Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Basis Audio 1400 Turntables by J-PMatt@Comcast.Net

Model:	1400
Category:	Turntables
Suggested Retail Price:	$2350
Description:	1400/RB300/Glider combo
Manufacturer URL:	Basis Audio

Review by J-PMatt@Comcast.Net on February 22, 2009 at 19:58:49
IP Address: 24.0.129.161 Add Your Review
for the 1400

In the beginning, there was a regular Basis 1400, and then the shit hit the fan.

I sent the RB-300 that came with his table out to be modded, and Origin Live did a nice job. I'm very happy with the arm and have come to appreciate it as the single best part of this particular rig. But this review is not about the arm and it's not about the Benz Micro ACE, which I already reviewed on this website. It's about the Basis 1400, or rather, MY Basis 1400.

Like many who will eventually read this review, I bought mine used and in mint condition. It was very simple to set up....even a novice can have this rig up and running in an hour, and that includes installing the cartridge and balancing the arm. As soon as I had the original rig going, I loved the way it sounded. I didn't wait long to have the tonearm mod done, and when I got my Basis RB-300 back and re-installed it, I was in analog heaven. Life with the 1400 was very cool for about 15 months.

One day, I was listening to a few new records when I heard a rumble through my system that I thought would blow out my speakers. I lifted the tonearm, turned down the volume and immediately heard a horrible sound coming from my turntable motor. I checked everything and I could see no problem. The raw, whining sound, like a fishermans reel winding back to pull in a fish would not go away.

I called Basis directly for advice. I explained that I had purchased the table used and was aware there would be no warranty recourse. I assumed that motor replacement or repair would be reasonably priced. Boy, was I in a for a shock. I was quoted $550.00 for a replacement motor. I explained to the woman from Basis who was assisting me that I paid $900.00 for the table with arm. For another $350.00, I could wait until someone on Audiogon would sell one and get an extra plinth, bearing and tonearm. I asked if there was another solution and was told no. Politely, but still- no.

I reached out to the folks in the audio community I knew to see if there was a solution anyone could provide.....some advice. No luck. In the blink of an eye, the table had become utterly worthless. Even the tonearm couldn't be used on another table because of the mod done by Basis to provide a "VTA on the fly" adjustment. I was screwed. It was either be taken to the cleaners by Basis or a Basis dealer, or buy another Basis table on A-Gon or E-Bay and strip it for parts and the motor pod. What the hell did I want buy another Basis table for?

Back to the Motor Pod. I figured, if I'm screwed, I might as well take the pod apart and see what the hell is going on in there. All the thing is is a small but heavy metal chasis with tiny rubber feet, and inside is a motor with the pulley pressed into it. It sure as hell was no $550.00 motor, and chances are the pod cost as much as the motor did. I put everything back together and what do you know.....the rumble went away for about 10 minutes, then it came back like gang busters. I abandoned the table for about four years after that.

During the last six years, I've collected other tables and would sometimes screw around with the Basis motor, always with the same results. Always the same frustration. Eventually, I lost the screw that holds the pulley assembly together at the top of the pod. I had to find another screw that would fit, and I did. Only this time, after replacing the screw, the rumble went away. I decided to put the table together again and what do you know, the rumble went away and I was spinning vinyl again on my 1400. Damn.....a frickin' 10 cent screw caused all of this mess. Life was good again with the Basis 1400, I mean....at least I was getting my money's worth out of it.

Whoops. Spoke too soon. After almost a year the rumble came back and no matter what I did with the screw, it didn't matter. Same shit again. Unbelivable!

Anyway, one recent day in a dealers showroom, I came across a certain turntable that comes from the Czech Republic. This table used an outboard motor that seemed very similar in dimensions to the Basis motor pod, and it sits within a proximity identical to the Basis motor pod. I asked about purchasing the motor, and realized I would need some of the other parts that make the motor work on this Czech import. I was able to purchase all of the parts necessary for operation, brand new at a cost of less than $200.00.

My Basis 1400 is now my FrankenTable. I took the plinth to an autobody shop after taping it myself and had it painted black. It looks incredible. I gingerly installed the new parts, placed the new motor pod appropriately next to the plinth, connected the belt which is now round and not flat and voila! Spins the platter precisely and is dead quiet. I replaced the cheap screw/spring mechanism that allows for VTA adjustment AND essentially holds the arm in place with rubber washers/spacers and a wood/rubber dow. I don't have VTA anymore, but I'm sure if I want to get it back I can come up with something better than that cheap screw/spring solution. At least the arm is stable now with no play whatsoever.

