The Funk Firm Houdini review

Hi all.

I just wanted to share my latest review for the Funk Firm 'Houdini and Achromat' combo on my website, www.Tannoyista.com

As some of you already have read elsewhere on AOS, the Houdini is something really special and I'm really blown away with it. For such a small thing, the Houdini has to be one of the most important purchases if you love your vinyl.

You can read the full review here:
The Funk Firm Houdini & Achromat - Review 2020

I hope you enjoy! :)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...Houdini_07.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S...Houdini_02.jpg

Excellent review, Jo, and I see you've also got one with the, erm. 'Funky' new box!:D

Btw, I know it'll be a bit of a pain, but you may like to try remounting the Houdini, minus your graphite stabilizer, as introducing another interface like that isn't recommended. Best to just have the Houdini mounted straight to the headshell.

Don't worry about reducing mass, because as I told you before, the Houdini makes the partnering cartridge, to a large extent, 'headshell agnostic'. It will sound even better that way, trust me, and will allow you more flexibility with VTA:)

Try it and see what you think!

Marco.

Hey Marco.

Thanks for the kind words.

With the spacer the arm is nice and level. To what I can tell so far, the spacer doesn't take anything away from the sound.

No worries... Yes, but you won't know until you remove it, and I have it on good authority that the Houdini performs best without any added interfaces.

Try it and report back, as I'd be curious of your thoughts:)

Marco.

Great detailed review:)

Hey, thanks, Mick.

I must say... After a few weeks of listening to this tiny thing installed. The sound continues to impress. I've really hit my collection hard since installing it.

Some say that the price tag is a bit steep, but I have to admit... The difference is more noticeable than any isolation feet or interconnect I've tried to which £300 is easily spent.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Black Adder

Hey, thanks, Mick.

I must say... After a few weeks of listening to this tiny thing installed. The sound continues to impress. I've really hit my collection hard since installing it.

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I know exactly what you mean Josie. I've been doing the same as well as buying as much vinyl as I can get away with ha. Also had to replenish the record cleaning fluid.

i was wondering why it looks like there is a block of sorbothane and then the funk on the arm above, there doesn't look to be any azimuth adjustment , either , or how thick this is and how much weight it adds to the end of the tone arm , this would be important to know if you use a tall cartridge and need to get the VTA correctly adjusted ,

It weighs about 2g and measures about 6mm.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gwernaffield

i was wondering why it looks like there is a block of sorbothane and then the funk on the arm above, there doesn't look to be any azimuth adjustment , either , or how thick this is and how much weight it adds to the end of the tone arm , this would be important to know if you use a tall cartridge and need to get the VTA correctly adjusted ,

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Hi there.

It isn't sorbothane, it's a graphite spacer. It was added to simply raise the arm so its level. It's not required and doesn't harm the sonics.

so the funk is not on the directly on the tonearm should it be to get the review correct ?
not every one will have the graphite spacer ,
Ortofon Kontrapunkt Moving Coil cartridges are tall, and you may not be able to use the funk on the michell TT, because there is may not be enough VTA to fit it ,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gwernaffield

Ortofon Kontrapunkt Moving Coil cartridges are tall, and you may not be able to use the funk on the michell TT, because there is / may not be enough VTA to fit it ,

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Hence the reason that Funk sell a specially designed headshell that has a high mounting platform in relation to the tone arm plug for use in tone arms with removeable headshell. (See my photos elsewhere - 'Get your Cartridges out for the boys'.

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Originally Posted by WullieD20

Hence the reason that Funk sell a specially designed headshell that has a high mounting platform in relation to the tone arm plug for use in tone arms with removeable headshell. (See my photos elsewhere - 'Get your Cartridges out for the boys'.

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?

so to use this would you have to buy the head shell as well, what about the graphite block used in the review can you buy that as well?

Nice review and a rather special turntable if I may say so.

The Houdini is not expensive for what it does, I have SME/Graham/Clearaudio and other arms and myriads of cartridges, not found anything it does not work on yet.

Enjoy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gwernaffield

? so to use this would you have to buy the head shell as well, what about the graphite block used in the review can you buy that as well?

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You will only require the Funk headshell if your current set-up does not allow you sufficient adjustment to raise the tonearm by around 4-6mm to retain the correct VTA. eg: my Jelco would do that without the need for the Funk headshell. (I suspect my Technics would also, but it's liable to have less movement than the Jelco).

