i have been looking for a second turntable. The choice range from nostalgia:TT I had e.g. Townshend or SOTA or TT I wished I had, e.g. Forsell, Simon Yorke…. Most recently I was looking for a Voyd, preferably a Reference. I think the AT TT3 is based on the Voyd. I am just curious how the tt3 compares with the Verdier.
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!
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!
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- 249 posts total
yes with the Audio Note turntables we have the reference, the half reference and then the tt3 (and then others with less motors below that). as i understand it the ref and half ref are licensed from voyd whilst the tt3 is AN's own creation (albeit heavily influenced by voyd). i have never heard a ref or half ref. with the tt3 we then have 4 different levels of motor. i have a psu3. makes a huge difference. to a very big extent in the tt3 we are listening to the motor. i have heard the psu4. i found the difference is shocking (but i frequently seem to lack proportion). i feel with the AN tt3 it has less atmosphere than the la platine. i guess the noise is higher (3 motors). the drive is excellent. the usability is excellent. you turn it on. it hits perfect speed. the end. when i measure wow and flutter the numbers are much worse on the tt3. one can hear this a bit i think in that the la platine is very "solid" (when on fixed footers more so) and massive (finely grained). the tt3 is more like a little boat on the big ocean. the 401 sounds like a big modern aircraft carrier (total stability). the platine inbetween but on fixed feet more 401 than tt3.
finally the tt3 doesn't allow different arms which is simplifying but a little limiting for some perhaps. |
just to add, going from thread on la platine to belt, and going from more bearing to no bearing, one can cover a whole spectrum of sound right there. the loose thread with magnetic levitation only can sound delicate, ethereal and more biased to higher freq. a tight elastic belt with ball bearing taking weight can sound quite close to a 401 (more plastic, more relentless, thicker). |
@mr_gray |
- 249 posts total