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Suspended Basis vs Nonsuspended Teres

Hi:

I am preparing to upgrade my TT and I am seriously considering a Top-of -the-Line Teres with Basis Vector Arm or Graham 2.2 and Shelter 901 combination. In researching the arm, I had some e-mail exchanges with AJ Conti from Basis.

It was kind of him to correspond with me and I am appreciative of his input. Of course, he endorses his own TT but he was very negative about others except SME. I have excerpted a couple sections to illustrate. Is he correct that nonsuspended tables are inferior unless you purchase a Vibraplane platform. And, do we believe that the Basis has 50 dB less environmental noise infiltration than other TT. My lack of hands-on experience with these TT and their strengths and weaknesses leave me wondering. I have no doubt about the quality of Basis TT but I am seeking input from several sources I trust. Audiogon is one.
see comments below.

"The 2001 with Vector is clearly superior to the SME 20 with any arm. The only turntables I would consider, if I were buying out on the market and knew all I know about all of them, would be Basis Debut series, 2500 series, 2001, SME 30, SME 20.

"Once you own the Vector, after you place it on something else, you will wish you bought Basis, especially after you see one, see the platter turn but have it look so stationary you don't think it's turning, such is its rotational accuracy, and they you note the platter on yours
going up and down as it rotates..........or after you realize that even the 2001 is TOTALLY isolated from all room vibrations, including its own motor, while any Teres, VPI, Nottingham have 50 DECIBELS MORE outside world garbage
getting in than the 2001. Yes, 50 decibels. ... That means NOISE, every unisolated turntable, including our own 1400 and 2000 (only offered to get in a lower price range where
all of the competition is unisolated) are full of noise, changing the tonality, losing and obscuring detail which you can never get back. It is pathetic and ridiculous to offer the $3k plus turntables that are offered without isolation, pretending cones and mulitple layers of actylic and other materials can "isolate" (proving the incompetance or dishonesty) of the designer or sales guy at the company. I love what Teres said to one of their dealers: "We can't
compete with the expertise, fixturing, tooling that Basis has, but here's why we are great-we listen to each one and throw away an entire unit if it does not sound good." What a great statement of "We don't know what we're doing, but
we try hard to not let poor product out the door."

cardiackid

Showing 1 response by dougdeacon

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Cardiackid,

If you can audition both designs in the same or similar systems, by all means let your ears decide. Just make sure the differences you hear are actually due to the TT's.

FWIW (not much) I chose a non-suspended Teres 265 because:

1) a former Linn dealer, pretty well known and respected around here, said his new Teres destroyed his (suspended) LP12;

2) defeating the suspension in my old, low fi TT produced better results;

3) for my $4K budget it didn't seem like any other TT, suspended or not, could compete;

4) it looks so damn good (sorry but that matters, it's in our living room).

I realize this says virtually nothing about top tables from the likes of Basis or SME. Still, even if a suspension is better in theory, implementing it is complex and maintaining it may be too, depending on the design. If I had more money and time to spend on a TT, then a top Basis, SME or Walker might have been my choice. As it is, I could not be happier with the choice I made. After four months we continue to be astonished by new musical insights and pleasures every evening.

Please let us know how/when/if you answer this question in a way that works for you.
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