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2020 update : JC Verdier La Platine

A recent encounter with a JC Verdier dealer as well as a recent Audiogon discussion thread led to the start of this thread. He was in my house updating my La Platine which had been in storage for ten years with thread and oil. While he has high regards for the deck, his newer clients nevertheless prefer a Techdas iii than an 'old' La Platine. Given the proliferation of expensive decks in the past dozen years, La Platine has become very much under-appreciated. 

It's clear to me that the influence of the La Platine is everywhere to be found. Specifically, the magnetic suspension system that was employed 30+ years ago. Even SOTA offers their newer decks with mag. lev. features. And if you read this review: https://www.callas-audio.nl/Callas%20Platine%20Mod%20Kit%20Review.pdf, the Continuum Caliburn uses the same concept, which was not acknowledged in Fremer's review, albeit with more sophisticated , and expensive, execution.

It is also clear to me that there is much misunderstanding of the workings of the La Platine. I for one have contributed to this. The motor of the La Platine, for example, has been much maligned. The thread drive is another aspect of the turntable that have been described as inferior. With regard to the motor and thread drive, I have been set straight by Chris @ct0517 and Lyubomir @lbelchev. Experimenting with the different types of silk threads, the tightness to the platter  and a renewed understanding of the soundness of the Philips motor have been rewarded with better dynamics and transparency. 

The funny thing is that during the past two years of re-engagement with audio, I have questioned ownership of every components in my arsenal except the La Platine. It has always been a keeper. I wonder if La Platine owners would contribute to celebrating this 'old' deck with tales, advice, and insights?

Cheers!
ledoux1238
ledoux1238 OP
280 posts
 

I experimented with defeating the suspension of the Verdier using macassar ebony footers. These foorters were sourced locally, 2.5 cm dia. x 5 cm tall. They rest on a 1 cm dia. crystal ball and ebony cup. I use a total of six, four at each corner and two near the spindle. 

The result sonically is a blacker background, better clarity and smoothness on both ends of the frequencies, and more stable imaging with the soundstage. The width and depth of the soundstage seems unaffected. 

I have read in this forum thread from folks who advocate keeping the suspension intact, even for the black MDF plinth version which I own. However, re-reading information on motor control by Thom @thom_at_galibier_design , it seemed to make sense. He is an advocate of tight coupling of motor and platter. And it turns out in my case, I do hear improvement in sound quality. And this is a first step in the road to maybe improving the motor aligning myself with advocates of non-suspended plinth. 

I also use an air bearing linear tracking tonearm and often wondered might it not work better on a non-suspended plinth. Again, there are folks who use ET arms on the Verdier although most LT arms, that I know of, are used on the concrete polymer plinth. In any case, I am happy to report that this sound improving tweak  is working for me. YMMV

dover
2,243 posts
 

@ledoux1238 

Been there, done that, It will sound a lot better again if you use 3 feet only.

ledoux1238 OP
280 posts
 

@dover Thanks for that tip, written by a true veteran. It took me until yesterday to try it out. I cannot hear a definite improvement, but certainly didn’t hurt.

I know you have moved on from the Verdier, but I am still continually intrigued so I muddle along quite happily.

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