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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
 

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! 

thekong
251 posts
 

@ledoux1238 , thank you for the information, look forward to your report after using the SOTA motor!

If I go ahead with it, I’ll have a heavy pod made for the motor! 

thekong
251 posts
 

Regarding the belt, in search for a seamless belt, I have came across this kapton tapes, they came with different width, so could fit all pulleys!

 

https://kaptontape.com/product-category/kapton-tapes/

 

I am thinking, to make a seamless belt (well, almost) , I can stick two pieces of kapton tape together by their own sticky sides. For each tape, I’ll leave a short exposed sticky section at the end, kind of like this:

—————————————

       —————————————

So, when I join the two ends together to form the belt, the two exposed sticky sections will overlap each other and form a virtually seamless belt! Of course, the two tapes have to overlap each other perfectly, so I probably need to make a jig for it. 

mr_gray
188 posts
 

very much looking forward to hearing the SOTA motor in action.  perhaps we could start making videos.

mr_gray
188 posts
 

the isolation platform i added makes a big difference with the platine is what i think.  i am back on original motor and it is just so delicate and beautiful.  it is pitchy on piano on first track and i don't know why there particularly.  but the overall experience is beautiful, languid and seems quite revealing.  i have made a recording of the system and will put it on youtube and share it here.  i am on silk suture which balances stiffness with a little give.  i am gently resting on the ball.  there is no doubt it doesn't have "drive" in an obvious sense but against that it does have a sort of massiveness to the presentation.  depth, width and a tonne of resolution.  

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