The Funk Firm Technics Platter

[MartinT]

As a result of Marco and I experimenting with a Funk Firm platter for the Technics SL-12xx series, I decided to order one. We heard sufficient good things using it with his deck and mine on my system that I had to get my hands on one to explore it further.

The platter is a well machined chunk of acrylic, beautifully finished in matt black. It requires the Technics magnet assembly to be bolted on to it, an operation that takes five minutes. I also took the opportunity to adjust the brake pot back to a low setting as the platter is so light compared with the Mike New that it started going backwards when stopped! I use an Achromat on top (we tried placing an LP directly on the platter but the sound was not optimal) and bonded it to the platter with my trademark thin layer of Vaseline(!)

I've hardly been able to get away to the keyboard, such is the impression it is making on me. Let me start by saying that the Mike New platter sets a high standard, so the comments below pertain to what I hear differently from this platter and not the considerably inferior stock item:

Dimension the soundstage is even wider and deeper, considerably detached from the speakers and palpable, such that with some records I feel I could reach out and touch the performers. Singers are more accurately portrayed as real-life size in front of me, rather than a slightly bloated image. Positioning is more stable and everything remains in place even if I turn my head, a good clue to directional cues being well resolved.

Micro detail is very naturally presented within the mix, not demanding attention (which would suggest a treble lift) but alerting me to their presence in a delightful way.

Surface noise is further reduced by a small but welcome amount. In general, system noise and surface noise are so low that I'm simply not distracted by them once the music starts, despite listening at quite high levels.

Midrange emerges from a blackness - just to the dark side of neutral - where the Mike New is just to the bright side of neutral. With my Shelter this gives a magical effect of the music sounding at once vivid but not tonally coloured.

Bass is surprisingly as extended as the Mike New but is tighter and has even more texture such that pitch is easier to hear. My speakers are prodigious in the bass and they are enjoying this dynamic release, not to mention giving me goosebumps on some of my favourite music.

Where the stock Technics could be described as having a dark and murky presentation, the Mike New platter swings it over to the slightly bright side of neutral. I would say that the Funk is close to neutral overall in this respect. Overall, the presentation of my deck as a whole is the most dynamic and exciting I have yet obtained, with a wealth of detail in a very natural and vivid soundstage. It is a deeply compelling thing, this LP reproduction lark.

The Funk platter is not coming off my deck



The Funk platter is available in black or clear from The Funk Firm http://www.thefunkfirm.co.uk/

[John]

Interesting thoughts Martin I am just wondering to get the best out of Mikes desigb using the reso matt might even things out more as using the on the Salvation pltter makes ahuge difference and very similar platter approaches

[MartinT]

I don't know that one, John. Do you have a link to more info?

[Gromit]

Oooh - I like the look of that Martin, especially in the way it 'un-blings' the 1210. Of course the great sound is going to be a bonus.

[Rare Bird]

Martin:
Just out of semi-intresst whats the black platter?

[MartinT]

Andr'e, it's the subject of this thread!

[MartinT]

Oooh - I like the look of that Martin, especially in the way it 'un-blings' the 1210.

It does look rather industrial cool, especially in the flesh.

[Rare Bird]

O right lol

[WOStantonCS100]

If I'm reading this review right, it still seems as if the difference between the MN platter and the FF platter are slight and may be negated by other things in the chain (mainly the cartridge / phono pre). Someone with a darker cart/pre setup might prefer the ever so slightly brighter MN platter and someone with a slightly brighter cart/pre setup might benefit from the FF platter. No??? If this is so, it just complicates things, doesn't it, especially for a "cart swapper"? Is it just a matter of which platter one wants to stare at for the rest of his/her life; or, is there a much bigger difference than what I'm gleaning?

[Marco]

Hi Biff,

There is, and I shall explain it later. My observations differ slightly from Martin's, in respect of the brightness factor

Looking good, Martin! One thing I think that can be agreed upon is that, aesthetically, the black Funk platter really suits the (black) SL-1210. I think that the clear one would look 'interesting' on an SL-1200.

Marco.