For heavy, non-suspended TTs, I like to use this kind of air-suspended optical tables!
https://www.techmfg.com/products/cleantopopticaltopsandsupports/opticaltopsupportsystems/microg
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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That may be ok if you have structural floor problems but it is suboptimal. You cannot measure the groove accurately if the TT is bouncing around on an airbag. As an experiment, stand on top of a bed with an innerspring mattress under your feet and try to measure accurately the height of the ceiling with a tape measure in your hand. You'll never get the same reading twice. |
Let's agree that there is not a static surface anywhere on planet earth. Everything is vibrating / moving against everything else. Therefore there is a flaw with @dover 's airbag / mattress analogy. The purpose of the optical table or any such devices is to counteract the vibration from the floor surface with its own vibration. The net result is less vibration. It cannot be zero vibration, just less. The lesser vibration will allow instruments sitting on top of it to perform highly accurate measurements. The accuracy level required and achieved is many order of magnitude greater than the pitiful toys we play with called the turntable. we can debate the efficacy of the particular optical table in question. But the principle behind these devices is sound, no? Not to belabor the point, but a more accurate analogy : the mattress is analogous to the floor. The optical table rest on the mattress. With the oprical table functioning properly, the person on top of the table should be able to make a more accurate measurement of the ceiling height.
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- 537 posts total