worrasf
27-12-2013, 14:50
I have posted very favourable comments about the VA platter previously http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11686
For the £200 asking price I think it is superb.
However, thanks to a generous discount from Marco I am now the owner of a Funk platter/Achromat combo which has taken things to a new level in terms of enjoyment and realism.
Swapping the magnets was a breeze and from the postie handing it over to the first spin was less than an hour.
I should stress I've only been listening for about 4 hours or so but the improvements are not subtle and become more obvious with longer listening.
Presentation is a little more forward and stereo/3D imaging is rock solid. Everything sounds tighter and sharper. This extends throughout the frequencies but the biggest improvement is in the low frequency control and extension.
I've added a couple of albums to my "test" category of late: "Flamenco" by Solera and "the soul of the blues harmonica" by Shakey Horton. Both have huge dynamic range and fast complex passages with simple miking and minimal mixing. With the Funk the attack of castanets and feet is faster and you can hear individual plucked guitar strings easier. It's more " in your face" as flamenco should be. Perhaps the most obvious improvement on this album is how the foot stomping on the wood boards sounds. With the VA it was clear that it was heels striking wood but with the Funk you can now hear that the stage is hollow as there is a reverberation and "woodiness" to the slams. There is a luscious tone to the "twang" of the Spanish guitar that I'd perhaps describe as on the "sweet" side of neutral. With vocals these differences are reflected in more emotion and expression.
On the Shakey Horton album it's the electric bass that stands out as the area where the Funk is better. Both present the dynamic range and tone of the harmonica the same but the electric bass is more obvious in the mix and has better clarity and definition.
All these improvements make for a more enjoyable (foot tapping) experience that is closer to the live performance.
I suspect the Funk errs slightly on the bright side of neutral but that suits my taste and system.
However, one needs to bear in mind the Funk/Achromat combo costs about £400 more than the Vantage so my comments should be read with that in mind. I still think the VA platter is a terrific step up from the stock platter and for around £200 is great value but there is no denying it's not in the same league as the Funk when it comes to PRaT and realism.
Steve
For the £200 asking price I think it is superb.
However, thanks to a generous discount from Marco I am now the owner of a Funk platter/Achromat combo which has taken things to a new level in terms of enjoyment and realism.
Swapping the magnets was a breeze and from the postie handing it over to the first spin was less than an hour.
I should stress I've only been listening for about 4 hours or so but the improvements are not subtle and become more obvious with longer listening.
Presentation is a little more forward and stereo/3D imaging is rock solid. Everything sounds tighter and sharper. This extends throughout the frequencies but the biggest improvement is in the low frequency control and extension.
I've added a couple of albums to my "test" category of late: "Flamenco" by Solera and "the soul of the blues harmonica" by Shakey Horton. Both have huge dynamic range and fast complex passages with simple miking and minimal mixing. With the Funk the attack of castanets and feet is faster and you can hear individual plucked guitar strings easier. It's more " in your face" as flamenco should be. Perhaps the most obvious improvement on this album is how the foot stomping on the wood boards sounds. With the VA it was clear that it was heels striking wood but with the Funk you can now hear that the stage is hollow as there is a reverberation and "woodiness" to the slams. There is a luscious tone to the "twang" of the Spanish guitar that I'd perhaps describe as on the "sweet" side of neutral. With vocals these differences are reflected in more emotion and expression.
On the Shakey Horton album it's the electric bass that stands out as the area where the Funk is better. Both present the dynamic range and tone of the harmonica the same but the electric bass is more obvious in the mix and has better clarity and definition.
All these improvements make for a more enjoyable (foot tapping) experience that is closer to the live performance.
I suspect the Funk errs slightly on the bright side of neutral but that suits my taste and system.
However, one needs to bear in mind the Funk/Achromat combo costs about £400 more than the Vantage so my comments should be read with that in mind. I still think the VA platter is a terrific step up from the stock platter and for around £200 is great value but there is no denying it's not in the same league as the Funk when it comes to PRaT and realism.
Steve