George,

If I am thinking of the same person who gave up on the Teres, it does come to mind that this person did concede that perhaps he didn't have the best suited stand for it. Every table has it's fans and detractors. But as we all know this whole audio component choice thing is highly subjective. I believe that Ken is attempting to recommend a table to you based on what he believes you would want to hear. Short of a side by side audition of several tables I suppose that is the best most can do. If you think that he does know what you want to hear then maybe his advice is good for you. But I think that it is a big stretch to go from there to condeming several respected makes of tables. Anyway, good luck in your search for what sounds good to you.