Basis wants a ridiculous amount of money for their record clamp. I got a new one from a gentleman who makes great ones for chump change and sells them on E-Bay and A-Gon. They arguably look better than the Basis clamp and they're heavier. With the money you save buying an aftermarket clamp, you can also buy two nice thick pieces of glass and 5 isolation feet from the same guy who makes the brass record clamps. I did. The extra isolation works like a champ and helps the Basis attain a somewhat warmer, less clinical sound. I actually have better detail retrieval now than I did before tI replaced the motor and refit the arm.

One more thing. The famed bearing. It's good. It works. When I spin the platter by hand, the acryllic platter spins for almost 30 seconds before it stops. On the other hand, my Denon DP-59L will spin for almost seven MINUTES before it stops. Does the Basis bearing need oil? No babe, I took care of that. Just remember that my Denon DP-59L was made in the early 80's and spins like that. That is impressive.

So how does my Frankentable look? It looks very cool, and the new glass and feet with the auto paint really being the table up 10 notches. I'm considering removing some of the powercoat from the arm to reveal the silvery metal underneath and make it look even cooler. I'd say it looks better than a Basis 2500, except I'm stuck with the thinner platter. It's cool though. With the additional isolation from underneath and in the arm, I can feel OK about the platter thickness. No big deal, and besides, this is the sound-conclusion I've come to with this set up:

The Basis motor is overhyped and clearly overpriced. In a blind A/B comparison, you won't hear the difference in motors between my new one and the old one. The sound is beautiful, but I have to tell you, it's the arm. I tried an aftermarket regular RB-300 on my Ariston Forte and the tables were very close sound-wise. I have no doubt if I put my Origin Live RB-300 on my Denon DP-59L or my Kenwood KD-770D....with all of the same tweaks.....there's a damn good possibility the three would sound a great deal alike. Maybe the background would be a little blacker with the Basis/Frankentable.....but then again, maybe not. Speed stability and pitch would probably be better on the two Japanese Direct Drive tables for all I know. I'm going to try silk string next to see if it does anything.

Turntables are interesting devices. There are many different camps. Suspend or not to suspend. Direct or belt. Hey, it's all fun and I don't want to be too religious about this stuff. Hell, I didn't want to learn this much about turntables in the first place. But a man has to do what a man has to do. If the motor had been more reasonably priced or just never malfunctioned to begin with, I wouldn't have had to go to such lengths.

I didn't want to be taken to the cleaners. I'm not cheap. If you can point to something and explain exactly what's wrong and what it will take to repair it correctly, I'll probably pay you and not think twice. But 5 to 6 Franklins for an AC synchronous motor with a pulley pushed into it? No way. I'm not a chump.

I'll probably end up selling all of my tables and buy something I can get really excited about. Until then, the Frankentable is my best rig, but I think the arm has more to do with it than the table does, and the arm isn't a Basis arm.

Product Weakness:	Overpriced in the event of repair after the warranty. Always find out motor replacement costs before buying any turntable, and also find out what upgrade paths you do or don't have. The Basis 1400 has no upgrades available from Basis, but there are quite a few effective upgrades from others that will help its performance.
Product Strengths:	The plinth was easy and cheap to paint.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Yamaha MX-2000 Drives Woofers AES SV-811 driving Tweeters
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Forte F-44 Line Stage Electrocompaniet ECP-1 Phono Preamp
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Basis 1400 Origin Live modded RB-300 Tonearm Benz Micro ACE Low Output Moving Coil
Speakers: Dali Euphonia MS4
Cables/Interconnects: Stealth Silver for all interconnects and AES Amp to Tweeter connections Tributaries TOTL for Yamaha MX-2000 to Woofer connections
Music Used (Genre/Selections): read review
Room Size (LxWxH): 40 x 30 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 -7 years
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Yamaha MX-2000 Drives Woofers AES SV-811 driving Tweeters
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Forte F-44 Line Stage Electrocompaniet ECP-1 Phono Preamp
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Basis 1400 Origin Live modded RB-300 Tonearm Benz Micro ACE Low Output Moving Coil
Speakers:	Dali Euphonia MS4
Cables/Interconnects:	Stealth Silver for all interconnects and AES Amp to Tweeter connections Tributaries TOTL for Yamaha MX-2000 to Woofer connections
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	read review
Room Size (LxWxH):	40 x 30 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 -7 years
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner