View Full Version : New Funk turntable in development.
Audioman
18-10-2012, 15:33
Pictures of this on Tapeheads.net. Appears to be available in various colour schemes.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-spjGvk4WVzk/UEZthnm3qZI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/kDY8QZc6L0o/s1600/P1020953.JPG
Beobloke
19-10-2012, 07:20
That looks seriously...well...Funky! :D
sq225917
19-10-2012, 10:10
I don't really need to go over to tape heads to work out for myself that this has nothing at all to do with Arthur, other than the mat. it's a pre-existing design.
hifi_dave
19-10-2012, 10:42
Do tell..:scratch:
That looks seriously...well...Funky! :D
Umm... not really
Do tell..:scratch:
Indeed, or I could certainly speak with Arthur and find out? :)
Marco.
Having spoken now with Arthur, I can confirm that the turntable in question is indeed an official Funk Firm product, called 'The Little Superdeck'. It was released recently at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in Canada, to great acclaim, and sells (including arm) for £1100.
At that price, I suspect it will compete very well with some already established products, and knowing Arthur's rather clever designs, likely outperform many of them, so I wish him the best of success with The Little Superdeck! :)
Simon, I'm still a little bemused at your earlier post:
I don't really need to go over to tape heads to work out for myself that this has nothing at all to do with Arthur, other than the mat. it's a pre-existing design.
Could you explain what prompted those remarks, which we now know are clearly untrue?
Marco.
There is no doubt that Arthur is an inspiration and a great innovator. I'm surprised how conservative this new deck looks though compared to his previous designs.
Audioman
19-10-2012, 13:49
Marco.
Very interesting especialy the arm which does not look like the usual Rega clone. It is a little pricey for a true 'budget' product and will be up against some slightly more expensive decks such as Mitchell and the new Rega.
Judging from Simon's comments here and on the Hart speaker thread he must be going through the male menopause. :lol:
Paul.
sq225917
19-10-2012, 14:53
Well if he says it's his then it is. It might take me a while to find the pictures but it bears more than a passing resemblance to one of the cheaper DJ/usb decks.
The screwed on headshell with the offset looks entirely like a pre-existing piece, as does the arm the with the sliding counter weight, though that yoke assembly isn't what i recall the deck I'm thinking of as having.
Maybe it uses some pre-existing parts and looks familiar as a result.
freefallrob
19-10-2012, 15:22
Interesting, I wonder if it's direct drive?
Here's another version of it, pre-release I guess:
http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh538/cyclopse14/P4301727.jpg
Different arm with carbon fibre tube. This is a photo from June posted up on www.vinylengine.com in the pink triangle forum - obviously things have changed a little since for the final product.
It is actually called: "Little Super Deck".
Given the less than flattering comments directed at me, is it any wonder that my decision was to release not in the UK but elsewhere, where the reception has been somewhat more cordial?
In fact, Little Super Deck has already been reviewed not once but twice in Germany! Initial sales have meant that the roll-out has already had to be somewhat controlled.
For those able to read German, a pdf is available, which will shortly be uploaded to the website.
In addition to this integrated turntable, at RMAF (Rocky Mountain Audio Fest), we launched two more arms(!), with one being a new flagship: FFX. This was being demo'd in 12" guise on an Acoustic Solid turntable.
More information will be available as their production release approaches.
Still, some of you may be interested in following the link to the show report, which I hope you will enjoy, especially when it comes to a particular point, where I think we acquitted ourselves rather well... At this certain point, the missing details are: Funk Saffire / Funk FXR3.
The rest most definitely speaks for itself:
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/jvs-rmaf-2012-show-report/
Seeing as we are in Techie land, you might be pleased to know that on the Saturday, part of the show entertainment included a disco, where two SL1200 kitted out with FX1200s and Achromats were used. The DJ, although preferring our platter, needed the strobe markings of the standard platter to perform his magic.
These decks are the standard units used regularly by the DJ and were not setup or supplied specially for this event. I didn't even know it was happening till the last minute.
All in all, we had one heck of a show and have been invited back next year.
oscarsaudio
19-10-2012, 20:12
looks nice , is it a DD turntable ?
Sorry for delays getting replies out but post show always applies pressure and this one is no exception.
Thank you for your comments. You can see the it in an alternate livery
This is a vectored belt drive with glass platter and felt mat as standard.:eek: Makes comparisons easy...
But that is only the start for its raison d'etre is that it starts off with a high spec performance and it is then upgradable in various ways to take it into a higher league entirely - Achromat, separate PSU, top spec arm and more.
