2020 update : JC Verdier La Platine

“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. 

Gunmetal used as a Platter Material from my long investigations of Platter Materials has its origin of use firmly placed in Japan.

A very adept machining engineer, possibly through career, but now retired, who is based in Australia, has produced Platters from Phosphor Bronze (Gunmetal), SS and the OEM with Acetyl (Delrin) of different thicknesses mechanically fastened to the OEM Platter. 

Prior to their becoming and Advocate of Permali Wood for the Plinth/Chassis design adopted for the TT. A TT used in a Resin Material, formed through moulding into a Plinth/Chassis was in use, when testing the Platter designs. With the reported outcome being. When the OEM Platter as original design was used solely, when undergoing comparisons to the New Designs for the Platter, there was certainty the sole OEM Platter has been bettered. The End Sound being evaluated was not as impressive as the alternate designs used. I also believe tests were done to show Platter Runout and the strengths for the mechanical energy management.

Off the alternate materials used for the Platter, the OEM with a 20mm Thick Delrin Platter mechanically fastened, proved to be the design that won the most favour.

This has intrigued me, and I am owning a few spare OEM Platters, a SS Platter and a Gunmetal Platter, and a friend is quite OK about producing a few Acetal Platters in various thicknesses to try out as well. This is another 'to do', to be done between a group of friends to see how the wider assessment is presented. Similar measurements are also able to be taken to see if there is anything going on that might have influenced a comment being offered.   

@ledoux1238 , as far as I understand, the SOTA motor system can be used without the servo, ie not using the Roadrunner. A number of companies, such as CS Port, actually prefer running their motors without servo! 

@thekong 

I was quite keen on trying the Roadrunner servo monitor + the Condor motor as provided by SOTA. If I do forgo the Roadrunner, would I be better off with other options mentioned in previous discussions.

BTW, I have also been in contact with the chinese company for threaded rod inserts. Well, it turns out the company can provide granite plinth as well as it specialises in measuring equipments. I have a quote for a plinth with the same dimensions as the La Platine with all the inserts for less than US$ 400. My question is what are the diemnsions for the oil well at the base of the spindle.

@mr_gray 

http://6bm8.lab.free.fr/Documentations/Revues/Audiophile/1977-1988/14/VERDIER2/VERDIER2.html

I found this article by Mr. Verdier which has a diagram of the suspension.

@ ledoux1238 , for me, the SOTA motor system with the 3-phase motor and controller, is already a good option on its own! Even if the Roadrunner could work with the La Platine, I would certainly try the system with and without the servo! Who knows which would sounds better to my ears. 

$400 seems a good price for the granite plinth! I am still thinking whether I should get a La Platine size plinth or a bigger one modelled after the Basis Transcendence.

About the hole on the plinth for the main bearing, if you have set up the La Platine from scratch, you probably have noticed the hole is a lot bigger than the bearing housing! Being a bit OCD, I tried to center the bearing housing in the hole by wrapping tapes around the bearing housing until it fits tightly in the hole! Then I found out the screw from the bottom could not lineup with the bearing housing, because the screw hole on the bottom steel plate just wasn’t centered with the bearing hole on the plinth! 

I have always wondered whether the big bearing hole is a design feature so the bearing housing has minimal contact with the plinth, so as to minimize (?) vibration transfer from the plinth to the bearing! However, I think it is more likely just a necessity for the lack of precision drilling of the screw hole on the steel plate! For the granite plinth, I am thinking of just using a big washer, or a heavy nut like those used under tonearm mounts, in place of the steel plate to tie down the bearing. So, the size of the bearing hole on the plinth is probably not that important!