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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
pindac's avatar
pindac
3,885 posts
 

Reading the last comments made from the few contributors, matches my own reports.

My reports are based on a subjective evaluation, but it is experienced that when the under TT structure is considered and how the structure is anchored to the local structures of the home, really does create a change to the perception of the End Sound capable of being produced.

When a particular configuration is used the perception that the End Sound has tidied up considerably is unavoidable to notice.

In relation to having materials in use that are with properties that efficiently dissipate and Damp. The use of a Board Material produced from a Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Board is the easiest route to create this desirable property at a mechanical interface. 

The Plinth for the Verdier Platine in my assessment will become a much improved mechanical interface if produced from a Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Board as the upper most tier of the support structure. Using the same material as sub tiers will add to the value of the support structure.  

ledoux1238 OP
419 posts
 

@mr_gray What is your wall made out of? What kind of wall shelf?

@thekong You are right about my vibration comment. I have conflated several isolation technologies by simply lumping them into a vibration vs vibration interaction. The optical table has air bearing devices at the top of each pillars. Vibration is counteracted by a floating film of air….my mistake. BTW I found a link to a locally made optical table worth an inquiry: https://www.unice-eo.com/product/%E5%85%89%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E5%85%83%E4%BB%B6/%E9%9C%87%E5%8B%95%E6%8E%A7%E5%88%B6/%E5%AE%A2%E8%A3%BD%E5%8C%96%E5%85%89%E5%AD%B8%E5%B7%A5%E4%BD%9C%E6%A1%8C/uctr-series---granite-vibration-free-workstation, worth looking into. 

@dover Your house has 24” ( 60 cm ) concrete floor slab. That’s not a typo? Wow! And I assume your TT is located on the ground floor. 

dover
2,498 posts
 

@dover Your house has 24” ( 60 cm ) concrete floor slab. That’s not a typo? Wow! And I assume your TT is located on the ground floor. 

Yes, at the moment. House was built in 1962 - they must have had shares in a concrete company. However if I move the main system upstairs it's back to tongue and groove and joists. There is a large unused fireplace upstairs that has a massive concrete foundation direct to ground that I could redeploy if I move the main system upstairs. 

thekong
251 posts
 

Hi @Dover , thank you for the detailed description! May I ask what air-suspension table you were using at the time?

My audio room is on the 5th floor of a high rise building (20+ stories) with concrete floor. The TMC optical table that I am using can actually be used in 2 modes. Without air, it act as a sturdy steel table with no compliance; when the air pump is switched on, pistons in the 4 legs raise up by 3/8” and offer air-suspension! 

In my system, and to my preference, with air-suspension the sound is more airy, blacker background, soundstage noticeably wider, and separation between instruments also better! Together with the widened soundstage, imaging size of the vocal and instrument also expand slight, which I consider more life like. One time I forgot to switch on the pump, and immediately felt something was off! 

I tend to agree with you that the mid bass seems to become a little bit fatter with air-suspension. I consider that simply as more mid bass, but without any loss of definition, so a positive to me. I do understand some audiophiles don’t like air-suspension, thinking it has a “sound” of its own, and I am sure personal preference and the room/system play critical roles in choosing anti-vibration platforms! 

thekong
251 posts
 

Hi @ledoux1238 , yes, this kind of optical table is old technology already and you can get them from many different places now! Since I live in Hong Kong, I have easy access to similar optical tables from China costing as low as US$700-800. However, I have not tried them yet, so can’t tell whether they can perform at similar level as the TMC. 

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