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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
lewm
14,668 posts
 

"I feel like the platine collaborates with the disc."  What does that mean? 

mr_gray
188 posts
 

Very hard to say but…Well the la platine is not calling the shots in terms of tempo. Rather the music is (to a degree). I guess it’s a spectrum. A garrard / idler drive has its own tempo. And you hear that and it sounds a tad mechanical in comparison to à la platine which has no overbearing tempo but rather timing which is varying as stylus drag waxes and wains. To my ears the platine could sound like it was unraveling the music for you in a very pure fashion. Delicate. 

mr_gray
188 posts
 

Of course the la platine can be run on linen thread and sound quite different I thought. Big dynamics and a lot more push. But then you forego lowest noise. 

mr_gray
188 posts
 

terrible form to both post three times in a row and talk about another TT here but just briefly wanted to say about the Techdas Af3p

1. it is remarkably similar to the platine really.  so simple.  a separate motor, a chassis and then a platter.

2.  differences are that instead of magnet we are on air.  suction also a difference.  also platter is twice as heavy and gunmetal instead of aluminium

3.  just as with platine you adjust the tenson on the belt to suit yourself.  least tension is best but i have to help it get up to speed if i don't want to wait an age (again just like my platine).  mechanism to adjust tension is great as you dont need to move motor.

4. as it has bedded in and i get belt tension right it seems very musical and non-mechanical.  the silence achieved is quite something.  the motor itself produces alot less noise than my platine motor.

overall i think the platter is a huge improvement over platine and the usabilty is probably better for a wider range of people.  i definitely think the platine is in the same class of record players as the af3p (whatever that is).

but you do get alot more resolution with the af3p and that feeling of alot of simultaneous sound being resolved and communicated that perhaps wasn't previously.  of course the platine was a huge improvement on the garrard 401 for me in the same way.

ledoux1238 OP
419 posts
 

“terrible form to both post three times in a row and talk about another TT here but just briefly wanted to say about the Techdas Af3p.”

@mr_gray  On the contrary, I for one welcome and look forward to these compare & contrast discussions. Your impressions of the Platine in the threads above is much appreciated. I had thought  that in the hierarchy of the Techdas universe, the Platine fits more in the af5 level. And as you say, the af3p is of a higher resolution. The other TT that I have been intrigued with is the CS Port TAT2, thread drive, granite plinth, air bearing, and gunmetal platter. 

On the SOTA Eclipse front, Christan did reply, indicating that there will be no extra charge for the custom pulley, but with no definite lead time. Additionally, he cannot confirm whether the sensor will work with the Platine magnets. This gives me pause, hence have not pulled the trigger as yet. 

 

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