funk firm t'tables?

Tpsonic,

I'm not certain exactly what your question is. There are two levels of compatability, mecahnical and sonic. I don't feel as qualified as someone like Thom at Galibier to discuss mechanical table/arm compatibility issues but the mechanics of arm/cartridge compatibility are well documented here. The resulting sonics are, of course, subtler and more subjective. Since I have no experience with the Funk I can't comment at this point on it.

My experience with cartridges on the Rega arms has as much to do with my own taste as anything else. I find the Rega cartridges to be convenient to mount on the Rega arms but not my favorite in that IME although they are dynamic and clear in the midrange, they lack warmth and can be edgey on top. The lower end of the Benz line is a nice match as well as the lower end Clearaudios. The Sumikos work well. Audio Technica makes some affordable carts that might do well. I don't have experience with the latest Denons nor with the recent DynaVectors. I've never been crazy about the Shures. The cheaper Grados are a bit opaque although warm and rich.The cheapest ones are a bit tizzy on the very top. I would look at a better table/arm before I would pair any cart over $400 on any of the table/arms discussed in this thread. Older, no longer made carts is another topic.

Seeing that the Funk Vector with Incognito RB 300 is almost in the same price range as the new Clearaudio Performance,can anybody compare arms or complete tables:Satisfy,RB 250/300 modded or the Origin OL/Encounter?

Well I have about 10hrs on my Funk Vector with a Moth MkIII (RB300) and I installed a Michell Tecnoweight because I hate the stock weight adjuster.
Pictures of the table can be seen on my system thread.

My initial impression and purpose of buying this table was to hold me over till I could buy a TW Acustic Raven One with a Basis Vector 3/4 or Graham Phantom in 3-5 months.

But now I'm scratching my head thinking I'll ask my dealer if he will let me trade up the arm to a Michell Technoarm other wise I'll consider the Origin Live arms.

I'm pretty much stunned by how alive my vinyl is.. the Pace of this table just causes you to tap your toe. Some of my records that were dull and lifeless on my Technics SL1210M5G with the same Shelter 501 MkII and Dynavector P75 phono are now listenable to good sounding. The Bass is taunt and very articulate... I can't believe the tight tuneful bass out of this lightweight platter that starts up instantly and the screw down center clamp has a really nice feel spinning it down! The DC motor rocks... and speed stability is outstanding and I detect no wavers which I'm really sensitive to. The Rega P3 use to kill me to listen to because of the lack of pitch stability, even though my friends didn't notice it I did. So you mileage will vary. Vocals and instrument imaging is just floating in space with incredible depth... this whole staging was missing in my system... Music just seems upbeat and dynamic with this table and it never grates on you (even with some really bad recording that I have..)

Piedpiper: I disagee on your view of not running a $400+ cart on this table. Even if I upgrade to another table I'm going to buy one of Funk's Mats. I will say that my Shelter 501 Cart was a waste on the Stock Technics Sl1210M5G since it was only marginally better than the Audio Technica 440mla (the Shure 97xe was awful, I know ther are fans of this cart but talk about dull and lifeless, but then again it would tame a bright system). The Technics is a workhorse and I'm sure some of the KAB upgrades would have made a difference but I wanted built solution and with the speed stability of the Direct Drive and I found it in the Funk Vector Table with the 3 point belt system and the DC motor.

Tpsonic: I considered the Clearaudio Performance as it seems like a great package complete, but what I didn't like about it was the arm setup which can be finiky compared to an RB type arm. The magnetic bearings is a great idea and Clear Audio quality control is faultless. I knew I preferred a heavy platter over an acrylic platter and going to the Funk lightweight platter seemed totally counter intuitive but all I can say is WOW! I do wish I had bought an arm with better wire because I can imagine that would make a huge difference based on the discussions with other vinyl friends.

The only thing I can say negative about the Funk table is the factory packing was really poor, and lack of a manual. Also as you can see my table is about 3 feet from the 5" bass port on my Wilson Maxx's and even with my best bass snapping records the Plinth felt completely inert! No vibration and I was stunned that this ultra lightweight table's isolation could work this well. I will be trying the table on a Bright Star sandbox soon just to see if it helps.

Tonight I'll be running Cardas break in record to try to break in the attached phono cables.... now I just need to buy a bunch more vinyl and a record cleaner (I had a friend clean up a bunch of records on his VPI 17... wow that is slick and painless (I know you can do it for less but my time is worth something and I would rather use it to listen to music and cleaning in the sink) The 4-5hrs last night with the cleaned records (even brand new was an eye opener, it was like I upgraded my cart or something.) Time to order some of the Last products also.

Cyto,

Of course, better cartridges will be better even on an inexpensive table. I was simply suggesting that funds would be better appropirated towards a nicer table/arm. I was also grouping th Funk with the Rega P3 and related lesser versions discussed in that review, and that's with not having heard the Funk.

Cyto,
Have you experimented with other footers/lifting the table off the sorbothane ffet?