Mr gray, can you better describe “double loop” of silk? Do you mean two separate silk thread belts or one double size loop that you make into a figure 8? Also I wonder what you mean when you say the motor is under the TT. Thx.
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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- 289 posts total
oh yes: - figure 8. that way i guess u get the double but don’t have to make 2 exactly the same length silk belts which i think i would fail. also only one knot! i am using sewing thread made from silk. i have ordered surgical silk thread which is a bit different apparently. - when i made my doubled belt it was so short i had to have the motor half under the plinth of the turntable. my latest loop is too long and so now i don’t have that anymore, instead the motor is one foot to the left. making thread loops is not straightforward i find. a bit of trial and error. - i am continuing to listen to this. i feel like it sounds very good. i remember reading about the la platine when i was getting into them and the callas mod. a fellow said the la platine, when not on bearing, lacked for piano. so i pay alot of attention to the piano. maybe it is the cart/tonearm combo that helps, but i do feel the double wrapped has helped with piano. everything sounds more dynamic and with a better toe tapping beat. - last night i listened to bob dylan’s oh mercy late at night. like 1 am. i was expecting a closed in record which is as i recall it. instead it was open, dynamic and quite extraordinary (both in absolute terms but also versus expectation). i felt like i was looking at huge format paintings that hang in the sapporo gallery. i had been expecting a tiny 12 inch by 9 inch vague landscape with age dulled colours and instead i got grand exposition. it was thrilling. prior to that earlier in evening wife and i listened to ’Cabaret". the depth of Liza Minelli’s talent was on full display and it was staggering.
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I do have to acknowledge comments by @pindac above about his vinyl journey. But more importantly it is about your enthusiasm for the La Platine, in particular, and your joy on full display with vinyl playing in general. It is infectious! I now feel guilty when not playing records. Just when I thought all stones have been turned, you come up with this double loop idea. It seems counterintuitive at first. The logic was to reduce the contact area as much as possible while still maintaining speed. But the truth was the tiny silk thread was struggling to maintain speed especially on 45s’. And the additional loop really increase very little. It now looks like the thickness of the original linen thread. But the soundstage is more defined with better width / depth presentation. I have planar magnetic speakers. At low volume, the soundstage flattens. That has not changed. But at regular listening levels ( 75-80 db ), the soundstage is holographic. Because of the back and forth on this thread recently, I further refines my setup. The soundstage was improved already. But this takes it further, a very nice uptick. The threads we use are regular sewing threads that we tie together. It is impossible to tie two loops with identical diameters. The first attempt at the double loop resulted in a very similar situation as @mr_gray. The loop was too small and the motor almost touched the plinth. I have a better managed distance between the two now.
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- 289 posts total