It will be available in the UK from November. Hopefully you might find it in more dealers this time.
If not, quite seriously the vast majority (95+) of our business is export anyway and gives us less grief.
For example, sales have asked "How about such and such a dealer?"
Well given that historically some dealers actually sabotaged Pink Triangle turntables in order to block sales, whilst others played games or simply refused to take PT on, there is no way they will be entertained this time.
They are being blocked at source.
Still, this leaves many other outlets.
Cheers.
Arthur
sq225917
20-10-2012, 08:29
Come on Arthur put me out of my misery, which parts box is the cheaper looking armtube and headshell from?
I think those three quarter view pics do your new deck a much better service than the plan view ones (which for me just look a bit 'circle in a rectangle'). Any way, all that is irrelevant to the performance and I look forward to hearing it - all the very best :).
hifi_dave
20-10-2012, 09:49
Does this replace the previous Funk TT ?
barry-potter
20-10-2012, 09:58
It will be available in the UK from November. Hopefully you might find it in more dealers this time.
If not, quite seriously the vast majority (95+) of our business is export anyway and gives us less grief.
Arthur
why bother with dealers at all? just sell direct to the public and charge less. it's a win/win all round.
Come on Arthur put me out of my misery, which parts box is the cheaper looking armtube and headshell from?
I don't normally give away industrially sensitive secrets...but seeing as its you and as long as this remains between the two of us...
hifi_dave
20-10-2012, 15:18
Arthur, if you're there - is this going to replace the previous Funk turntable ? :scratch:
WOStantonCS100
20-10-2012, 19:32
I don't normally give away industrially sensitive secrets...but seeing as its you and as long as this remains between the two of us...
:rfl:
sq225917
20-10-2012, 19:37
The armtube I thought it was with the markings and the sliding weight is from A Vestax DJ deck, I haven't found the headshell yet.
Simon, the ongoing attack is getting really boring and I can't help you if I don't know so forgive me for being totally thick and stupid but what is the point you are actually trying to make? (A reply will be slow in coming as my Internet is down)
I can only think it harks back to when sq threatened to copy an idea for a magnetic bearing. Ever since he's had a thing about all ideas needing to be 100% original. It must be his penance agreed to obtain forgiveness.
Simon, the ongoing attack is getting really boring and I can't help you if I don't know so forgive me for being totally thick and stupid but what is the point you are actually trying to make?
Simon - I have to agree - please provide the evidence to support your statements rather than keep repeating them without solid substance.
Yup - this bollocks is wearing a bit thin now, mate...
Marco.
Points Arising
Re Sq: Well Sq appears to have gone to ground; I’ll add some points. An arm, (speaker, amp, tricycle, whatever), needs certain basic constituents, common to others, to make it work. A headshell is indeed one of them, a counterweight another, a bias yet another and so on. I note that Sq has not had any gripes over the bias, yet thread and weight has been done on the cheapest arm over decades, similarly for a twist on counterweight, or (spring-loaded dial-on tracking force, for that matter), or grubscrew locking VTA base, etc.
It is at that point which has confused me: Why pick on these basic components?
If originality is what you are after, then one would not expect to find any on a budget arm such as “F5” (it will be available separately for £550).
Yet, let us not be so hasty, for I believe (or at least I have tried, i.e. sat down and done more headscratching than others in a similar situation, which is all one can ask) and come up with not one but two ideas for which patents have been applied for…and the headshell is actually one of them! This is what has amused me about Sq’s involvement in all this. He doesn’t even know what the design is about.
Oh the sliding tracking weight? Vestax? Pah! If you’re going to attack historically, get it right: Why have you not gone back to look at the AT1005!
What is “new” is the justification for using this method. In fact it is a pain to make up but has a distinct advantage:
Higher tracking weight (low compliance) cartridges need higher mass arms whilst low tracking weight (high compliance) MMs need lower mass arms.
This system works by increasing and reducing the effective mass of the arm accordingly! I am unaware of anyone actually assigning this property to this system.
(As for credit, recall, PT’s inverted bearing? People had been kind enough to credit me for that, thank you. BUT from day 1, I have never, I repeat NEVER, taken that credit. Instead I have told everyone openly about Collaro’s turntable, which is the earliest example of that implementation I am aware of.)
Anyway, now, at least, I have some form of understanding (right or wrong) over Sq’s very strange involvement last year over the patent spat…Hmm.
