Direc drive vs belt, Technics 1500

[FBech]

Hello I want to get a TT on the 1000 price range and was thinking about Technics SL 1500 because I found a deal and has good reviews.

I dont have much experience and reading about direct drive vs belt TTs, It seems direct drive TTs can translate vibration to the record, is this the case with the 1500 vs a similarly priced belt drive TT?

 

[abacus]

No, any noise with direct drive will come from the bearing, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Bill

 

[nopiano]

Hello I want to get a TT on the 1000 price range and was thinking about Technics SL 1500 because I found a deal and has good reviews.

I dont have much experience and reading about direct drive vs belt TTs, It seems direct drive TTs can translate vibration to the record, is this the case with the 1500 vs a similarly priced belt drive TT?

There is no ‘vibration’ from Technics direct drive. I’ve owned belt drive turntables over decades, including Pioneer, Dual, Linn and Michell. My Technics is as quiet as a mouse.

If you can get a new SL-1500 for under a grand it’s a great buy. It was well under when launched but recently went up to £1,099 I think, and now is offered in a few places for around £899.

 

[Al ears]

There is no ‘vibration’ from Technics direct drive. I’ve owned belt drive turntables over decades, including Pioneer, Dual, Linn and Michell. My Technics is as quiet as a mouse.

If you can get a new SL-1500 for under a grand it’s a great buy. It was well under when launched but recently went up to £1,099 I think, and now is offered in a few places for around £899.

Older direct drives could suffer from ' cogging 'which isn't the case with modern ones.
All drive methods, being belt, direct drive or rim drive have their disadvantages.
It's all about the combination with tonearm and cartridge that really matt and not so much the drive mechanism itself.

 

[spl84]

So there's no reason to choose belt drive over direct drive? I currently have a 200 dollar direct drive Audio Technica. I thought about upgrading and wonder which route to go...

 

[Al ears]

So there's no reason to choose belt drive over direct drive? I currently have a 200 dollar direct drive Audio Technica. I thought about upgrading and wonder which route to go...

Direct drive turntables are not usually cheap. There is plenty of scope, if you do have one,to upgrade to a belt drive.
Personally I would touch a cheap direct drive....... Nor any turntable that cheap.
Decent vinyl playback cannot be done on the cheap which is why many dismiss this means of a source because of this.

 

[FBech]

Older direct drives could suffer from ' cogging 'which isn't the case with modern ones.
All drive methods, being belt, direct drive or rim drive have their disadvantages.
It's all about the combination with tonearm and cartridge that really matters.

Thanks, and in the case of the 1500, everything works fine?

 

[nopiano]

Thanks, and in the case of the 1500, everything works fine?

Technics SL-1500C review

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2023 winner. A beautifully made, fuss-free record player

www.whathifi.com

Technics SL-1500C direct-drive turntable review | Darko.Audio

A Technics direct-drive turntable with the DJ stuff stripped away.

darko.audio

 

[Al ears]

Thanks, and in the case of the 1500, everything works fine?

Never heard one but haven't heard of any issues, although I guess the inbuilt phono preamp is a possible weak point.

 

[FBech]

This is a good question by slp84 member, I am sure there is good answer as well.

Most reputable TT manufacturers, like Rega or Pro Jet, are doing belt drive units, even in the most expensive models, why are they not doing direct drive TTs as well? Whats the advantage or appeal of the belt system?

 

[nopiano]

This is a good question by slp84 member, I am sure there is good answer as well.

Most reputable TT manufacturers, like Rega or Pro Jet, are doing belt drive units, even in the most expensive models, why are they not doing direct drive TTs as well? Whats the advantage or appeal of the belt system?

At its simplest, belt drive is much easier to make. Hence the world’s biggest turntable producer, Pro-Ject has shown the benefits across dozens of models. Although they have belts, the size of the platter varies hugely, with better versions much heavier, and needing bigger or more motors.

A direct drive of quality requires sophisticated engineering and design, and with that goes necessary volume of sales.

Though I like to avoid stereotypes, historically the Japanese giants like Sony and Matsushita (inc Technics and Panasonic) made direct drive. The relatively ‘home made’ designs like Linn and Rega used belts. Of course, that is a gross oversimplification but I think it’s still germane.

Bear in mind too that belt drives offer easy isolation from motor noise. Hence a myriad of designs.

To me it’s a bit like front wheel or rear wheel drive in cars. There are pros and cons of both, but at least you have a choice.