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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
mr_gray
119 posts
 

"floating on air" refers to being no touch on the bearing.  so i have removed the ball bearing and i have withdrawn the spindle such that i am now truly using the platine as i believe it was intended to be used.  it might sound odd that it has taken me this much time to get this right.  i agree.  but in my defence my platine came with very weak magnets which i had to replace.  plus my platine uses the AS mod which means i have a platter on top of the standard platter.  all up my platter assembly weighs about 8 kg more than "standard".

i truly wish i could put the whole thing on an active platform though.  there was a seismion going for 6k USD locally but it's just too expensive relative to the table which was around that price.

i agree "lack of soul" is chatter at the arm.  i think such chatter could be induced by the platter wobbling as well as from what table rests on.  it is a sound i hear when i use linen thread, which due to the knot and the nature of that thread, is very noisy.  one can see how the knot sends the whole platter into a spasm each time it comes thru the motor spindle.

i agree rigid feet could work to transmit chatter to the table and arm.  the platine's feet do a good job of preventing motor chatter into the table.  much better than the rigid feet (this can be heard readily with stethoscope).

somehow last night it all worked amazingly.  i am hoping for a repeat tonight.

charob
4 posts
 

@Ledoux1238

I understand a lot of it is tweaks, but all these tweaks have made me realize that the previous owners of the table, which is still available, might have tried tweaking and made it worst and I would have no idea how to fix it. 

@Mr_Grey

Thanks for the reassurance, you made me realize that I was overthinking the whole thing. Until the last paragraph that is  :  

"i do plan to disassemble the platine, see if i can align magnets better...   all totally unnecessary but it's a hobby right :-)" 

Anxiety went right back up and from that smile you inserted at the end, you knew damn well what you were doing. Well played.

To be honest with you guys, the other reason I haven’t bought it and maybe the main one, is that it does not fit my rack, mine is not wide enough. Thanks for your time, you guys seem to be really enjoying this hobby, wishing you the best.

thekong
217 posts
 

@mr_gray, thank you for the explanation! If you think the seismion is too expensive, I would highly recommend the Vibraplane or similar pneumatic anti-vibration platform, either the active (which required a high pressure air compressor) or the passive version (which only need a hand pump). 

pindac's avatar
pindac
3,193 posts
 

A Selection of Laboratory Anti Vibration Bases are to be seen in the Link.

Have a browse at some of the models on offer.  

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/ZGT800-Built-in-Air-Springs-Self_1601469296443.html?spm=a2700.shop_pl.41413.33.45557121hcfTKx

 

ledoux1238 OP
341 posts
 

Regarding footers, I too am in the camp of defeating the original spring footers. However, I cannot say that the change is a sea change, as @mr_gray has experienced. And  once the platter is on rigid footers, then some form of pneumatic platforms is recommended. I would assume that it should be a platform that would hold both the motor and the turntable, correct? That would mean a rather large foot print. I have a 120 cm x 45 cm x 5cm solid wood platform to accommodate both. I was eventually going to use Townshend seismic pods under the wood platform for isolation. I would imagine the pods would work. However, I have seen motor and platter on separate platforms.
 

How are you all handling this?

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