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RIP AJ Conti

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  • #1

    RIP AJ Conti

    Just saw that Mikey F. posted a note that AJ Conti of Basis tables passed last night. RIP AJ, always enjoyed our conversations at audio shows.

    I remember hearing the prototype of his very first table back in the late '80s at an audiobuddies place up in Nashua, NH.
    Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
    Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
    ________________________________________

    -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
    -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
    -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
    -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
    -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
    -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
    -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, vdh Colibri Master Signature, Mutech Hayabusa,
    -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
    -Assorted cables including Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
    -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Wow, he left us way too soon. One of the most fertile minds you'd ever encounter re turntable design, quite a legacy he left us all. RIP AJ, you will be missed.
    • Likes 1

    Comment

    • Rob
      #2.1
      Rob commented
      10-13-2016, 04:06 PM
      Editing a comment
      I just told my good friend that owned five of his 'tables and was deeply saddened to hear about this. Scott and AJ would chat on the phone for what seemed like two hours at a time and discussed many things other than audio. They met for the first time at the Newport show a few years ago and both shared a love for sport bikes and Ducatis. AJ would make an effort to go on rides in whichever part of the country there was an audio show. He was well versed on so many subjects other than audio, a true renaissance man he was.
  • #3
    Originally posted by MylesBAstor View Post
    Just saw that Mikey F. posted a note that AJ Conti of Basis tables passed last night. RIP AJ, always enjoyed our conversations at audio shows.

    I remember hearing the prototype of his very first table back in the late '90s at an audiobuddies place up in Nashua, NH.
    you mean late '80s. He was showing the debut around '86/87 with the Airtangent arm which Dan D of Krell was bringing in. The Basis 'table quickly rose to the top as one of the best available regardless of cost, AJ went to incredible pains to achieve the manufacturing tolerances that those tables possess.

    Comment

    • MylesBAstor
      #3.1
      MylesBAstor commented
      10-13-2016, 01:38 PM
      Editing a comment
      Yes you are right.
  • #4
    AJ was always a gentleman to me. RIP friend.
    • Likes 1

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    • #5
      Apparently AJ was at his son's soccer game when he suffered a massive heart attack.

      Services are tomorrow afternoon open to the public at The Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock Street, Nashua, N.H. (603 883-3401).
      Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
      Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
      ________________________________________

      -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
      -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
      -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
      -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
      -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
      -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
      -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, vdh Colibri Master Signature, Mutech Hayabusa,
      -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
      -Assorted cables including Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
      -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

      Comment

      • #6
        I am really saddened to hear this. RIP AJ.
        Micro Seiki SX-8000 table with flywheel, SME 3012R arm, SME 312S arm, Lyra Etna SL and Dynavector XV-1S cartridges, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 tape deck, Ampex 350 repros, Roon Nucleus Plus server, PS Audio DSJ DAC, ARC Ref 6 pre, ARC Ref 75 amp, Parasound JC5 amp, JBL 4345 speakers, and Def Tech Ref subs.
        • Likes 1

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        • #7
          Too soon, too soon. I remember chatting with Mr. Conti about his new Superarm 9. He was so proud of it and the machining tolerances involved in its production. A man who loved what he did.
          • Likes 1

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          • #8
            AJ was always passionate about what he did. He started off in the audio business selling stereo gear out of his duplex in Nashua, NH. I lived in Maine at the time and made several treks to his place in the 1980s. When I first met AJ, he was selling SOTA tables, Counterpoint, and Martin Logan speakers among others. He also sold a fair amount of used gear. His duplex was full of gear in every room including the basement. AJ had a full time job at the time and if memory serves me correctly, he was a mechanical engineer and worked for a local company which I can't remember the name of.

            I was hoping this was another internet rumor that wasn't true, but it sadly appears not to be so.
            Micro Seiki SX-8000 table with flywheel, SME 3012R arm, SME 312S arm, Lyra Etna SL and Dynavector XV-1S cartridges, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 tape deck, Ampex 350 repros, Roon Nucleus Plus server, PS Audio DSJ DAC, ARC Ref 6 pre, ARC Ref 75 amp, Parasound JC5 amp, JBL 4345 speakers, and Def Tech Ref subs.
            • Likes 1

            Comment

            • #9
              This is saddening. He will be missed. May he rest in peace. I give my deepest condolences to his family.