As for the graphite block; I haven't a clue what that is there for or what it achieves, so cannot answer.

I had to use an additional weight on the Funk headshell when I used the Hana cartridge in the Houdini (see photo) because the combination was so light without additional weight that I could not set the tracking force.

the point was that the fact a graphite block was used in the review is the review worth taking any notice of , or to be taken with a pinch of salt ,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gwernaffield

the point was that the fact a graphite block was used in the review is the review worth taking any notice of , or to be taken with a pinch of salt ,

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'Tis only one review..... Look for others to decide what you want to believe. See here where there are numerous comments and reviews and no graphite block to be seen.

yes i know but it is supposed to be about this review not others, which is of a device that the cartridge man god bless him first thought off, but done in a different package , at a hell of a price, it is not fair to do this,
in my opinion ,

I own the Isolator, as well as a Houdini.
The devices are very different in construction.

hi yes i know do they do the same job? , the cartridge man used tape and pegs, the funk uses nylon screws, the part is the same to me accept for the price and appearance,

The isolator is a use once affair, as you cannot get new glue.
I have not compared the Houdini directly, as I don’t want to peel the isolator off the Music Maker Classic it is fitted to.
I do know that the Houdini works well, but I have never heard the MM without the isolator, so I don’t know how much it adds to the great sound of this cartridge.

They have the same function, but they are vastly different. The Funk is more complex.

The isolator used double sided tape 3m , if you want some i will give you some, there was a reuse one launched, how is the funk more complex ? in the way it is fitted? but still used the same principal as lens,

The Funk one is more complex in the way that the cartridge is able to move easier, in certain directions.
It is not a block of foam between two metal plates (simplified).

when you say easier how? as it is molded foam , material , in the first place, do you mean it is more ridged ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gwernaffield

so the funk is not on the directly on the tonearm should it be to get the review correct ?
not every one will have the graphite spacer ,
Ortofon Kontrapunkt Moving Coil cartridges are tall, and you may not be able to use the funk on the michell TT, because there is may not be enough VTA to fit it ,

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I have the Houdini on an Orbe/SME IV and the spacer is used on the SME arm as otherwise the headshell would not allow the Houdini to fit directly, ie the shape would foul the fitting. This does mean that for me the VTA adjustment is at its highest to accommodate the Houdini plus AT Art9 at a level arm setting. I cannot raise the arm any higher so a deeper cartridge than the Art9 would need to be happy tail down. I had considered making or getting taller spacers for the Orbe armboard to allow further adjustment.

The Houdini is fantastic btw. Greater dynamics, notes start and stop as they should. Very pleased.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gwernaffield

when you say easier how? as it is molded foam , material , in the first place, do you mean it is more ridged ?

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What is moulded foam?

i guess you have to move the arm Pivot to spindle to use the Houdini , the one i use you do not, is it set at 215.35 , and you move the cartridge into the correct position , so my 309 is now set at the same Pivot to spindle as the same V , with better tighter cleaner music , and is decoupled , but is one piece ,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bosa

The Houdini is fantastic btw. Greater dynamics, notes start and stop as they should. Very pleased.

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Yep... it's an amazing little thing. :)

A little update on this.

Still going strong and still sounding amazing.

Simply put... if you haven't already, this is something you just have to get.

https://www.tannoyista.com/2020/11/t...-achromat.html

Have you not removed the additional spacer yet?

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Originally Posted by CageyH

Have you not removed the additional spacer yet?

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No, it's still in place. I need it to get the angle of the arm correct, especially with the achromat in situ.

It might be great but £300 is a ridiculous amount of money for what it is and yes people will go on about R&D and the vinyl market being relatively small but i'm sure far more people would be tempted by it if it was more reasonably priced

lol... Well, I've seen other small things in hifi costing more.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Black Adder

lol... Well, I've seen other small things in hifi costing more.

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Yes cartridges i know, but they are far more intricate, you can appreciate the time and the effort not to mention the amount that must fail QC, the Houdini isn't in the same league, I don't mind paying a lot of money for something when i can see where my money has gone, i really struggle with this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jac Hawk

Yes cartridges i know, but they are far more intricate, you can appreciate the time and the effort not to mention the amount that must fail QC, the Houdini isn't in the same league, I don't mind paying a lot of money for something when i can see where my money has gone, i really struggle with this.

