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Cart for Basis Debut/Graham?

I just got a good deal on a used Basis Debut Gold Mk III table with Graham 1.5t/c arm. Now I must decide on the cartridge.

Since I stretched my budget to acquire the Basis, I'm trying to find a cartridge that I can happily live with for the next year or so until I get familiar with the set-up and decide to upgrade the cart, arm or both. My budget is probably $1k and under, new or used.

Does anyone have practical experience matching the Graham to a cartridge in this price range?

I think the Graham is considered a medium-mass tonearm, and ideally should be matched to a medium or low compliance cartridge. After setting the table up yesterday, we installed a new Shure V15VxMR cart. While it sounds good, I think it's somewhat darker sounding than I'd like. Bass is not quite as good as it was when I was using an older Denon direct-drive table with Denon 301 cart.

I'm considering trying a Denon 103R, Dynavector 17D2MKII or Shelter 501? Any opinions/suggestions?

Thanks.
kenl
ngeorge
57 posts
 
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
kenl OP
131 posts
 
Ngeorge - Thanks for bringing me back to earth. I sometimes have a tendency to believe that more expensive equipment is the way to solve a problem. You're right that my current equipment should be good enough to provide more than adequate performance. I think it's just a matter of proper cartridge matching and proper set-up.

While I suspect that a higher performance phono stage might elevate the system, I don't think that's the cause of my current problem, especially considering it sounded very good with a cheap Denon direct drive table with ancient Denon MC cartridge. I think a moving coil is more to my liking, and the E.A.R. probably sounds better with one as well.
newmanoc
295 posts
 
Avoid the Dynavector 17 D2 MKII. I really was extremely disappointed with this, at least in my system. Very, VERY, light in bass.
kenl OP
131 posts
 
Newmanoc - Thanks for your opinion of the Dynavector. I see you've got a Linn Klyde listed in your system. Is this your present cartridge? If not, what did you go with?
newmanoc
295 posts
 
Kenl:
The Klyde is what replaced the Dynavector on my table, and I have been very happy with the results. It has great impact, pace, and conveys the overall musical message very nicely. Of course it does not handle detail the way more expensive cartridges can. You should also know it is very low output - 0.15 mvolts. I unfortunately can not compare it to a Shelter, as I have not had one of these on my table.

As to suggestions above about upgrading your phono stage, my opinion is that this should wait. Trying to fix something you don't like about your table with a phono stage seems to be going at it all backwards. Also, if you don't like the way the table sounds (or at least if it seems to be disappointing), you may want to see if it is really working the way the Basis designers intended it should. I don't know how friendly the folks at Basis are towards second hand purchasers of their equipment, but I would approach them (or the nearest dealer) about doing a once over and see if they feel it is up to their specs. It may require shipping it out to them, but it could turn out to be a great move.
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