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
Not sure I would put much faith in a company that promotes its product by trashing the competition. Never heard any of these hi-end TTs, so take what I said with a grain of salt.
You are trying to recover microscopic vibrations from within a groove. How many more micro and macro vibrations do you want coming up to the platter from the floor and rack?
glad someone else loves my sme 20. however, when I place it on a symposium ultra shelf, it get's much quieter...more detail. something is still getting in...or not getting out with out this "added". maybe it's better than the rest...but those are strong words above. I know folks are happy with those other tables. besides the sme 20 is a little pricey for some people.

i've read great things here on the teres, but they shouldn't bash others so hard...promote your strengths...and let your customers ears do the trashing !
Having talked with him at length in the past, I don't think AJ's trashing the way other tables SOUND as much as he is saying that he is a strong proponent of, and a fan of, sound engineering practices in design and machining to exacting tolerances in realizing those designs. That's why he admires the SMEs, as do I. In point, the only table I've heard (and I've not heard the Walker or the Rockport) for which I would trade my upgraded Basis Ovation (it's essentially a Debut Vacuum now) could I afford it is the SME 30, which is the best TT I've ever heard by a good margin. I think AJ's comments are likely correct in a theoretical sense, although in practice I can also state that many unsuspended tables, such as the Nottinghams, can sound excellent, more so when you use some additional attempts at vibration isolation such as a Vibraplane or the Symposium stand Jfrech mentions, or keeping the table in another room. Tables do sound different, and any chance you get to audition them should be taken.
As Rcprince states, I think AJ was speaking in engineering terms. Not in terms of sound. BUT that there is a clear difference among the tables AJ mentions and a few others (Rega, Teres 255, Basis 1400 and 2000 or 2400.....) in terms of background noise - both macro and micro.

Also as AJ states the Vector in the Basis TT's really is synergistic - although I bet it would be killer in my friends Teres or a local dealer's Orbe. But the Vector is such a killer arm, that all inner groove issues and ANY and ALL tracking issues are non-existant for me. There are no more "sweet spots" as in where the 2 points on a Wallytractor are that the LP sounds its best (Like my previous Silver Taper). It really sounds the same (F'in spectacular) from start to finish - 33 or 45 alike (esp on 7" 45's!!!) - no distortion, clean clear, dynamic, tracks everything, boogie, even on super thin grooves or near the lable..... like the best linear arms I have heard . So stating that the Vector with a 2001 beats out on a sme20 IV.VI would be how I hear it as well IMHO - but my ears, room, system...... The SME is a Killer setup as well! But the Vector is all that and the real difference.

Devil is in the details, and getting those highly machined Basis(and SME) parts to VERY tight tolerances is where the price difference is in the Teres vs Basis. But bang for the buck is off the charts for the Teres high mass models (good lookers too). I see(hear) both sides of the coin on this one. Just audition them, let your ears and system synergy decide - and enjoy the music for all that it gives to you.