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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
188 posts
 

@ledoux1238 thanks for sharing this.  brilliant.  i have been in email contact with Heinz.  $15k USD for the non-granito, $18K for the granito.  Not terrible I guess.  be interesting to see how people respond to it.  First I'd ever heard of this Zamak thing!

I presume they also did the motor for it.  i wonder what motor they put in the housing?  and whether this is as before entirely or if they did a new powersupply and regulator and motor.

mr_gray
188 posts
 

the following won't make an argument for plug n play but last night:

1. i pulled everything apart and carefully made the magnets symmetrical in their housing.  used blue tac to try and make sure they would stay in place when i reassembled (just blue tac in gaps).  i thought this might simply improve w/f stats (mainly wow)

2. i removed the ball.  my recent understanding was the ball was not in contact with platter so i assumed this would make no difference

3. upon reassembly it seemed to me perhaps i was wrong and with my dohmann spindle weight on the turntable, perhaps it was touching on the bearing previously

4.  i then backed off the spindle so i could get it floating as it should

5.  LO!  suddenly i think my la platine was without any bearing contact for first time.  spinning it up (by hand) seemed effortless. 

6.  OMG!  it sounded very different.  but of course was this vta?

7.  OK so after owning it for months i think finally i was totally floating.  was suddenly alot less like my garrard was my feeling.  suddenly more ethereal, less "grounded".  

in answer to above:

- i live in sydney australia.  trip to sapporo was just a holiday.  beautiful place.  art gallery is a must see.  i've never seen anything like it. 

 has anyone else tried to post photos.  i have luck with some but not others.   

 

 

mr_gray
188 posts
 

unforgivable sin of consecutive posts but:

1. i heard original magnets were from focal (speaker people) as used in some big famous speaker driver they had at the time.

2. in speaking to china magnet people they offered different kinds of magnet.  some less strong than others.  so it makes alot of sense to me that levitation gap will vary for different magnet sources

3. my audio dealer who is very wise told me that apparently the best performance for magnet bearings is when the gap is small rather than large and proud. pertains to magnetic fields and stability etc.  so at the edge of collapse is when it should be least w/f.

4.  for the la platine owner gap envy is a thing.  my previous magnets were hopeless and there is nothing much more depressing than seeing the two magnet bits lying on each other when magic levitation is supposed to be happening.

thekong
251 posts
 

I kind of doubt the difference in the height of the gap between the magnets is due to Holland vs China magnets. If you do a search on the internet, or even the reviews shown in Verdier website, you can see some of the older La Platine with the Granito plinth having a small gap between the magnets, as if the magnets have lost some strength. That really makes me wonder if the magnets really lost strength overtime!

ledoux1238 OP
419 posts
 

@thekong Strength of magnets do diminish. And based on the metallurgy of the magnet, its rate of decline differ quite a bit. I read that neodymium loses its force steadily by 1% every decade. I’ve owned my La Platine  for over twenty five years. I think for all practical purposes, the magnets will outlast my lifetime. And I agree, the difference in magnets for the La Platine is most likely not a Sino-Dutch issue. @mr_gray Your initial experience with the magnets almost touching is quite extreme. You had mentioned it on earlier posts, but I am now realizing how odd!

Making a further argument for the La Platine not being a plug-n-play device, the speed control on the motor died……for the second time in less than 6 months. The callas audio PDF file on Verdier modification pointed to a  motor part, LM317T, that is responsible for keeping speed. ( see page 10, https://www.callas-audio.nl/Platine%20tips%20&%20tweaks.pdf ) I had it replaced late last year. And two weeks ago it started to fail again. I will do one more placement, and if the problem persists, then I will be calling Thom Galibier. @mr_gray This goes to your point about maybe improving the motor on the new version.

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