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You struggle with it? That is fine, but you will never know if it offers VFM if you don’t try one. ;)
And if you don’t try one, you won’t miss it when you take it out. There is no obligation.
I am not sure how many parts are in a Houdini, but I am pretty sure it is not just a lump of sorbothane between two plastic shells.

Some people pay more for a bit of copper in a fancy sheath, but each to their own.
I would have been happier if mine was cheaper - that is human nature.

However, I will put this in terms you will easily understand (and I don’t mean that in a rude or condescending way). This costs less than the difference between the old Art-9 and the repackaged version. ;)
It elevates the performance of your vinyl, and I hope it never wears out, so in comparison to a good MC cartridge, I deem it VFM, which is why I bought one.

Like I have posted elsewhere, it is a Marmite product.

I like Marmite. Maybe you don’t?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jac Hawk

Yes cartridges i know, but they are far more intricate, you can appreciate the time and the effort not to mention the amount that must fail QC, the Houdini isn't in the same league, I don't mind paying a lot of money for something when i can see where my money has gone, i really struggle with this.

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There are plenty of things you could spend equally on in hifi but in my view, sonically, it's certainly worth £300.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CageyH

You struggle with it? That is fine, but you will never know if it offers VFM if you don’t try one. ;)
And if you don’t try one, you won’t miss it when you take it out. There is no obligation.
I am not sure how many parts are in a Houdini, but I am pretty sure it is not just a lump of sorbothane between two plastic shells.

Some people pay more for a bit of copper in a fancy sheath, but each to their own.
I would have been happier if mine was cheaper - that is human nature.

However, I will put this in terms you will easily understand (and I don’t mean that in a rude or condescending way). This costs less than the difference between the old Art-9 and the repackaged version. ;)
It elevates the performance of your vinyl, and I hope it never wears out, so in comparison to a good MC cartridge, I deem it VFM, which is why I bought one.

Like I have posted elsewhere, it is a Marmite product.

I like Marmite. Maybe you don’t?

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Mmm... Marmite! :)

I wonder if they did a month trial or full refund like loads of mattress companies do if they would get many back

I bought and played with one for a couple of months (which meant I couldn't return it via the 30 day trial) in order to test it on a few decks and a number of cartridges. I had mixed results with it, it could sound good but not light and day improvement IMHO and it really didn't seem to work well at all with some cartridges, this was agreed by a friend of mine who also tried one - (he is a German hifi reviewer). Early on I had some correspondence with Arthur but once I said I was having problems with some cartridges he said he would investigate but that was the last I heard from him - bear in mind I had one of 'pre public release' ones. I eventually decided to sell it on for somebody else to try, maybe they would have better results, and made a huge loss on it.

So I agree with some of the previous statements that you really do have to try it - to see if it works for you - but you also have to be prepared to be disappointed and I also agree with others that it is a lot of money (more so to some than others) to risk.

I would also ask if any of the positive reviewers could declare whether they received a complimentary Houdini to review?

I bought and paid for mine.

My honest feeling is that it's another fad / gizmo / snake oil, call it what you want, already i've seen it has mixed reviews nothing decisive one way or the other and i know our hobby is based on our own flawed perceptions, but like many other things like this I can see this fading away into the mists of time, i'll try one when i can get one at a more sensible price, either 2nd hand or when Funk Firm come to their senses and start to charge a reasonable price for these things.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jac Hawk

My honest feeling is that it's another fad / gizmo / snake oil, call it what you want, already i've seen it has mixed reviews nothing decisive one way or the other and i know our hobby is based on our own flawed perceptions, but like many other things like this I can see this fading away into the mists of time, i'll try one when i can get one at a more sensible price, either 2nd hand or when Funk Firm come to their senses and start to charge a reasonable price for these things.

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I'd suggest to not dismiss it until you try it. Be open minded about recommendations which have positive or even mixed feedback.

I for one don't do snake oil wonder gizmos. Never have and never will. So I hope you can take that as good grounds to at least try it.

There is science and mechanical methodology/understanding behind the product which, to me made for a good reason to try it.

Of course, everything is subjective. But from my point of view, the Houdini is now an essential part of my system and I'm very, very happy with it.



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