i think the SOTA motor is a great idea. that sounds very encouraging @ledoux1238 . i saw sone stats re: American Sounds AS2000 speed stability the other day. it of course uses the roadrunner speed controller the SOTA uses (maybe pretty much same motor - i am not sure). the numbers were amazing. 33.332 to 33.334 i think. out of this world. i have speed variation of 0.15-0.2 rpm and think i am in heaven!
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!
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!
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- 537 posts total
As far as I understand, the motor used in the American Sound is an NOS Papst three-phase motor, which is similar / same as the one used in the TechDas Airforce Zero but TechDas has further modified it with an airbearing!
I am pretty sure the motor used in the SOTA eclipse system is a lot smaller than the ones in the American Sound / Airforce Zero, but it is also a three-phase motor.
I wonder whether the SOTA’s pulley is fixed to the motor spindle by pressure fit or by grubs screws. I am thinking of ordering one pulley with straight wall and another one with convex wall. But if the pulley is pressure fit and can’t be changed easily, I may have to order 2 motors! |
@thekong The pulley is secured by two set screws 180 degrees apart. Christian wanted a CAD drawing of the custom pulley from me. And I would have to wait until the next time the shop is set up to do a batch of pulleys. SOTA makes a standard Condor / SOTA motor housing which is 3.6 “ in height. That is not the right height for the La Platine. However, there is a screwed on base plate at the bottom of the standard motor. I can have a local machinist make a screw on solid brass pod to make up for the difference in height. This way I don’t have to retrofit a housing made locally.
i am moving ahead with the order. |
i am not much for jazz but i really like this guy "Michel Petrucciani". it is piano. the Verdier has been identified as some as being less than perfect with piano. what i observe is that the start of the first track is terrible. pitchy as heck. but by the third track it seems very good. does anyone have any insight into that? it doesn't bother me. coming back to the verdier motor as i have has been great because the isolation rack i installed, and/or the use of the ball, have radically remade the Platine presentation. i now perceive the AC motor i was using (with all of its wonderful drive etc) as being a tad agricultural. it is like having someone slap you in the face on the beat and claiming it is somehow enhancing your experience. of course my AC motor experiment was highly flawed/rough. i do have a new appreciation for dc motors though. and for the verdier motor specifically. which ties me back to the theme of this thread quite nicely!
having said that, i will buy the Galibier motor. and i will use a belt which is close to inelastic. i note that galibier keep changing the belt material. they have tried mylar, kapton, video tape, and now use a plastic of some kind. so it certainly seems to be an evolving space. the most exciting turntable sound i have heard in recent history was a mylar belt with the platine. it had all the drive of the garrard (more in a way) but all the refinement of the platine. a heady combo! |
- 537 posts total