@petg60 I considered the TTS 8000, but was impressed by the Final Audio Lab research VTT-1, and thus bought it. Eventually, I will get rid of the other Tables mentioned. Believe it or not, the Basis and Verdier are good sound tables. One can do better, but as you state, there is much worse than either of these two... Best, Jose |
Hi jg2077, 13K is quite an investment even though PSX9 is truly better than the lot of above mentioned tables. Even TTS8000 is better than most and can take any arm you like (with accompanying base TB2000 or TB1000). Please also consider serviceability of a direct drive vintage equipment. Any way both are more MUSICAL compared to some of the well known nowadays s...and uninspired designs. |
@lewm - my wife and I had dinner with him (Doug Hurlburt of DSA); a generous and respectful person. I must say, to my ears the DSA audio room was one of the best sounding of the show, Michael Fremer spent much time there. I would have loved to have heard Mr. Hullburts amps paired to the MBL speakers. his phono impressed me enough that I had to purchase one. Regards, Jose |
@betamax - in the event you want to sell your TT, contact me, maybe we can agree on a transaction. As previously posted, I ended up purchasing the following; 1. Final Audio VTT-1 - this thing is a monster and plays wonderful. 3 arm capacity. 2. Verdier Plantine - @ CT0517 - has been extremely helpful in regards to set up. A lively TT, I highly recommend. 3. Basis Audio 2500 with the vacuum platter option. While at the Florida audio show, I auditioned a DSA phono and purchased the unit here on Agon. I need to upload some pictures of my set up... Thank you all for your input. Jose |
PS-X9 was difficult for anyone to have spent much time in front of considering that maybe 250 (max) were ever built for the world. It was a "statement" piece that Sony had hoped to get into the broadcast market. I have seen pricing all over the map - one in Germany was listed a few years ago at 18,000 Euro but I doubt it sold. Most common pricing was in the 8,000 - 12,000 USD range. I've owned mine since 1983 ... and have used it since 1981 at audio shows when I was a product specialist for Sony. It truly is a magnificent beast and the built-in HA-55 head amp is incredible. Mine was mounted with the XL-88D MC (which unfortunately suffered a broken cantilever that was going to require a second mortgage to repair). I do not ever recall being able to switch tonearms on this - if someone has, it's a Frankenstein. Nearly 40 years later and it still keeps perfect speed and sounds incredible. Mine has the dust cover, a second high-density platter mat, plus the hardwired stop/start remote (socket can be wired into a broadcast control board) I have thought of selling - and targeting the $10k range - but at 32Kg for the table alone, shipping gets expensive. You'd be closer to 40Kg as you would probably want to crate it. The original packing was very good, but mine had deteriorated over time - and for the longest time, I had no intention of selling. There were a couple of reviews out there. When I find them, I will post the links |
Just as a bit of an information for the op reference shipping from Japan. i bought my kp07 on eBay last Friday, they informed me was shipped Sunday night. It arrived this morning! 5 days Japan to my house in Florida. Some USA sellers cannot manage that! It was extremely well packed and was in perfect shape and perfect working order. Plugged it into my 100v step down and was spinning vinyl within one hour of arrival. So with research on the item and the seller , I can say have little worry on buying from Japan and having it shipped to the USA. |
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. |
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 saw DJ’s in Italy in the ’70s with unimaginable turntables when many DJ’s were already using direct drives...do you know the Transcriptor Hydraulic?Here are those :( In some disco clubs they used. Panic!!!! |
ah. there is that dealer "setup" reference again, and a lot of "I don't know how" . why not just make a commitment.... find out for yourself - and share info as a real owner. Why post info outside your wheelhouse. btw - Playing a record is no reason for anyone to offence to anything. Posting wrong info is well just wrong. @ OP Jose - trust you found the information you were looking for ? Cheers |
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. |
@lewm Huh?? No one I know mounts the motor separately on a distant pedestal of its own. Not that it would matter anyway. You see real owners know that La Platine's platter system is unique, in that it provides for acceleration and braking to deal with the records behavior. The only platter system I know of that does this. Name another. The motor itself has very little influence and provides mere pulses of power through the string. Speed changes take a long time. For this reason no one on this thread should consider DJ'ing with La Platine. |
I have owned many tables Including a PS-X60 & PS-X70, Kenwood L07-D. I’m refurbing a Technics SL-1310 Mk2 right now. I’ve never heard the PS-X9, so it may not be fair of me to say. With the much better power supply and heavier platter and Isolation throughout, I would assume that it is more refined that the very nice PS-X70. In every case, on my old direct drive tables and I’ve had several, I always tend to dampen them throughout, make sure all caps are replaced in the power supply and tend to dampen when I can around the supply to help isolate vibration/resonance from the rest of the table, in one case, I put heat shrink dampening on the tonearm with good results. I’ve never spend more than maybe 5 or 600 dollars on the machine before my work. Of course, I could be totally wrong because I haven’t sat in front of a PS-X9, but my instincts are that you could snag several top of the line consumer tables of that era and with some work, have a fine piece of gear for peanuts. I suspect that the PS-X70 had the same family flavor and with some work, it is really a nice sounding table. Right now there are a couple of Sansui SR-929 floating around, I’ve not played with it, but it looks like it would also perform admirably. Bottom line, what I am saying is that you can most likely grab 4 or 5 of the old legends of audio and end up with a VERY satisfying table and if careful in your purchase, you could easily move the others that you don’t keep without any loss. Check out the beautiful Sansui SR-929 on ebay for $1200 obo. |
