DSA phono.... Very nice unit. I had the benefit of an in-home demo courtesy of the designer, who is quite a nice chap. He couldn't wean me from tubes, but these days I have a more open mind. Good choice. |
besty, I once owned a Transcriptors Hydraulic. The thing was irresistible of you were a gadgeteer, which I was and am. However, the shortcomings of the turntable and especially the weird tonearm with the floppy headshell were readily apparent, even then. If you're old enough, you recall seeing it in the futuristically violent movie, "Clockwork Orange".
Ct, If I have a total misconception of La Platine, why not inform me and the others? How would the platter and motor interact? I realize the motor could have a controller to set voltage and current for optimal speed stability, much like the operation of a VPI SDS or a Walker Motor Controller. If that's what you are talking about, please do let me/us know. Those devices work on the motor in a favorable way, but they are not best for sensing and correcting speed errors due to belt slip, belt creep, or stylus drag. For that, it seems to me that the Verdier relies upon the high mass platter and its rotational inertia. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just not my preference at this point in my audio life.
By the way, wouldn't one assume that La Platine dealers know how best to set up the turntable? So, why should I not report what I saw over and over again in dealer showrooms over a period of several years? And also in the home of a local friend who uses a La Platine currently, and who is a very knowledgeable hobbyist and informally also a dealer. Tell me, how far do YOU place the motor from the turntable? Because there's no way the motor can be mounted on the same base as the turntable, which would be closer to ideal, in my opinion.
My use of the phrase "I don't know how" was only a gentle way of saying it seems impossible that the platter talks to the motor or vice-versa. I'll try to be more explicit next time. |
Back when I used to frequent local audio stores, which is to say back when such stores even existed in the DC area, that's how La Platine was set up for demonstration. The motor was situated at least 3-4 feet away from the platter, on its own separate pedestal. I know one local owner who also abides by that custom. No, La Platine would not be suitable for DJ work, because it probably takes nearly a minute to come up to speed and stabilize.
I don't know how the motor knows when to deliver "only pulses of power", since there is no feedback between the motor and platter. (Of course, one could do that with aftermarket add-ons like the Phoenix Engineering stuff.) But the string impressed me as "slippy" against the blank stainless steel or aluminum peripheral surface of the platter. in any case. Thus, feedback between platter speed and motor would be imprecise, requiring frequent corrective action. Like many of this type of belt drive, platter mass and inertia are counted upon to keep speed constant. And I'm not saying this method is a complete failure. It obviously has its adherents. I guess you like it, and I don't. Please don't be offended. |
The La Platine has one design flaw (at least). The unit is top heavy and rests on spongy feet. Since the platter is well balanced, this isn't an awful problem, but platter inertia coupled with the biasing weight of the tonearm and its built on mount can cause the whole shebang to tilt. Some owners modified theirs with more solid footers. The Granito version has a heavier base, which would shift the center of gravity down lower toward the mounting surface. I personally don't like the long thread drive and the concept of mounting the motor separately on a distant pedestal of its own. This could cause all sorts of havoc with the drive system. |
Jose', I certainly did not mean to cast aspersions on either the Basis turntables or the Verdier. They are both worthy. Mr Verdier passed away a few years ago, so the Platine may in fact start to accumulate some collector value or at least it may be a stable value. Same, sadly, goes for the designer of the Basis turntables (Mr Conte, I think). I'm just a direct- and idler-drive guy. |
The Basis 2500 and the Platine Verdier, while they are both worthy modern-ish belt drive turntables, are not in the spirit of what we have been talking about, at all. I don't exactly know what just transpired regarding a turntable for sale on Yahoo Japan, but I would advise that if it's from a dealer in Japan, you need not worry about packing, shipping, or excessive shipping costs. In any case, the opportunity seems to have gone by the boards. If I were interested in a PS-X9, my interest would not be sated by a Platine Verdier. DP100, maybe. And as a collector's item, the Verdier is probably just an OK stable value, if you are thinking of buying or have bought used. |
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I understand where Jose' may be coming from. If you've searched for something that is rare and difficult to find, audio gear or other, and then you find it, you are prone to overpay in just to get the thing you've been after. I've been there, done that. But I think Jose' is reconsidering based on cost and on JP's report of his experience buying a PS-X9. Rightly so. |
Presumably the one that you are thinking of purchasing would come to you in absolute tiptop working order. I should hope so, at that price. I say this because you might keep in mind that you can still buy many well recognized high end Japanese vintage direct drive turntables for no more than $1000. In this case, of course, you are getting a plinth and a tonearm in the bargain. That certainly is added value.I am thinking in particular of a Denon DP80 or DP 75.
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Uber, I own an L07D and am familiar with most of the lesser Kenwoods, yet I have never seen this particular model. Very interesting. Do you know the vintage, when it was made? Seems to be direct drive; yes?
That piece of wood that presents in the front is reminiscent of the L07D, the plinth of which uses constrained layer damping. The wood is an actual layer of the plinth structure which is squeezed together with upper and lower layers of non-resonant concrete-like material, by several substantial machine screws. The motor is fastened in such that it contacts this larger structure. I have no idea if the turntable you show here is built that way, and the tonearm does not look to be in the same league with the L07J tonearm on the L07D, but still.... |
Schubert, do you want hollandaise sauce on that?
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I very much doubt you'll find an PS-X9 at an audio show in Florida, but stranger things have happened, I guess. |
totem, You may have a point; I did not look at any photos. From memory, I thought the PS-X9 per se comes as a chassis for which there would be a separate plinth to mount the tonearm. But... |
I have never seen one that was actually for sale in the here and now. I have seen listings that "ended" months or years before I found them. I have to think, though, that one could find it for less than 5-figures. I would shop in Tokyo or Hong Kong. Contact someone at Hifido in Japan, and let them know you're a serious buyer. And then settle down to wait. OR, jump on the one you've found. On this subject too, it would be wise to contact JP and ask for his input on cost. He has a website, Fidelis Analog. |
If you're referring to replacement of the tonearm mount, that's neither here nor there, as regards the "goodness" of a PS-X9. I do think JP likes his very much, however, at least on the technical level. Personally, among the classic Japanese direct-drives that I don't own, I most lust for an Exclusive P3. On the other hand, I am very very happy with what I do have. |
True that. I’ve only ever seen it in photos. JP Jones owns one I think. Perhaps he has an informed opinion.
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As a person who owns several rare top-of-the-line direct drive turntable‘s, I am not at all sure that $13,000 is the right price for the PSX9. That is for you to decide. However, I can say that I paid about half that much for an NOS technics SP 10 Mark III, about 7-8years ago. Also, Because the Sony is so rare, most of us have never heard it. Therefore, it is impossible even for someone like me to say whether there is something better out there for similar cost. I do know that my mk3 and my Kenwood L07D (currently worth $3500 to $5k) leave little to be desired.
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