2020 update : JC Verdier La Platine

Hi @ledoux1238, yes I was using the Safir with the La Platine on an optical pneumatic table, but I have since moved the Safir to another TT. The Safir matches well with the EMT VM as well as the Dynavector XV 1S. My latest arms on the La Platine are the Kuzma 4Point14 and the Schroder CB. Actually I am going to move soon, and I am considering taking this down time to commission a custom plinth made of aluminium/brass or granite, modelled after the Basis Transcendence  Maybe I am biased, but I have always felt the MDF plinth of the La Platine could be improved. Actually, I am quite surprised that while many tweaks have been proposed for the La Platine, I have never seen anyone mentioned a change of plinth other than the Auditorium 23 granito plinth and OMA slate plinth!

For a pneumatic platform like the Vibraplane, they have 3 to 4 pneumatic “footers” under the platform for levelling！For the passive units, users have to check the levelling periodically, as there could be some leakage. For the active units, after the initial set up and levelling, the platform would automatically level itself every time the pumps are turned on. If needed, a larger piece of granite/aluminium could be placed on the platform to support the large footprint of La Platine. Of course, the maximum support weight of the platform needs to be taken into consideration! 

MinusK is very effective in isolating vibration, but levelling it is a bit tricky and time consuming! You have to move  the TT around, and may need to use some ballast weight to achieve levelling, and unless the main unit is placed exactly at the platform’s centre, putting the record weight (if it is heavy) on and of will affect the levelling. Since you have to readjust the motor’s position every time you put on a new string, you also have to rebalance the platform !

A word of caution about the Seismion, a few of my friends were using the first generation Seismion and reported reliability issues. 

Hi @lewm, yes, in theory that’s right! However, if the motor unit is transmitting vibration to the plinth/platter, then we have to pick the lesser evil ! That’s why I used the word “may” . Users just have to try it to see which one they prefer! 

@thekong 

I am considering taking this down time to commission a custom plinth made of aluminium/brass or granite, 

Please do not use granite - it resonates/rings badly.

Slate is much better due to its stratified composition.

The "Granito" Verdier is NOT Granite - it is terrazzo. Granito refers to French floor tiles made of sand/cement with stone embedded. This is why the original Verdier plinths were prone to crumbling. 

I have used high quality German engineered quartz ( 93% quartz embedded in resin ) - very inert, rigid and available in an array of colours.

Also high density bamboo ply plinths are excellent. High density bamboo ply is considerably more dense than maple.

Personally I would stay away from aluminium/brass. Gunmetal would be ok  - it is bronze with a high lead content.

If you insist on aluminium then at least do a sandwich construction with a layer of carbon fibre to break up resonances.

You could take a leak out of the Audio Tekne TT and use carbon block.

thekong, If the "motor unit is transmitting vibration to the platter", then I would replace that motor. Admittedly, there is no motor with zero vibration, especially as the load is perpendicular to the drive shaft; it's a matter of degree. Any motion of the motor pulley relative to the platter or to the driven portion of the platter is going to cause a speed variation. Sometimes the goal can only be to minimize such problems, rather than to eliminate them totally.

@lewm 

The Verdier motor is garbage - noisy - I could hear mine from the listening chair 4 meters away. This has been well documented in this thread. The theory in the design is that you run the thread very loose such that the platter inertia dominates the motor, not the other way round, but the motor is a major issue for the reason you mentioned.