Re: Selling Direct. An interesting and complex topic. “HiFi_Dave”, being a retailer, will have his own input on this as well but here’s my take:
A certain company (with whom I have regrettably had direct adversarial contact) does indeed sell direct to the public at a lower price than other manufacturers, thereby keeping all the margin. So what’s wrong with that?
Apart from plenty, Nothing.
It all depends on your business model. What do you want your business to do?
For most manufacturers, going direct at a lower price is pretty much a kiss of death to expansion.
Apple can do it because what they sell, they can do through wires to everyone. Their wares are one and the same time, both unique (their operating system) and common (itunes). You know you need your OS and either you buy it or you don’t, or you know the album (tracks) you want, so again you buy. The sale is ended. For Apple, this has allowed them to expand this model to their hardware.
A turntable, however, is quite different. They are all the same at being different. They all play records, so which one plays better (to your ears). You, the punter, go to your dealer and compare and then have your choice setup.
Lose all dealers and how do you now choose? Competition suffers and product development risk stagnation.
For the brand, how would the business grow? Dems are still needed. Who’ll do them? Where? Prospective customers would have to travel very far; this in itself would severely limit sales. Even if you are relatively successful in your home market with this model, your exports would run aground:
A product sold in the UK has VAT, dealer margin and export margin all built in. With the internet, now, more than ever, export markets (US?) are all looking at our home price, when deciding how and where to make their purchase.
The manufacturer has shipped the goods (= added freight costs). In order to promote and set up outlets across the vast land a distributor, familiar with dealers, mags and native customs, has to market the goods and then still sell at a price which is relatively close to the UK price. Now, drop the UK price. The international costs don’t change. The price disparity is now a deal breaker.
Pressure on grey importing increases. The distributor gets the hump and ditches you and you lose all the work he’s been doing i.e. the entire regular market and this is the catch word. Regular. Overnight you become a niche product. With no long term backup, people don’t like niche. And rightly so.
A business thrives not on the occasional £10,000 sale, which is all well and nice, but the regular “boring” repeat business.
Imagine Rega going direct. Or Linn. Or Naim. Or indeed Technics.
They have succeeded over decades by having their product supported through many, many outlets via distributors.
Moreover, who would want to get involved in that hassle?
For example, I have been told - don’t know if its true - that Rega have 300 outlets in the US. Try covering that on your own!
In the UK, we lose sales every day - we are not on people’s door step and dealers haven’t supported us. Historically politics has not been kind to us and I still come across bigots aplenty. Dealers are either afraid of the wrath of certain larger manufacturers, or they are just plain lazy.
By contrast, as mentioned previously, we are received and treated much more cordially abroad. The markets are considerably larger and generate far greater sales for less, much less input from us; this matches our capacity.
It is also much more enjoyable than dealing with negative mentalities - need I to point to certain content in this thread, which, truth be told, has been a less than palatable experience.
(What is it that people take pleasure in being hurtful to others?
Is 21st century man still so under-developed? From where I’m sitting the answer is a resounding “yes” and that makes me so sad.)
Don’t get me wrong there are also many dealers in this country who have been fighting something of a rear-guard action on our behalf and to those, I am very grateful indeed. But compared to our competition, in the UK we are small fry.
That said, Funk is growing, now faster than ever before. We have just expanded our premises and taken on more staff.
This is due to our being competitive both in the product we make and also protecting our margins internationally, which brings us neatly back to “dealers, yes or no?”
We always do our best to support buyers - real or potential: If there are no dealers around, we will do what we can to help. And this has worked very well.
Re-reading this, I apologise for its length.
sq225917
21-10-2012, 08:27
Jesus, take a breather, everyone. I just thought the armtube arrangement and headshell looked familiar that's all, and thought it surprising that Arthur, given his penchant for the original, would be revisiting old ground. I see that he is, doing so at a low price point and for apparent sound engineering reasons. I'm just surprised it looks so, well, you know, normal. I'm well aware that the Vestax is not the earliest example of an arm with the mid-tube weight, it was just the last one I had seen.
Arthur it doesn't take a genius to see how you are using the single fixing to allow for offset angle and pivot to stylus length adjustment without having slots for the cartridge. It's a clever idea, but sadly one that I believe I have seen before. I'll do my best to search out where I have seen this, I suspect it's on the diyaudio.com analogue threads if it's not on the wider web. I'm not for one minute suggesting that you haven't come up with the idea on your own without seeing it anywhere else- but I have seen it somewhere else previously though i of course can't discount that the source could have been your own musings somewhere on the web at some point prior to this.
