funk firm t'tables?

Bear in mind that the current version of the Rega P3, the P3-24, is different, and more expensive, than the one reviewed in the above linked article.

They're distributed by Two Channel Distribution aka Acoustic Sounds.

Someone just drew my attention to the fine print that in the above cited review the Funk was demoed with a several thousand dollar VdH Condor cartridge whereas the others were demoed with the stock cheapies. Mind blowing negligence!

Tpsonic,

"I believe that the above mentioned VDH Condor was tried after several other cartridges,this was done to determine the limiting factors for the supplied table.I believe a re-read is in order.It seemed that the other tables didn't justify doing this.After looking at the represented graghing of performance,it wasn't necessary."

From what do you infer all that?

I did reread the article before posting and just did again. I see no reference anywhere to trying out different cartridges either on the Funk or, certainly, on the other tables. An easy call would have been to use one or all of the cartridges used on the other tables, to try the Condor on all the tables, and/or to at least mention the HUGE price/quality discrepency between them. Since all the tables used a Rega RB250 variant except for the one RB300 on the P3, cartridge/arm compatability/differences would have been a nonissue. I find the reviewers methods ridiculous in this regard. Other than that I think the review was very appropriate given the apples to apples similarities between the table/arms.

In no way is any of this to knock the Funk. I'm very curious myself about it and, as a dealer, I plan on getting one to check out. My point is that, at least as written, it completely invalidates the review of the Funk. Perhaps his remarks were based on a more appropriate process than indicated and as such are valid exactly as stated, but I have no way of knowing that from the review as written. For all we know, the editor was the one who removed the relevent process for space reasons.

Re: the "someone", I hardly think it relevant. I took it as a prompt to carefully reread the article as opposed to take their word for it.

Re: the rest of your post, I don't think you'll get any argument from anyone.

Tpsonic,

I'm not certain exactly what your question is. There are two levels of compatability, mecahnical and sonic. I don't feel as qualified as someone like Thom at Galibier to discuss mechanical table/arm compatibility issues but the mechanics of arm/cartridge compatibility are well documented here. The resulting sonics are, of course, subtler and more subjective. Since I have no experience with the Funk I can't comment at this point on it.

My experience with cartridges on the Rega arms has as much to do with my own taste as anything else. I find the Rega cartridges to be convenient to mount on the Rega arms but not my favorite in that IME although they are dynamic and clear in the midrange, they lack warmth and can be edgey on top. The lower end of the Benz line is a nice match as well as the lower end Clearaudios. The Sumikos work well. Audio Technica makes some affordable carts that might do well. I don't have experience with the latest Denons nor with the recent DynaVectors. I've never been crazy about the Shures. The cheaper Grados are a bit opaque although warm and rich.The cheapest ones are a bit tizzy on the very top. I would look at a better table/arm before I would pair any cart over $400 on any of the table/arms discussed in this thread. Older, no longer made carts is another topic.

Cyto,

Of course, better cartridges will be better even on an inexpensive table. I was simply suggesting that funds would be better appropirated towards a nicer table/arm. I was also grouping th Funk with the Rega P3 and related lesser versions discussed in that review, and that's with not having heard the Funk.

Footers, etc. have at least as much to do with how internally propogated resonances are handled as isolating from externally sourced vibes. Not to mention that resonances that are way too small to be felt can have very audible effects.