Anybody heard Galibier or JC Verdier turntables?

I've had the PV for over a year. My previous tt for over ten years was a Townshend rock III. The PV is one amazing tt, so much so that I don't listen to cds (through a Wadia 16) anymore. Its strength is its ability to simply let the music flow. Ease of set up and maintenance is also its plus. But most importantly, it just makes you want to listen to music. And mind you, I am pairing it with a SME V and Shelter 501. This is not considered the strongest supporting cast. So the strength of the tt will only improve with further upgrades.

Dear "Sir Douglas",unless you have compared the two tables in A/B comparisons,you are merely speculating as to what should sound like what!Also,an "important" aspect of the PV bearing system(or lack of)is that there will be no friction,like a good air bearing design.This surely will have a beneficial impact on performance.That is the "selling point",not reliability.
Sort of like your second favorite tonearm,s "claim to fame",the lack of a bearing resonant signature which negatively impacts the harmonic structure of music.
I'm assuming this,by now,based upon the time frame I was given,can be confirmed by the "probably great by now" Cello's system(not that it was chopped liver when I heard it).I'm assuming,of course,that he has gotten a nice package from Germany!!
But you most likely know this already. -:)

PS-I hope my post does not get too bad a "shrug" from the "great Paul",since you surely must know,by now,that my set-up has been down for a couple of months,and MR Scorpion is getting agitated,and may be waking again. -:)

Best regards!
Mark

Come to Denver with some of us May 13 and find out for yourself what a Galibier and Teres have to offer. Sorry, you'll have to find out what the PV sounds like on yer own. :)

Doug, your comments leave me wondering about bearings and the experiments you mentioned that Chris had tried. Thom is off, I believe to Toronto for the week, so we may not get a response from Galibier about bearing life. I know that you're probably considering that the Teres and Galibier bearing are similar, but I wonder how much they have grown apart.

I know Basis also uses a fairly hefty platter on their higher end tables. Those bearing last for quite some time. I have to admit I don't know the details of the differences in bearing designs between the tables discussed here.

Newbie curiosity: As the platter spins, is the repulsion of the magnets so precise and evenly distributed that the elevation of the platter remains constant within minimal tolerances? If so, it is impressive engineering. I assume that the minimal tug of the string pulling the platter does not disrupt the bearing holding the magnets in alignment.

SirSpeedy,

Interesting ideas about the PV's magnetic bearing. So when exactly did you hear a PV and a Galibier in the same system?

Dan,

I don't know where Thom may have taken his bearing, but the description on his site still sounds pretty familiar to a Teres owner.

Our new one is operating just fine. The experimental one failed but it was just an experiment. "Sir" Paul and I would prefer even harder materials for the bearing surfaces. Not only for longevity but for reduced friction, as emphasized by Bigbucks5 and SirSpeedy.