As you still know nothing about the product, you are still missing the point, hence my comments.
Wait till the product is available and when hopefully there will be greater clarity.
For now I shall add no more.
Then again, parallel development is also nothing new under the sun.
Simon acting the injured party is a new deflective approach! Simon, your self-built history of attacking people preceeds you. It's hard not to read your posts on this thread as an attack on what you see as a parts bin product.
Seems like another Hart Audio situation brewing up.....
hifi_dave
21-10-2012, 09:29
Having read Arthur's post no.14 and as he mentioned my name, I must say that I agree with all he has to say about selling direct. This may be a good business model for Sony or Apple but is the kiss of death for any specialist Hi-Fi manufacturer. I have seen many go along this route over the years and most are no longer with us.
But I would say that, wouldn't I...:rolleyes:
Audioman
21-10-2012, 10:32
Can I add that the direct seller Arthur refered to has certain outlets where you can now hear their products as well as their own premises. Also companies such as Icon Audio which originaly were essentialy direct sell now have dealers.
Frankly I cannot agree that direct sellers are significantly cheaper than those using dealers with the exception of some internet based cable brands and possibly NVA. I think they just make a larger margin but inevitably restrict availability and the possibilty to expand their company. In fact there is a certain purveyor of cables and accessories where I believe prices are higher due to it being a direct operation with exclusive rights to a certain US made cable in the UK.
As for Arthurs arm design the sliding weight reminded me of the Mayware arm of many years ago and the headshell similar to Clearaudio arms. All this goes to show that nothing is entirely new in principle but the differences are probably in small details and their implementation.
It is sad that the Linn/Naim mentality/stranglehold still appears to hold sway after all these years. I know PT survived better than a number of worthy LP12 beaters through the eighties and have heard stories as to how the closed dealer network eventualy killed these off. I would have thought by now a new breed of dealers would be more open to new products such as Funk.
I do think though that many of the non Rega, Naim, Arcam, etc sellers are concentrating on the very high end. Usualy imported equipment were they think they can survive on the odd £10K+ sale or does my experience of Hi-Fi shows and magazine reviews give a distorted view of the industry?
Paul.
hifi_dave
21-10-2012, 10:38
Before the Mayware there was the Decca International.
It looks very nice indeed, Arthur, and all that you said it would be. I look forward to hearing one. Which UK show will it be first exhibited at? It's about time I buy you a drink, anyway.
sq225917
21-10-2012, 11:44
Simon acting the injured party is a new deflective approach! Simon, your self-built history of attacking people preceeds you. It's hard not to read your posts on this thread as an attack on what you see as a parts bin product.
That's exactly what I see the arm as Clive and why it questioned it as such. The tone of my original post in this thread was because I thought the OP was actually taking the piss with his post.
I'm not acting the injured party here at all, far from it I stand by my claim for having seen that head-shell design (in principle) previously. Unless I've missed something Arthur is yet to state whether the arm tube is parts bin sourced or not, so I'm not quite sure what your point is other than to 'lob one in' because you still feel aggrieved that I backed up mark re his turntable mat design.
And on that note, we'll leave that one there, thanks. Let's keep this thread on topic. I'm not interested in hearing about squabbles from discussions elsewhere.
Anything else other than discussion about Arthur's new T/T, or info relating to that and/or anything else relevant and serving the purpose of the thread, will be removed without further notice.
Marco.
Thanks Marco. I personally do not want confrontation, so I am happy at this point to:kiss: and :peace:
Seriously, the arm does have (I believe) incremental yet novel ideas not obvious by sight alone - hence the patent applications; I repeat: to include this wretched headshell.
These are now part of Funk's arm-oury (weak, sorry) and are on all the three new arms. More info in November when it appears in the UK.
I remain puzzled by the ongoing reference to the tube. What exactly is a "parts bin sourced" tube? (From which you can infer, I suppose, that clearly it isn't? :scratch:)
For the record: This is a ground up, in house designed and UK built arm, with funky bits. I've slaved for months to get these four products out and I'm knackered, so Martin, my dry throat welcomes your offer for a brew but my experience with Fat Tire over in Denver leaves me cold for brews over here, so how about a pint there next year! (How's that for a neat segue?)
(US coffee, on the other hand still leaves me speechless. Even Maccy-D's lattes over here are a million times better.)
Shows are costly in money and resource. For now, return on investment means we are looking abroad:
2013: Munich (May); Newport Beach (LA June) and RMAF again (Oct).
2014 our focus is on the Far East. Our work is cutout for the foreseeable.
