10-14-12: Dover
The verdier platine comes with an option to use a ball and thrust plate. Essentially this means the platter is grounded, and provides an energy path to ground for unwanted energy or resonance. In this mode the magnetic repulsion is still employed, but it means the tt has a high mass platter, but the grounded bearing only sees a fraction of that weight. This is a very elegant solution and is used in the Continuum. I prefer this mode, the grounding tightens and focus' the sound, increases resolution and articulation if applied properly.
Dear Dover, I have opposite info about PV ball support:
"When Verdier changed the bearing from all-magnet to ball support in 1992 he did so because he no longer got the full-force and high quality magnets from J. Mahul needed for the PV. He had to change to other magnets from Slovenia and they were not as constant nor as powerful. Consequently he introduced the ball support to address the problem of unstable gap height with the "new" magnets. The ball support introduced additional noise in the sonic performance as well as robbed away most of the "air" the original PV supplies. The original bearing provides more live-realism, speed and micro-dynamics."
Best regards,