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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
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. 

mr_gray
188 posts
 

The rack is Canadian maple. I’m kicking myself for not doing this sooner. Also noise is low enough that I feel I can be quite sure ball is better than no ball. If you ask me with no ball one can hear the resonances fizzing around. 

mr_gray
188 posts
 

@ledoux1238 the rack was made for me by my Audio Note dealer who is also it seems an excellent carpenter/cabinet maker.  It is well secured into the double brick wall and the rack itself fit onto a "thing" that he bolted to the wall.  Making the main issue shear force I feel which the brick seems well able to resist.  you can see it in the photo i posted 2 pages back.

i really like the look of your la platine @ledoux1238 .  your layered cake of isolation looks incredible (accentuated by how the photo has been stretched i am sure).  i really like the thick blocks of wood.  you have an enviable amount of magnet lift too.  

 

pindac's avatar
pindac
3,887 posts
 

The Links are ones I have shown in another thread, there are others to be found on the same sale portals.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/ZGT800-Built-in-Air-Springs-Self_1601469296443.html?spm=a27aq.27095423.1978240560.7.78372277wwsv0a

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/POT-P-Series-OEM-Manufacturing-Solid_1601054811510.html?spm=a27aq.27095423.1978240560.8.78372277YIJU0d

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