Alternative platters ?

[synsei]

My MN-bearing is from 2009, the platter was bought in 2012, so maybe MN changed the profile of the bearing taper in the meantime. I have to add the sound produced by MN-bearing and MN-platter is fantastic, the only thing that worries me is the "not perfect" fit between MN-bearing and MN-platter whilst the (2009) MN-bearing fits like a glove onto the original platter. BTW I also tried to fit the MN-plater to the original bearing (outside the turntable) and experienced the same (slight) rocking.

Might be worth taking that up with Mike

[prestonchipfryer]

I phoned Funk today and they said as I use a mike new bearing they think the bearing taper is bigger so the funk wont fit

I just ordered a Mike NEW ETP

Nice one. You'll be amazed how much better your tecchie will sound. Also the MN ETP platter is easy to fit as it has two bolt holes for easy positioning. I understand that the Funk Firm does not have these bolts and can be difficult to remove.

This is mine pictured.

[Tarzan]

Well... Let's put this into perspective: how much do you think Linn would charge for a brand new platter (top and sub) for an LP12 - or how much would SME, Kuzma, Clearaudio (or any other high-end T/T manufacturer) charge for a replacement platter for one of their turntables, if you wanted one for whatever reason, and they were willing to supply you?

My guess is a damn sight more than £650!

The (bespoke) Funk Firm platter for the Technics is every bit as high-quality an item as any of the above.

Marco.

l am guessing you are guessing Marco? It is still alot of money.

[prestonchipfryer]

Sounds odd. Funk platter fits a standard bearing because it uses a technics hub. Why would mike new make a bearing that doesn't fit a standard platter. Does he make 2 different types - one for his platters and one for standard technics hubs?

Both the original platter and the MN ETP platter fit snugly on the MN bearing in my set-up.

The MN platter is a snug fit and can take some time to position correctly, as explained my Mike New in the fitting instructions supplied with the ETP platter.

[Spectral Morn]

I think Richard's beaten you to it, mate....





The news of the compatibility issue with the MN bearing is disappointing, for obvious reasons, but perhaps none more so than for the fact that, given how fundamentally HUGE an improvement the MN bearing gives over a stock Technics bearing, I strongly suspect that a Techy fitted with an MN bearing and MKI Funk platter, would outperform one fitted with a MK II Funk platter and stock Technics bearing...

If the new Funk platter is compatible with any of the other upgraded bearings on the market (Vantage, etc), which I'm sorry if I missed you mentioning, Neil, then that *may* level the playing field.

Of course, the only way to know for sure is to carry out the necessary comparisons, but as far as I'm concerned, the standard hierarchical upgrade path for the Technics, if the goal is achieving ultimate sonic performance, would always feature a bearing upgrade before a platter one.

Marco.

I was aware of the comments made Marco by Richard, but until the go ahead was given to say more I prefer to stay silent. The other info now in the public domain was another matter, though in hindsight I think saying nothing about it was probably the better option and I wish I had.


Regards Neil

[Marco]

l am guessing you are guessing Marco? It is still alot of money.

Of course it is - no question - but it is substantially less, I suspect, than one would be from the other manufacturers mentioned!!

Anyone fancy contacting, say, Linn or SME and asking them the question, then reporting back?

Marco.

[MCRU]

Of course it is - no question - but it is substantially less, I suspect, than one would be from the other manufacturers mentioned!!

Anyone fancy contacting, say, Linn or SME and asking them the question, then reporting back?

Marco.

Rather pointless exercise as making 1 platter is bound to cost a small fortune, the figure of £300 mentioned elsewhere is also rather silly, if the platter sold for £650, £108.33 of that is VAT, the dealer needs a slice as well as the manufacturer, so I doubt there is much profit in making them, plus they don't sell in large volumes due to the size of the market for a niche product like this.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Michell Orbe platter kit - £449. 60mm thick carbon loaded acrylic includes a clamp.
Bearing - £99

http://www.turntableworld.co.uk/depa...grade-kit-p129

Including VAT

[Marco]

Rather pointless exercise as making 1 platter is bound to cost a small fortune...

I wasn't talking about having a platter specially commissioned, dude, but rather one being sold from 'stock', which would otherwise have been supplied with a complete T/T.

Linn, for example, do sell parts for the LP12 individually. I believe that a new plastic lid for one is around £300. Now that's what you call "mental"!!

More seriously, the point I'm making here is that there's still a notion considered by some that upgrades for the SL-1200/1210 aren't worth it, as it isn't a 'proper' turntable, in the way of, say, a Linn or an SME (utter bollocks), which is why I doubt you'd see anyone baulking at being quoted for a new platter, for one of those T/Ts, at least twice the amount (or probably more) of what a Funk Firm one costs for the Technics!

I'm just putting things into a proper perspective. Therefore, I don't consider the cost of the Funk Firm platter "mental", but rather commensurate with the quality of the item itself and the cost of parts today in general for high-quality turntables.

Marco.

[Marco]

Michell Orbe platter kit - £449. 60mm thick carbon loaded acrylic includes a clamp.
Bearing - £99

http://www.turntableworld.co.uk/depa...grade-kit-p129

Including VAT

Nice one, Chris. Michell always were rather more 'real world' with their pricing!

Of course, economies of scale will also kick in here (including the fact that Michell have been a professional engineering company for decades and thus can produce everything they need 'in house'), and so there'll be substantial cost savings attached to that, together with more bearings and platters sold for Michell T/Ts, worldwide (simply because their T/Ts are more established in the marketplace), than either Mike New or Arthur K will manage for their products, resulting in much lower prices for the former, such as you have quoted...

Marco.