              We had so many interesting conversations on the phone and via emails over the years. We finally met about 6 years ago and it was a wonderful meeting.

              A.J. can tell the story much better than I can. In this Wilson Audio video comments about our 2010 meeting, he sums it up very well about 5:12 into the video.
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N-B...youtu.be&t=312


              I have owned three Basis Turntables (1400, 2800 vacuum, and Debut Vacuum) I still own them except the 1400 which a close friend finally convinced me to sell to him. They are precision analog devices.

              Dre
              Last edited by Dre_J; 06-02-2020, 08:48 AM.
              **************************************************
              Every day is a good day to play analog.
              - 12" 33-1/3 RPM or 45 RPM vinyl
              - 10.5" 15ips or 30ips tape
              **************************************************
              Every day is a good day for live music.
              **************************************************
              Every day is a good day to listen to music.
              **************************************************
              Industry Affiliation:
              Senior Writer, The Absolute Sound
              **************************************************
              • Likes 2

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              • #10
                Very sad news

                RIP AJ

                Comment

                • #11
                  Oh, so sad. R.I.P. Mr. Conti.
                  Vbr,

                  Sam
                  • Likes 1

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                  • #12
                    Originally posted by mep View Post
                    AJ was always passionate about what he did. He started off in the audio business selling stereo gear out of his duplex in Nashua, NH. I lived in Maine at the time and made several treks to his place in the 1980s. When I first met AJ, he was selling SOTA tables, Counterpoint, and Martin Logan speakers among others. He also sold a fair amount of used gear. His duplex was full of gear in every room including the basement. AJ had a full time job at the time and if memory serves me correctly, he was a mechanical engineer and worked for a local company which I can't remember the name of.

                    I was hoping this was another internet rumor that wasn't true, but it sadly appears not to be so.
                    He also designed one of the best espresso machines on the market. Cafe Armando. Way too young. Only 59.
                    Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
                    Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
                    ________________________________________

                    -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
                    -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
                    -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
                    -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
                    -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
                    -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
                    -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, vdh Colibri Master Signature, Mutech Hayabusa,
                    -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
                    -Assorted cables including Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
                    -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

                    Comment

                    • #13
                      Originally posted by MylesBAstor View Post

                      He also designed one of the best espresso machines on the market. Cafe Armando. Way too young. Only 59.
                      Wow. I met AJ when I was in my early to mid 20s and I thought he was a year or two older than me. I had no idea he is two years younger than me. Good thing I'm retiring soon. Today is a reality and tomorrow is a promise.
                      Micro Seiki SX-8000 table with flywheel, SME 3012R arm, SME 312S arm, Lyra Etna SL and Dynavector XV-1S cartridges, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 tape deck, Ampex 350 repros, Roon Nucleus Plus server, PS Audio DSJ DAC, ARC Ref 6 pre, ARC Ref 75 amp, Parasound JC5 amp, JBL 4345 speakers, and Def Tech Ref subs.
                      • Likes 1

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                      • #14
                        RIP, AJ. Very sad.
                        Kronos Sparta -> Trinity Phono -> Trinity Pre -> CH Precision A1 -> Magico S7s
                        • Likes 1

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                        • #15
                          Originally posted by MylesBAstor View Post
                          Just saw that Mikey F. posted a note that AJ Conti of Basis tables passed last night. RIP AJ, always enjoyed our conversations at audio shows.

                          I remember hearing the prototype of his very first table back in the late '80s at an audiobuddies place up in Nashua, NH.
                          I am in a state of total disbelief, seems impossible that AJ is gone.

                          I've known him for decades, he looked and acted so young it never crossed my mind that he would pass. He was a great designer and had passion for perfection, I worked for him several times doing ad photography. He would sometimes call just to discuss technical aspect of photography, he was hungry to learn.

                          A real loss.
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