Basis Debut Gold Standard Mk V or Sota cosmiii

The Basis is a wonderful table!Very refined,and a "beauty" to behold.Sounds good too.The Cosmos(in the high gloss black,finish)is as gorgeous,and every bit as refined,in sound.
Sadly,the perception of quality(in this sometimes silly hobby)is based on pricing!Though the Basis is a quality product,apparently worth it's price,the Cosmos is a DOWNRIGHT STEAL!!It has been "mega-refined"in the last couple of years,and the build/fit'n'finish is fabulous.All in a rediculously low price.A bad thing??
I asked the wonderful,friendly,caring folks,at SOTA why they keep their profits so low,and was responded to with...."we want to sell our tables,for a fair price,and still be able to pay our bills"!They have been offering great products for well over two decades.These last a LONG time too,as they are built to play,alot of vinyl.
What a breath of fresh air!!In a hobby RIFE with "boutique" overpriced stuff,and enough of a "touchy/overtly sensitive" fan base to keep many of a fascade going.
You make the call.
Best!

Both are very good turntables that will provide top notch performance and reliable service for a long time. With the Benz ruby/Graham, the prices are about comparable. I think the Basis is a fine looking turntable. If I had to choose I would go for the Basis.

I own a Basis like that one quite a while now and I am still impressed. It works like a Swiss watch and even when I listened to other Turntables (Raven, Simon Yorke etc.) I never had the "feeling" to switch. I also had the Graham - Benz combination, the Basis is a tool, with that one you really can say what's going on sonically. And later you can go to the Phantom Arm. I have it and that's an outstanding Combination. The Vacuum works perfect. No experience with Sota.

Currently I am on my 2nd Basis Debut (with vacuum) and the sound is A#1. The reliability is without question as is the support from Basis should you ever have a question. Part of the reason for the superior sound is the unique hydraulic suspension on the Debut. Only the $30k or so SME 30 has something at all similar and the SME was released long after the Debut’s introduction.

Due to the Debut's suspension, it is immune from the vibrations (hey, use a sledge hammer on the 'table stand while playing an LP and there is no sonic impact). This suspension provides sonic benefits including superior micro dynamics, that is you get more involved in the music as the ‘table captures low level action that most other ‘tables ignore or blur. In addition, this suspension eliminates the requirement to purchase a fancy and expensive turntable stand as the Debut works well on any surface. This allows spending most of what you budgeted for a stand towards LPs.

Like the Debut, the Sota is known for having an effective vacuum system that does no harm to LPs. The Sota also is an excellent ‘table. I don’t think either ‘table would be a bad decision, though I cannot compare the 2 arms in question. But, I do think the Debut is a more refined product sonically.

Both are excellent tables. Those who proffer "neither" undoubtedly haven't heard and can't afford them.