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. |
@ct0517 thank you, PM sent. I don't care to modify, much less park it. Gentlemen, I have had a modest technics 1200 for 30 years...just looking for a cool (beauty is in the eye of the beholder), good sounding TT with some collectability value. I appreciate all the patience/help given. Regards, Jose regards |
jg2077 jg2077 All anyone that is a first time user with La Platine can do, is "play with it" , to try to figure it out. It is a unique way to play your records. It is a String Drive design and all components were made to work best with string/thread. For business reasons a belt pulley was "added" to the parts list - for Sales and to appease audiophiles. Running La Platine with belts is like riding a bike with training wheels. Now many try and figure it out, but fall prey to the audiophile itch to modify it. Since all its body parts are easily accessible and viewable - it is easy to fall to this temptation. I can understand this. A modified La Platine is no longer La Platine. For the Collector - I guess you can park it on a shelf and admire the platter ? The most collectable La Platine is the Granito version - the most expensive to make, and a limited run was done for audiophile hungry Japanese. I had many conversations with Mr. Verdier when he was alive. RIP @OP Someone alerted me to your post or I would never have seen it. Any questions feel free to pm me or ask me on my virtual system. Just Click on Wile E Coyote. Cheers |
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. |
Within exchanged emails (5) with "aledo", I was constantly reminded of size/weight restrictions...thus my apprehension. I didn't want to pay for something and no way of getting it home. The other stated issue, were the shipping charges. I bought the Basis locally. It is an upgraded 2500 with a micro Benz cart. When said and done, I will place it in my 2nd system. The Verdier seams like a cool table. Thinking of purchasing as to hear/play with it. I was rushing a purchase(ps x9), and came very close to paying $13K. I will wait for a classic to come available at a good price. Jose |
The biggest contradiction wanting to make an example is that the same turntable sold on ebay has shipping costs of $ 250 or is offered free shipping while on Yahoo could easily cost over $ 1300 for shipping. I wonder how much sakè the Yahoo staff drinks every day, for me they are completely drunk unaware of how business works in the rest of the world. |
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. |
I have not bought anything heavy from Aleado (Japan Yahoo)....but I have bought many cartridges and other items through them and their packing and safety of the goods is simply the best I have ever seen. They send out literally thousands of items a week and I would trust them to use the best carriers. For small items I have bought....it is always EMS which gets to Sydney from Japan in two days and is fully insured. Good luck..... |
The response I received, tells they are limited by size and weight (Japan Post), However, the "aledo" website says they can ship anywhere in the world with little restrictions, they contradict themselves... I emailed back, asking if they will or not, ship using other means. Waiting for response. Jose |
I sent an email asking what the shipping cost would be. I’m waiting for a response. the automatic calculator on yahoo indicates scary prices regardless of the item; I have simulated some calculations and I have found that to send in Europe an item weighing 20Kg I would be asked 1000/1300 € and over, while the item could cost half. I wrote to Yahoo complaining that those prices can only be paid for shipments to the moon or mars, I was told that the total cost of shipping is calculated at the end of the auction but all this is not correct; those who aim at the auction have the right to know the shipping costs first. They are crazy at all. |
Did anybody see the dp100m on eBay? Do not remember if it was the DP 100 or the DP 100M but about two years ago I saw one on sale on ebay offered by a Japanese seller for about 20-22K $; he remained unsold for many months, then he was withdrawn from the sale and about a year later reappeared for sale. |
Did anybody see the dp100m on eBay? Makes the psx9 look like a bargain! https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F323644515757 |
with the $ 10,000 surplus, do you know how many renovations of PS-X9 can be achieved? Many!Sort of my point...… for $2600 plus shipping ( which HAS to be less than the $850 being asked by Mr.eBay!), leaves around 11k. Hopefully you would not have to spend more than your original purchase to restore which leaves you many dollars up. It actually has my attention although I really cannot afford to spend that amount period. When has that ever stopped us though! |
@best-groove I recall perhaps 4 years back a fellow Canadian was transporting a Sony PS-X9 across the US Canadian border and was nabbed for not declaring the correct value, he paid the levied fine but then had an issue he was not able to rectify. Never heard back after that. |
I will look into it. I have to register and hopefully, they can ship. On another note. I've been a lurker here and the other common audio sites for years, time has passed, financially I'm doing MUCH better. I appreciate everyone's input / advice. I like collecting, and don't mind overpaying (rare / collectable) some....however, $5-$8K is much more than than I care to. Jose |
This quoka.de site often has very attractive offers and you know what they say when something is too good to be true..... I've been burnt there once, so buyer beware. I agree $14.0000 is a ridiculous price, but at the other extreme so is €2300, unless it has serious 'issues'. The market value of the PS-X9 should probably be somewhere between $5000-8000, depending on condition. This puts it in the same bracket as Technics SL-1000 mk3 and Pioneer Exclusive P3, the major competing statement DD turntables in those days. There's one other Japanese tour de force DD table that would probably exceed this price level: the much rarer Denon DP-100M. Incidentally, there is one up for auction on Yahoo Japan. Current highest bid is only $3460 with 2 days left. I'm tempted, so very tempted...... |