Which again brings us round to dealers. They are there to do the job we can't - so you see Dave, we really do love you dealers. :grouphug:
Turns out that the next expose will be in Germany on Nov 4, where an audio group, AAA, will promote the deck to dealers, or something. I didn't quite get the gist when it was proposed to me yesterday. Language barrier and all that.
What I'm saying by that is that perhaps that might be a way of seeing our kit over here, without doing a full blown show?
I've slaved for months to get these four products out and I'm knackered, so Martin, my dry throat welcomes your offer for a brew but my experience with Fat Tire over in Denver leaves me cold for brews over here, so how about a pint there next year! (How's that for a neat segue?)
:lol: I'll see what I can do, Arthur!
Arthur, good luck with the launch and sales of your new turntable. Bringing new products to the record playing market is to be applauded.
chris@panteg
22-10-2012, 10:06
Arthur, good luck with the launch and sales of your new turntable. Bringing new products to the record playing market is to be applauded.
+1
hoopsontoast
22-10-2012, 12:35
Sorry for delays getting replies out but post show always applies pressure and this one is no exception.
Thank you for your comments. You can see the it in an alternate livery
This is a vectored belt drive with glass platter and felt mat as standard.:eek: Makes comparisons easy...
But that is only the start for its raison d'etre is that it starts off with a high spec performance and it is then upgradable in various ways to take it into a higher league entirely - Achromat, separate PSU, top spec arm and more.
It will be available in the UK from November. Hopefully you might find it in more dealers this time.
If not, quite seriously the vast majority (95+) of our business is export anyway and gives us less grief.
For example, sales have asked "How about such and such a dealer?"
Well given that historically some dealers actually sabotaged Pink Triangle turntables in order to block sales, whilst others played games or simply refused to take PT on, there is no way they will be entertained this time.
They are being blocked at source.
Still, this leaves many other outlets.
Cheers.
Arthur
That looks really nice in the Walnut Plinth :eek:
pure sound
22-10-2012, 14:37
my dry throat welcomes your offer for a brew but my experience with Fat Tire over in Denver leaves me cold for brews over here, so how about a pint there next year!
The Fat Tire was one of the better ones but still always served wayyy too cold.
The best pint I had over there this time (and by some distance) was this one on draught.
http://odellbrewing.com/beer/90-shilling-ale/
The Grand Wazoo
22-10-2012, 15:07
The best beer I've had in the US was Moose Drool Brown Ale from Montana
http://gaiawellnesscenter.org/images/moosedroolbreadbattermix.jpg
Love the look of that (especially the label), but I'm more of a 'Pils-style' beer drinker, so if in the States, I'd stick with....
http://imageshack.us/a/img802/2717/colt45.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/802/colt45.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/a/img855/6444/lonestarbeer.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/lonestarbeer.jpg/)
:cool:
Marco.
Love the look of that (especially the label), but I'm more of a 'Pils-style' beer drinker, so if in the States, I'd stick with....
http://imageshack.us/a/img802/2717/colt45.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/802/colt45.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/a/img855/6444/lonestarbeer.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/lonestarbeer.jpg/)
:cool:
Marco.
Tut. Tut. Tut. Now who's not on track? You should consider yourself censured. (You might prefer a smilie!)
Anyway, thanks for all your well-wishes. In a week or so the website will have some info. Sorry. Can't do anything before then.
(Adam, I tried to get a news item to Paul last month...No response. Ha. Ha. Ha. What did I really expect? Oh well, somethings never change.)
Arthur
(Friendly) thread-drift is legendary on AoS, Arthur! ;)
Marco.
(Friendly) thread-drift is legendary on AoS, Arthur! ;)
Marco.
You cannot be s-e-r-i-o-u-s that I was being s-e..., oh, heck, can't be bothered typing it all out again.
You know what I mean!
Later, people.
hifi_dave
23-10-2012, 18:18
Should that be - laters, peeps !!!
Arthur. I didn't manage to phone you today. Hopefully tomorrow.
The best beer I've had in the US was Moose Drool Brown Ale from Montana
http://gaiawellnesscenter.org/images/moosedroolbreadbattermix.jpg
Has to be this for the title alone!:cool:
Should anyone want some Retriever drool I'll collect some and flog it for a reasonable price. :cheers:
Mike_New
24-10-2012, 11:02
The English have a saying in Oz:
Don't take the piss out of Australian beer, it needs all the flavour it can get!!!
wiicrackpot
24-10-2012, 11:13
The English have a saying in Oz:
Don't take the piss out of Australian beer, it needs all the flavour it can get!!!
