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Musica Bella
Basis Extreme Linestage
by Response Audio
 

The Basis Plus linestage is the result of 2 years of R&D and hundreds of hours of listening and tweaking. In the end, the results far exceeded our expectations making it a great candidate to be taken even further...... in Response Audio tradition, to the EXTREME.

The Basis Extreme linestage is a no compromise version of our Basis linestage. The circuitry of the Basis is deserving of receiving all the detail and attention Response Audio has put into some of it's most elaborate products.

Unlike the Basis Plus, the Extreme is not built to a price point nor was it simply a collection of expensive components yet is still priced affordably. All Musica Bella products go through a long R&D process to find just the right recipe that provides the results of our initial sonic goals.

The Basis Extreme features a topology that brings out the most natural sound performance in the audio path using one dual triode 6SN7 tube per channel. In principle, it is a single gain stage that represents the shortest possible signal path for the most intimate sonic purity.

The Circuit

Each preamplifier is handcrafted of the finest materials and top quality parts like military-grade DALE metal-film 1% resistors, Dale 3% wire-wound resistors, Elna Silmic cathode bypass capacitors bypassed with quality film capacitors, and more.

More specifically, to obtain the sound we were looking for in the Basis Extreme, we utilize the intimate and refined sound of the Mundorf Silver/Oil coupling capacitors bypassed with VH Audio TFTF (Teflon) capacitors. We have tested other capacitors for in this circuit that also work nicely but provide a slightly different presentation. Contact us to discuss which may be the right choice for you. Internal wiring is a high quality 28 AWG .9999 Silver/Cotton. Choosing the proper attenuator (volume control) as well as other critical components throughout the design allowed us to reach our goals as well as yours.

The Power Supply:

The power supply is the heart and soul of any audio product. It is every bit as important as the circuit design. We have spent several years in R&D when it comes to power supply design for our products. There are a few different configurations and layouts that 'work' in the Basis Extreme but only one that sounds and performs "right". The power supply of the Extreme is choke filtered and consist of 100% Metallized Polypropylene capacitors with high quality film capacitors used for bypass. Not an electrolytic in sight. This is the reasoning behind the larger size of the chassis. An aluminum shield is custom made and installed to isolate the power supply from the analog circuit and the chassis is lined with a custom-formulated massive damping material significantly reducing all types of mechanical vibrations which, in turn, leads to a more extended, coherent and natural bass reproduction and dynamics.

The Chassis

The standard Basis Extreme is a single heavy MDF chassis with a thickness of 3/4" all around. The front window and rear panel of the Basis Extreme is 1/4" thick acrylic. Optional thin stock hardwood can also be used in place of the acrylic front window. The bottom panel can also be constructed of 1/4" acrylic but this piece is translucent allowing for a romantic glow beneath the chassis. The chassis is custom painted with your choice of color. Finishing the chassis is a time consuming process taking upwards of 2 weeks just to apply the color after assembly. Veneered and/or solid hardwood chassis are also available.

Other options include clear, transparent or translucent acrylic for the top and bottom of the chassis allowing you to show off the innards of your custom built Basis Extreme preamp.

The Sound

The Basis Extreme provides a warmer, more emotional presentation while retaining exceptional detail, resolution and transparency. The bass is fast and clean. The midrange will seduce you for hours on end and the upper end has extension and air. Listener fatigue is a term you will never hear when describing the sound of the Basis Extreme but 'musicality' will become you new favorite word.

Keeping in the Musica Bella tradition, the 'Basis' provides a clean, linear, dynamic presentation with low distortion using a SRPP circuit. If you have never heard the virtues of a 6SN7 based preamp, you do not know what you are missing. This is a piece that is very much at home in the most elaborate audiophile systems.

The Basis provides a dead quiet background allowing you to enjoy and appreciate the finest nuances hidden within your recordings.

This elegant design is a very low maintenance product allowing you to spend all your time enjoying the music.

Features

  • Highest quality circuit components

  • Mundorf Silver/Oil coupling capacitors with VH Audio TFTF Bypass

  • 28 AWG .9999 solid core Silver/Cotton signal wire

  • Silk (Silmic) cathode bypass capacitors bypassed with quality film capacitors

  • High current toroidal transformer

  • Metallized Polypropylene choke filtered power supply. No electrolytics

  • All power supply capacitors bypassed with high quality film pieces

  • Ultra Fast-Soft Recovery Fairchild diodes in the rectifying bridge of the power supply

  • Silver RCA input and output connectors

  • 100% point-to-point wired

  • Stepped attenuator using Dale RN 1% resistors

  • Inputs: 5 line level (single ended)

  • Outputs: 2 sets single ended

  • HT Bypass - optional

  • Mute - optional

  • Mono - optional

  • 16"W x 14"D x 6"H

  • Weight: 35+ lbs.

  • Hand built in the USA.

  • Five year parts and labor warranty

Gain: 17dB or 13dB
Input impedance 135k ohms
Output impedance 1.7k ohms
Phase inverting

Prices, Basic Unit Including shipping from Endicott, New York 13760, USA
Basis "Extreme" Direct Sales Price - Starting at $2,995
Options and Upgrades  
Remote Volume Remote volume control with separate, dedicated power supply
add $175
Dual Chassis The Basis Extreme can also be built as a dual chassis design with a dedicated external power supply.
Power supply chassis size 14"W x 10"D x 4.5"H
Analog circuit chassis size 14"W x 10"D x 4.0"H
Hardwood Chassis Call -
 Hardwood chassis' designs are based on a per order basis depending on the wood of choice.  For available wood veneer and/or hardwood options, click HERE
Standard wood species: Add $100 - Cherry, Oak, Bubinga, Maple, Black Walnut
Tube Upgrade We recommend looking at our Recommended Tubes page and choose a tube that best meets your preferences. You can order these tubes direct from this page and have then sent directly to us or you.
 Both the Standard and Plus models come equipped with standard Electro Harmonix 6SL7 tubes.
Warranty
  • 5 Years (transferable) on all parts and labor, with the exception of
  • 90 Days on tubes
Unauthorized parts substitution will void Warranty
Availability Now ! All units are built to order by hand in our commercially located workshop in Endicott, New York, USA. Lead time is typically 4-6 weeks from order to shipment depending on the individual configuration and work load.

Please not that Response Audio takes extreme pride in developing our products to their fullest potential. Outside upgrades and servicing is not approved and will void our 5 year warranty.

Due to our policy of continuous product improvement,
specifications may change without notice.

 

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