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 
The more I look at the La Platine, the more I think you are correct about the incompatibility of the Eclipse drive system with it. 
I doubt if SOTA would provide a definitive answer. It would be good to hear from someone who has tried.

I do think SOTA would be forthcoming if they have the information. No harm in asking. On the question of whether the magnetic field per se would be a problem you might directly consult Bill Carlin of Phoenix Engineering. He’s a good guy, and he’s always been responsive.

@ledoux1234 

You can run the basic Sota Eclipse motor and controller ( $975 ) without the Roadrunner feedback system and it will still be a significant upgrade from the Verdier motor.

Furthermore - lewm's point is probably a red herring - the monitor under the platter is unlikely to be affected by the magnets which are inboard from the platter edge. I'd put money on it, in which case you could run the Roadrunner feedback as well.

Better to find out before "putting money on it", don't you think? Especially if the answer is known either to Bill Carlin or to SOTA.

i got some new magnets for the la platine.  i thought it would be a tough ask.  it was not.  a company had in stock 180 mm dia 20 mm thick Y30 magnets (ferrite) with 100 mm dia internal "hole".  this made them about 5% smaller kin area than the stock magnets.  i wondered if this would be an issue.

 

the magnets arrived in like 6 working days.  from singapre.  i bought 2 sets just in case.  i don't often handle powerful magnets and it is a bit of a nightmare.  i was wary of shattering one of them during install.

 

as it turned out all was well.  the old ones were much easier to remove than the new ones to install.  how they got so weak i will never know.  is this typical?  it doesn't seem to be.  i did my best to centre everything as i know the magnet alignment is core to good performance.

 

Bob's your uncle and the job was done.  i've now got a levitating platter.  i have it within an oil meniscus of the bearing which i have left in there.  it sounds amazing.  i do have to say the biggest improvement though has been getting a smartractor and doing a proper setup of tonearm/cart.  that change has been staggering (and somewhat embarrassing really).