Basis Audio 1400 w/ Rega RB00

jdjohn

This is a new-to-me turntable (and tonearm), so I'm starting a new thread for it. I got a good deal for the combo - probably just above the market value for the RB900 arm alone.

Here it is in action:



I mounted a Signet TK5Ea cartridge with ATN130 OEM stylus on the arm...sounding very detailed and balanced. But, I think I need to put a different phono preamp in the chain, with a lower MM capacitance load. These AT carts like ultra-low capacitance settings. Cabling alone adds enough capacitance with them, so a phono pre with -0-, or maybe 47pF, is the ticket here.

msg

Wow! That's a beaute, Jody. Sheeeeze...

Milito

Very nice, congrats!

TEAforONE

That is a gorgeous table!

Mike Reeter

Beautiful Table with a great reputation for wonderful sound. The Rega Tonearm is highly accredited as well, Nice catch!

jdjohn

Thanks guys! I wasn't sure I would like the clear look with no wood veneer or glossy paint, but this is growing on me

I just noticed that my subject line says 'RB00' instead of 'RB900' The 9 sticks on this keyboard's key-pad.

Speaking of the RB900, I'm really surprised (and disappointed) that it doesn't have adjustable tonearm height for setting VTA. Luckily, the Basis 1400 has a set screw incorporated for adjusting VTA.

Notice this doesn't allow mounting with the three-point bracket for the arm's pillar.

The lack of VTA adjustment in Rega arms seems to be pretty widespread. There are some aftermarket spacers and such that can be installed, but wow, come on Rega!

Some folks go to great lengths to try and prove VTA doesn't matter - many of them Rega fans - but I, for one, can hear a difference, so prefer to have the ability to adjust it.

gp4jesus

I put a brass spacer under mine

jdjohn

GP, what is the height/thickness of your spacer? In my case, I'd say there is about a 3/8" gap between the chassis and the bottom of the mounting bracket.

gp4jesus

In storage at the moment but IIRC ~1/4-3/8”?

honestaquarian

Always been a fan of basis turntables. Never had the pleasure of actually getting my ears or eye on one though.
Conflagrations!
Hatred😝
Jealousy😉

jdjohn

Well, this is just their entry model, but I'm enjoying it Interestingly, today I noticed a real 'lack' of static with this tt. This is basically an all-acrylic design, including the platter, so perhaps the acrylic helps to insulate the vinyl from static???

AND, notwithstanding my last comment about static, it seems that the vinyl almost 'adheres' to the acrylic platter. There is a tight grip when trying to remove a vinyl record from the platter after playing, but static is not the agent. It's almost a vacuum seal between the acrylic platter and the vinyl disc. I don't know...maybe I'm dreaming it, but I will continue to monitor and observe.

BTW: I was able to pull the sub-platter and spindle bearing out of the well, and glad I did. There were a few random hairs about, and the lubricating oil was rather dark IMO. I cleaned everything with alcohol, and put fresh 3-in-One oil into the bearing well and on the shaft. Don't even go there, you bunch of pervs!

I have had good results with the 3-In-One oil with the BLUE banner for turntable motor bearings and spindle bearings. This is SAE 20 motor oil, so rather light. The 3-In-One oil with the BLACK banner is penetrating oil, so no bueno for these applications.

jdjohn

Refreshing this thread (for my own selfish purposes) with a new-to-me tonearm for this turntable. The 'new' tonearm is actually a Basis Vector Model 4 uni-pivot arm.

Great Labor Day FedEx delivery surprise, so very excited to mount this guy and see how it sounds

maxward

Very nice! Looking forward to hearing your impressions. Plans for the Rega arm?

jdjohn

maxward wrote: »

Very nice! Looking forward to hearing your impressions. Plans for the Rega arm?

Funny you should ask that. I had already moved the RB900 to another deck - a Logic DM-101 - with a custom armboard mount:

This made a surprisingly wonderful combination, mainly due to the serendipitous VTA result...since the Rega arm offers no VTA adjustment. However, I may decide to offer the RB900 up-for-sale in the near future.

maxward

I’ll be paying attention.

jdjohn

I got the Basis Vector tonearm installed. As with all unipivots, installation and setup is a bit fiddly...but worth it.


Cartridge is a vintage Coral MC-8 w/ Beryllium cantilever.
Close-up of the pivot bearing assembly.

Installation instructions call for filling the base reservoir with silicone oil for damping, but for now, I'm enjoying it 'dry'.

Basically, the idea is to partially fill the black anodized cup on the bottom with silicone oil, and let the base of the top cone-shaped bearing 'bathe' in the oil for damping purposes. Seems to me that the oil would become contaminated with dust/debris over time. Again, for now, it sounds great without the oil damping bath.

audioluvr

Nice! So what did you pay for all that? $20-30?

jdjohn

audioluvr wrote: »

Nice! So what did you pay for all that? $20-30?

All what? Vinyl playback involves lots of different components along the way. Did we mention it is a rabbit hole???

audioluvr

I am a Jack Russell terrier! Always looking for a good rabbit hole!

jdjohn

Haha! We should take this back to your 'new turntable' thread for potential upgrades We are all happy to help you spend your money

SCompRacer

Nice table. IIRC Ed the SRT king picked one up on one of his travels and stopped here on his way home. I had to service the motor, dry bushings slowed it down.

To damp or not to damp the tonearm. There are different weights of damping fluid available. Some folks confuse cueing silicone (300,000 cSt) with damping silicone. Some folks say if the cartridge compliance is correct, no need to damp.

I tried damping on my linear air bearing arm and went back to not damping it. I experienced a drop in dynamics. I tried 10,000, 30,000 and 100,000 cSt. Mono pivot wells suggest 600,000 cSt. IMO try it both ways and stay with what sounds better.

And yes, you are right, damping fluid becomes a dust magnet. My damping trough is long and narrow, fully exposed and not real deep.