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Stepping Up From A Graham 2.2 On A Basis Audio Debut Deck

Hello,

I’ve a Basis Audio Debut Gold Standard with the acrylic armboard, and a Graham 2.2 installed.

I’d like to try a new arm in the $5K price range but I need something that’s drop-in compatible with the Graham, as I can’t/won’t drill any holes in the armboard.

I thought there’d be a database of compatible arms, perhaps on Vinyl Engine, but I couldn’t find anything. I’d like to use an Origin Live, but I haven’t heard back from Mark and David yet as I think they’re busy at the UK show. Looking at one of their manuals it doesn’t look like it’s going to be feasible without some kind of bracket.

I’m not married to the OL idea, I just want a step up from the 2.2 without a lot of hassle, and I’ve used their Illustrious arm on a previous deck and liked it a lot.

Has anyone gone down this path? What arm did you use? Was it a worthwhile improvement? Was it easy to install and set up?

(I do have the Dr. Feickert jig).

Thanks in advance for any tips.

Rooze

 

128x128rooze
rooze's avatar
rooze OP
645 posts
 

@rauliruegas I agree on arm/cart compatibility. I don't plan to use the cartridges I have on hand for the long-term. My thought is to decide on the arm and then buy a good matching cartridge. 

rooze's avatar
rooze OP
645 posts
 

@solypsa the P2S on the 2.2 is 218mm, 9" effective length (pivot to stylus).

A constraint is that the arm assembly can protrude from the underside of the armboard a max of 1 1/4" before it hits the suspended plinth or sub-chasis. The dia of the hole in the armboard is 1 7/8".

I believe I'm going to need to have a disc/plate made that sits over the large diameter hole in the armboard. If I can find an arm that's secured only by a locking nut and doesn't require smaller drilled holes offset from the main hole, then I'm good as long is it doesn't exceed 3.25" from the top side of the disc/plate. And the outside diameter of the locking nut mustn't exceed 1 7/8".

As @lewm ​​​​​@jwei @wrm57 have suggested, a Phantom might be a good choice. But I'm not sure that I can take for granted the idea that it will be a drop-in replacement for the 2.2 

My next step is to find a detailed drawing for the Phantom!

 

solypsa's avatar
solypsa
462 posts
 

May be too large but check the AudioCreative rotary lift, they have some drawings online. It might allow you to use larger variety of arms.

 

 

 

 

rooze's avatar
rooze OP
645 posts
 

Well I took people’s advice and picked up a Phantom B44 along with a Walker motor controller. This possibly won’t be as big a step up as I was hoping for but it sure makes things simple on the installation side of things.

Thanks for the input.

lewm
13,414 posts
 

If you have never had the benefit of a motor controller before, you will be very pleased with the Walker, whether or not the Phantom is a revelation, though I suspect that it too will make you happy.  I would have thought that Basis provides a motor controller with their better models, in which case maybe the Walker will be a step sideways rather than forward. Be sure the Walker is compatible with the Debut Gold Standard.

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