Cart for Basis Debut/Graham?

I will agree with Kurt tank and go even further. With a serious system such as you have you should eventually consider something like the Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum. This will give the frequency extension missing in the non-platinum Koetsu's while keeping that "mid-range magic"

Whatever you get now, consider it a stop gap measure if you want to match the analog part of your system with worthy quality cartridge and phonoamp. You might also consider the Wavestream Kinetics Phonoamp which I have...It is terrific at about a similar price point as the Rhea.

HI Kenl,

I tend to agree with Kurt_tank based on my experiences with a highly modified 834P. This is a really good phono stage for the money. It does suffer roll off at both extremes and is warm and veiled compared to other phono stages. Last year the upgrade bug hit me when a Rhea came up in the listings. The differences where significant. Bass slam that will rival any digital source, not as warm as the EAR but to me this was a good thing. Timbre and dynamics in spades over the EAR. But at 3 times the price the Rhea should have these things over the EAR. It is very probable that your new Debut is being held back substantially.

I'm not intimately familiar with the Debut but I have owned a 2001 and currently own a 2500, along way off from a Debut but good enough to get the strengths of the Basis line. I can tell you that you should be feeling bass in your chest, voices eerily clear and right in the room, and small bells and cymbals that just hang in the air. Since you're currently using the V15VxMR I don't think the arm is an issue right now, but you could also improve your analog setup in no small way with a Vector tonearm. I have a Graham 2.2 and a Model 1 Vector. No, the Vector doesn't come with easy adjustment like some arms, but I have not found a situation yet that the Vector cannot breeze through without any re-adjustment needed. There is a very strong synergy with the Basis arms and tables. The 2.2 can do many things but seems to need more tweaking to get tracking and dynamics right. It also seems more sensitive to cartridge choice. Admittedly I don't have years of experience with the 2.2 but after trying for many hours I can say that the 2.2 does not handle a 103R as well as the Vector. However, I do enjoy my Benz Glider on the 2.2 and this cartridge should work well on your 1.5. This could be one to add to your list.

I would add to Kurt's great post. I would have you seriously check out a Sumiko Celebration (new from @$1100, to used for much less)

Works much more friendly with your unipivot bearing, than any Shelter cart. Better frequency extremes than a Koetsu, or 501, yet has this killer midrange and huge soundstage;Meat on dem bones - great midrange also.

Keep in mind, I have a Basis/Vector combo with my Celebration. The Basis bass can be as big as any table, but you cannot use bass lite carts like the 501, with bass lite arms like the 1.5. The Celebration is even top to bottom - when properly loaded(same as with any cart). As is the Vector - and thus the Basis TT can have a great bottom end. But if you use a light bottom end cart like the 501 or a Koetsu, with your 1.5 tonearm, with the energy the Shelter is going to feedback into your Graham, I think there are better choices. Your thoughts on a Denon 103R is a great way to go, can't go wrong there - I just think the Shelters aren't the best match to your arm (search the archives for others thoughts here as well). Let alone the Basis TT (at least the 501, the 901 and 90x match MUCH better to the TT, but still not to your arm)

Kurt - Thanks for your thoughtful response. Yes, I'm the lucky guy who snagged the Debut on Agon. Apparently I wasn't alone in thinking it was a good deal. Living in the same area as the seller eliminated the need to pack and ship, which was a bonus for both of us.

Here I am trying to conserve money and you've got me buying a Rhea (just kidding). I almost jumped on a used Janus recently for $3,900. But having friends who own Callisto's which have been somewhat less than reliable, I thought better of it. But after getting the Basis, if I could sell the Viva Linea preamp and E.A.R. 834p for close to the price of a used Janus, I'd probably do it.

You suggest trying a Shelter 90x, but it seems Monk doesn't think the Shelters match well with the Graham arm. Is this just a difference of opinion or do the arm/cart matching formulas bear this out? I'm new to vinyl, so it gets confusing determining which arm goes well with which type of cartridge. High compliance/low compliance, high effective mass/low effective mass. Then there's medium, which is really a gray area.

I'm open to any and all opinions and suggestions. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to respond. Your input is very valuable to me and will be seriously considered.

Unfortunately the concensus seems to be that I'll have to spend a considerable amount of money to really do justice to the table and arm. I guess that will offset the good deal I got on the table, huh?

Hi Kenl,

Stick with your original plan: buy a good cartridge for the meantime and enjoy the purchase before enbarking on a costly journey to buy more stuff like a preamp, etc. - that's not how it works!

Give A.J. Conti a call at Basis and ask him what cartridge would be a good fit, period.

No need to completely revamp your system - it's very good as is. (Or go one step at a time.)

George