Theta Delta Basic II Transport Opinions.

I just purchased the Tri-Vista 21 this afternoon, and I'm using the original Theta Data Basic to drive it. It sounds fantastic! I've had the Theta for eight years and have never considered replacing it.

I also run the Tri-Vista DAC. I thought it sounded great with the Arcam FMJ 23 used as a transport. Then I tried out a nice used Theta Data Basic, the first model I believe, and was quite surprised at the improvement. Considerably more airspace around all voices and instruments, and greatly enriched bass, but with nice detail. By this time, I'd committed too much to new amp and speakers to take advantage of a real bargain.
Unless it quits the next day, hard to see how you can go wrong at prices around $500 USd.

I've used the Basic II transport for 10 years and still use it in my big rig. Upgraded through Theta from Basic to Basic II. I've used it with a MF A324 with great results and compared it with two DVD players (used as a transport) and the Theta always one, hands down. I'm on my 4th DAC. It's a keeper for me. I sometimes consider buying a backup. For the current used price I think it's steal. My greatest hifi gear sound improvement, strangely enough, was when I bought my original Basic Trasport. I was between speakers and bought a pair of PSB 200's to tied me over. I was using a Theta Cobalt DAC and NAD 5000 cdp as transport. This was a decade ago. I couldn't resist the Basic when it came out and my dealer let me take it home for audition. I didn't expect to hear much differece because of my cheap speakers. I was way wrong- the largest and best sound improvement I have ever heard was replacing the NAD as my transport. Still rings music in my memory. I've tried one other Theta transport since then when my Basic was being upgraded, but it wasn't as good. I've found that the Theta Basic II sounds best with a silver/teflon cable. Balanced output is best but either works great with a silver/teflon interconnect. I've tried many digital cables and Kimber AGDL or Illiminati have always won with the Basic II. Good Luck.

Redvolt: Just in case you were being discreet to spare my feelings, that 'other' Theta transport wouldn't have been a Pearl (or a Jade, their other Stable Platter-based design), would it? Nahhh...bet it had to be the one that played Laserdisks! ;^)

Funny story: I was actually planning to buy a Basic II originally, but at that time Theta's customer rep suggested that since the Philips mechanism it had been based around was no longer in production, future repair would be more difficult, and so recommended I try the Pearl instead. I didn't regret doing that from a sonic standpoint, but soon after my getting it, Pioneer discontinued production of the Stable Platter mechanism, which effectively put Theta out of the CD-only transport business (not that they weren't already headed firmly in the DVD direction by then). Oh well - the unit's never given me a lick of trouble anyway. Although I've heard both transport models through Theta DAC's (the DSPro Basic IIIa is my own Pearl's dancing partner), it's been in different systems at different times, so I've never compared the two head-to-head.

Zaikesman: Nothing wrong with the Pearl, I almost bought one at one point. It wasn't laserdisc, it was dvd transport. The repair issue is always a strong consideration for new gear.