Basis table or SME


I am looking to acquire a high end table. I currently use a Forsell Air Reference. I really like the build quality and support that Basis provides and have heard equally good comments about SME tables as well. I would appreciate your feedback on both or either of these tables. I'm considering a Basis 2500/2800 Signature or a Basis Bebut Signature or an SME 20/3 or 20/12. I am open to other suggestions that are designs based on proven technology with excellent customer care. Thanks very much.
rmarcus5757

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I bought a Basis Debut Sign. vacuum some years ago. Before that I had the
chance to listen to a lot of Turntables, Verdier, SME 30, SME 20, SPJ, Audio Note,
Brinkmann, Clearaudio, EMT's, Goldmund, Simon Yorke, VPI TNT, Vyger..
.. the usual what was out there.
The Basis was in the same System with a SME 30 from an owner I got in touch
with.
Both tables are very good, top speed stability, no coloration in sound, in a way a
tool for a serious record collector who wants to know what's on the records and
in what way they were mastered.
My decision was for Basis, mainly on its superior Suspension (springs + fluid in
adjustable dampers) which really decouples everything down to 4 Hz (I think).
You can jump in fromt of it or knock onto the chassis, platter...there is nothing
to hear through the speakers, Phonostage open of course, Cartridge 0.20mV :-)
The rubber rings from the SMW was for me a typical "english
solution", they will get stiff over the years and the table itself is not so
immune to any influences from outside (or inside). A cheap and primitve
solution, for that is the table too expensive, but this is my personal opinion.
The Basis bearing is excellent from internal quality, the Vacuum was extremely
clever designed, it does not destroy the bearing nor does it influence the sound
quality in any negative way.. The platter is adjustable to get it really level ,
vacuum is low pressure, but adjustable, too.
The platter itself is outstanding from its internal abilities and to make it short,
simply very clever made. Never a problem, the last time when I put a Timeline
strobe onto, it was spot on speed. No drift. The belt has to be seen to
believe....Wherever you look, there is serious brain behind everything. Others
are simply too primitive in comparison. And you can hear that, too. Expensive,
but you can close that chapter, specially when you also go for the Basis
Controller. The table itself has no limits, I tried a lot of Arms with it and was
always able to hear what they can do (or not).
I learned a lot with it.
Wrm57, yes and no :-)
No big difference when you own perfect, flat records
A real difference when you own warped records, a lot of Arms have real
problems to hold the VTF when moving up and down, you can hear that (when
the rest of the System is good for that).
Reissues with 200gr are pretty flat, unfortunately they don't sound as good as
their originals (generally), when you buy originals, then this vacuum version is
the way to go.
Another advantage from the vacuum Version is, the record does not "slide"
while playing (there is a resistance when the diamond is in the groove), a non
vac. version can be clamped, but with the vac. Version is simply all done right.
Jhardy,

when I am honest, not in a way to make a final statement. I listened to original Verdiers from the early 80's, with the original Magnets. The musical flow and information was really, really good. I always wanted to buy one but in a way, I always missed the chance ... they are a bit rare, too.
Later some DIY mods became available, the feedback was not good about those, years later the Nouvelle Platine was launched, but it is not comparable to the first ones. Same name but technically different. Mainly sold in Europe I think.