2020 update : JC Verdier La Platine

There is nothing wrong with the L07J tonearm on the L07D, except that it is a bit dated when you look at it now. What does hurt the sonics is the Litz tonearm wiring and the fact that the plug by which the Kenwood phono cable engages the base of the L07J tonearm is or seems to be a one-off, in that I and others have found no plug that can replace it.  Hence, many including me have stuck with the OEM cable which in my opinion is a slug. I tried once to take apart the tonearm in order to direct wire it to my phono stage, but I got to a point where I feared I would damage the tonearm and so gave it up. Suffice to say I think the Kenwood Litz cable is a shortcoming (sounds very Cardas-like but in a bad way, IMO),  I would instead use the optional outboard tonearm mount for a second tonearm to adapt a modern high end arm for use on the L07D. (That’s what I have done.). But I don’t think the L07J tonearm is at all the problem; it’s that oddball plug and the cable that it feeds. 

Dover, thanks for correcting me on the Beat vs the Wave Kinetics (the name of which I could not recall).  I don’t know why you are so up in arms over the fact that I like Steve Dobbins’ work, in the sense that I don't find it ugly. Moreover, looks mean virtually nothing to me when it comes to assessing audio equipment. In fact, I think I am rather partial to gear that decidedly lacks bling. About 15 years ago at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, I listened late into the night to the Beat in Steve Dobbins’ room, because it sported a cartridge I was then interested in.  Steve was very nice about letting me sit there an just listen. I never heard or saw the Wave Kinetics, but I did carry the erroneous idea that it was the one with no servo feedback.

does anyone have any drawing or description of the spring feet and how they function and/or require to be fitted?  i had removed the feet but now have reattached and i'm just not 100% about it.  i am getting my platine ready to face the classifieds! 

having just recently had the benefit of hearing another table, i can better place the Platine's strengths maybe.  it is so beautifully "natural".  the music spools out and there is no mechanical anything.  the motor is wonderful, for what it is (but this has been discussed to death).  

for what it is worth i believe there are 2 ways to get the most out of the platine:

1.  as verdier himself did.  with a denon 103 cart, a sme3012  or 9 inch or fr64a, and using linen thread.  a relatively low resolution system (compared to a modern baseline) but huge amounts of tone, dynamics to die for.  and affordable!  i briefly had my verdier thus rigged and it was alot of fun. orig feet.

2.  as a chop shop low noise high detail monster.  might use a new motor for this but original motor also good.   eliminating anything "soft", silk thread double looped for lowest noise or suture silk for low noise and better dynamics.  isolation platform.  separate isolation platform for motor.  best arm you can buy.  low output moving coil with silver SUT.

@mr_gray  

Which table did you compare the Platine to?
 

I just notice you got a Techdas 3 Premium on another thread, love to hear your impressions.

@ledoux1238 yes I have now heard the techdas having installed it only 48 hours ago. The platine I last heard a week ago. Also I have a new to me amp (though still same kind of amp and similar tube set). 
 

I last ran the platine with single loop silk thread. I was enjoying it with original motor. 
 

instantly one hears that the techdas is quieter. And more thorough. It scrapes a lot more out of the groove.  Sequences of energetic music sound mad. As if the table is pushing its way thru too fast. This is a contrast I think. I have to conclude that stylus drag does occur on the platine to an observable extent. 
 

somehow however I remain mindful of a quality that the techdas does not have as yet. Somehow the platine seemed to make music from the disc with a feeling of no intervention. The techdas is massively powerful and high resolution. But it is rag dolling the vinyl. I feel like the platine collaborates with the disc. 
 

but 48 hours is not enough.  And I am thinking perhaps to install same armboard as I used before because I think the armboard from techdas suits less a heavy arm like I have.