2020 update : JC Verdier La Platine

The AnologMagik kit has been reported quite extensively by our local audio community. Up til now, I had the mistaken impression that cartridge alignment was its only use. Rereading a local blog, track 3 on the test record does indeed deal with TT speed as well as wow / flutter. In a way, your finding should not be that much of a surprise? The magnetic bearing is La Platine’s main feature. If the table is leveled, the bearing tolerances correctly executed, then two spinning magnets should maintain ‘absolute’ horizontality, or at least provide the least deviation from horizontal. That was my simple logic when I first set eyes on the TT. And now your result bears it out. 

You mentioned other TT such as Techdas. In my recent fiddling with my air bearing tonearm, I have found the control of air fluctuations is a real issue. Adding additional surge tanks, help enormously to smooth out air fluctuations, improve air flow and henc SQ. An air bearing TT like the the Techdas  might not offer the best wow / flutter performance as the control of air pressure / fluctuation is essential but a bit more work than magnets, I would think.

 I have a few questions:

1. On the La Platine that measured .046%, you mentioned that the magnets are centered and perfectly aligned. Aren’t all La Platine like that? And the pneumatic suspension has been defeated with a static suspension? Sorry, but I don’t understand the nature of that particular La Platine.

2. Regarding speed stability, are you in favor of a servo speed controller, like the Roadrunner ?

3. This question is an aside. I am wondering about the use AnologMagik to optimize SRA / VTA. I have fallen into the camp where VTA is adjusted for every record played as the Trans Fi Terminator allows for VTA on the fly. Adjustments on the AnalogMagik is a one time thing. How does it account for record thickness, hence variations in SRA?

@ledoux1238

Adding additional surge tanks, help enormously to smooth out air fluctuations, improve air flow and hence SQ.

even the big ones come with surge tanks don’t measure better than %0.07 with Analogmagik.

@ledoux1238

1. On the La Platine that measured .046%, you mentioned that the magnets are centered and perfectly aligned. Aren’t all La Platine like that? And the pneumatic suspension has been defeated with a static suspension? 

yes La Platine comes as magnets aligned but magnets are not screwed or fixed. they can move during transportation or removing and installing platter.
magnets need to be moved inside magnetic ring/case in order to perfectly center. additionally lower magnet should be placed on the plinth at the exact center with spindle. in order to achieve this space between inner magnetic ring and aluminum base that holds spindle must be equal on all sides.

Sorry, but I don’t understand the nature of that particular La Platine.

it was a regular La Platine but carefully aligned.

@ledoux1238

2. Regarding speed stability, are you in favor of a servo speed controller, like the Roadrunner ?

No I’m in favor of basic DC motor controllers and DC motors. all servo controllers make some kind of cogging effect. I don’t know if the term is right but what I mean is servo controllers may always ensure perfect 33.3 rpm but prevent super smooth rotation.

@ledoux1238

3. This question is an aside. I am wondering about the use AnologMagik to optimize SRA / VTA. I have fallen into the camp where VTA is adjusted for every record played as the Trans Fi Terminator allows for VTA on the fly. Adjustments on the AnalogMagik is a one time thing. How does it account for record thickness, hence variations in SRA?

I simply adjust VTA using a 180g record and don’t change it for other records. yes thickness of a record effects VTA and thus the sound but tonearm’s coupling to armboard and being rigid on base/fixing bolts is effecting sound much more. if you can achieve same rigidness on your tonearm’s base and when you change VTA the tonearm’s azimuth, zenith etc. alignments don’t change then it’s ok to adjust VTA according to record thickness.
Analogmagik is a great software. it’s very useful but it takes a lot of time to learn how to use it because a bad reading on one alignment such as VTA, azimuth, anti-skating etc. may be the cause of another. that’s why if you are not very sure what you’re doing Analogmagik can lead to a bad alignment and it can give more harm than good.

As I had mentioned, a local audio reviewer did an extensive, photo by photo, presentation of the adjustments through AnalogMagik  for VTF, azimuth..etc, as they appear on the screen of his laptop. The time consuming nature of the process was palpable. And several adjustments, I think especially on azimuth, he could only get close to the optimal settings. However, for all parameters, he concluded that, the software created  better sound quality across the board than his previous efforts, presumably by ear. 

@mtemur As you have confirmed, AnalogMagik is a sophisticated piece of software. And its great to have you share your results. What does your analog setup consists of ?

In the past few months, I have made seriously effort to recalibrate and re-engage the tonearm / cartridge set up process. Due to the sloppiness  of my previous efforts, some of the La Platine speed issues, may very well be setup errors on my part. I am less concerned with the speed related issues or the motor. When properly set up, the micro-dynamics coming out of vinyl is quite something. 

@ledoux1238

What does your analog setup consists of ?

-EMT TSD15N SFL, EMT TMD25N, ZYX 100 ultimate, BENZ ACE SM cartridges,
-La Platine Verdier turntable.
-SME V and SME V-12 tonearms. Kondo SL-115 silver headshell wire, Kondo KSL silver internal wiring, Kondo Ls41 silver tonearm cable
-Kondo SFZ silver SUT,
-Kondo GE-1 phono,
Kondo Overture int. amp,
-all power cables inc. La Platine Verdier’s motor are Kondo KSL silver ACZ,
-interconnects are Kondo silver Ls41.

@mtemur Wow! Kondo all the way, very impressive.

I have two additional questions:

1. I like very much your cartridge collection, not the least because compared to the Overture amp and GE-1 phono stage, they are decidedly 'modest'. I wondered what is your thinking on using 'entry' level cartridges? 

2. I had a damaged SME V which was returned to SME for refurbishment. What I got back, as far as I can tell, was a brand new arm! And I have decided to keep it. Any advice on how to optimize the arm with the TT? I see Kondo wiring throughout. 

Thanks!