Always thought Crocodile Piss tasted ain't too bad. :cool:
Simon, your self-built history of attacking people preceeds you. It's hard not to read your posts on this thread as an attack on what you see as a parts bin product.
Seems like another Hart Audio situation brewing up.....
Shouldn't confuse the two. Hart acknowledged they were recycled cabinets from a scrap dealer - his was the very first response to my OP back in March (long before they were released as £40K products).
Unfortunately that evidence has now been assigned to the forum parts bin at Hart's request..
You cannot be s-e-r-i-o-u-s that I was being s-e..., oh, heck, can't be bothered typing it all out again.
You know what I mean!
Later, people.
Nice to see you here Arthur!
I've always been a big fan of Pink Triangle, first based on looks (my earlier hifi days), then a great respect for your original company's ethos and outlook and then lastly the sound!
Took me a while to get a system to full appreciate what they can do (my PT Anniversary).
Without wanting to re-direct the thread (a yes or no would answer ok ;) ) I'll quickly pop in this question about my Anni..
It has this unusual power supply (using several NiCad 3xAA battery packs) :
http://imageshack.us/a/img580/8599/lateannipsucase.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img822/4917/lateannipsu.jpg
Did you properly sell this style of PSU at all?
I've never seen another.. wondered if it was a one-off. I purchased the deck from a dealer in Cambridge - it was their demo deck and has this unusual PSU and champagne, brushed steel top plates. With the type of motor in the deck, I've wondered if it was an early example of the K-Drive design using current feedback instead of the earlier servo type..
Back to your current new Funk offering, are the K-Drive type offerings part of the upgrade path? Does look very nice with the wood plinth against the slate grey top...
rubber duck
26-10-2012, 22:09
Arthur, if you're there - is this going to replace the previous Funk turntable ? :scratch:
Was this question answered? Also is the new arm tube the same as the FXR?
Sorry guys, replying to posts takes time and right now we are flat our getting stuff out the door to deadlines for various events our distributors have "kindly" landed us with...and now we have the US hurricane to negotiate with as well.
Everything has to have left by Thursday evening so will be able to respond on Friday.
Good luck! Nothing like a deadline to sharpen the mind, but weaken the heart.
Good luck! Nothing like a deadline to sharpen the mind, but weaken the heart.
Hi Nat: "Weaken the heart?" You got that right.
Fuming with the sheer stupidity of some of the things people say (and try to put it on you)...till you point out where it all came from!
Hi people.
Despite further last minute additions (why do they do this?) Dealine met.
These additions mean other things will be running behind; things are starting to buzz.
OK. Let's move on.
RE Anni: Will PM for more info if needed, but quickly, this was developmental at the end of the run of Anni and after I'd left PT (1998)
Story: Anni: Flagship design.
So why did it stop? Well, the performance might be rather good but the sales were, how to put it politely? Questionable?
And no good reason was forthcoming.
None, that is, till a certain Penta, when Tarantella was launched and I was talking to someone who walked straight past our room, ignoring us...but they returned.
"I have a so-and-so"
"Uh huh. Have you heard the Anni?"
"Oh yes!"
"What did you think of it?"
"Easily the best deck I've ever heard!"
"!"
"Er...Why did you buy your current deck then"
"Because I wanted a visual statement and Anni is not that"
Once the current batch was made and sold, Anni was killed off there and then.
Since then it has become one of the few products that on Ebay has on more than one occasion sold for 2-3 times it rrp.
Life is strange.
The Little Super Deck.
Is F5 F.X'd?
Sorry, not at that price. What I will say is that it is already over budget but it's price is staying at £550 for a while yet.
It has been designed to satisfy a very particular set of design objectives and has met those, which leads us to the vexed, very vexed, question of that (Intruiging? Obvious? Seen-it, Worn-the-tee-shirt) headshell.
Now, where I'm coming from is simple: To date, I have said nothing about it. It's "just" a headshell - isn't it?
Yet, I was puzzled that anyone would waste any energy pointing it out. So it has a slot. (Then again, FXR had a variant on slot mounting. Why didn't anyone go for that? There are things that others do that to my mind are more newsworthy.)
No matter.
F5 is the first of Funk's new range of arms with a slotted headshell (which adjusts overhang - OK yawn)
But it also incorporates azimuth at the same time.
NOW, feel free to comment if it's been done before etc. (Did anyone say Dansette?);-)
Hope that's started to clear things up.
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