Direct drive VS Belt Drive

[alchemist 1]

With Technics releasing new versions of the SL1200, including newly designed motors.

Can they now claim the advantage of direct drive over belt driven turntables ?

 

[Al ears]

With Technics releasing new versions of the SL1200, including newly designed motors.

Can they now claim the advantage of direct drive over belt driven turntables ?

No as there isn't any 'advantage' just different methods of propulsion.

The argument over which form is best is ancient and well documented. You pay your money and make your choice.

 

[bigfish786]

the rotel rp3000 was whisper quiet, held speed really well, and sounded way better than it had right to being almost 40 years old.

The marantz doesn't sound any better, and cost ten times what I paid for the rotel.

i would definitely have another DD turntable

 

[plastic penguin]

Concur - whether DD or belt driven it is a personal preference as opposed to which one is better.

I've only owned belt driven tables but a nice looking DD wouldn't be off the list.

 

[Al ears]

Concur - whether DD or belt driven it is a personal preference as opposed to which one is better.

I've only owned belt driven tables but a nice looking DD wouldn't be off the list.

Belt drive for me although not saying I wouldn't mind a nice new Technics. ;-)

Direct drive has to be done properly with drives that prevent 'cogging' and prrerably quartz-lock servos. This can make them expensive and a tad difficult to fix if they do ever go wrong.

Belts can stretch and slip so maintenance and replacement now and again is essential.

 

[plastic penguin]

Concur - whether DD or belt driven it is a personal preference as opposed to which one is better.

I've only owned belt driven tables but a nice looking DD wouldn't be off the list.

Belt drive for me although not saying I wouldn't mind a nice new Technics. ;-)

Direct drive has to be done properly with drives that prevent 'cogging' and prrerably quartz-lock servos. This can make them expensive and a tad difficult to fix if they do ever go wrong.

Belts can stretch and slip so maintenance and replacement now and again is essential.

I could be wrong on this, but I think a friend had a JVC DD turntable back in the 80s. Seem to remember his JVC, in direct comparison to my Garrard belt drive jobbie, had more wow and flutter. Certainly picked up a lot of rumble.

Not saying for one moment that all DDs have this trait, but that is my vague memory of his hi-fi during that period.

 

[alchemist 1]

With Technics releasing new versions of the SL1200, including newly designed motors.

Can they now claim the advantage of direct drive over belt driven turntables ?

No as there isn't any 'advantage' just different methods of propulsion.

The argument over which form is best is ancient and well documented. You pay your money and make your choice.

I think it will be the direct drive choice for me..

 

[Frank Harvey]

I could be wrong on this, but I think a friend had a JVC DD turntable back in the 80s. Seem to remember his JVC, in direct comparison to my Garrard belt drive jobbie, had more wow and flutter. Certainly picked up a lot of rumble.

Not saying for one moment that all DDs have this trait, but that is my vague memory of his hi-fi during that period.

I did read that DD wasn't necessarily as good with regards to wow and flutter as was led to believe. And since then, belt drive TTs have been continually improved. I doubt you'd hear any speed deviation on a good quality deck nowadays.

My first turntable was a plastic JVC thing which was belt drive. My mate had the exact sam turntable but belt drive. I was convinced there was something about mine that sounded a bit better...

 

[plastic penguin]

I could be wrong on this, but I think a friend had a JVC DD turntable back in the 80s. Seem to remember his JVC, in direct comparison to my Garrard belt drive jobbie, had more wow and flutter. Certainly picked up a lot of rumble.

Not saying for one moment that all DDs have this trait, but that is my vague memory of his hi-fi during that period.

I did read that DD wasn't necessarily as good with regards to wow and flutter as was led to believe. And since then, belt drive TTs have been continually improved. I doubt you'd hear any speed deviation on a good quality deck nowadays.

My first turntable was a plastic JVC thing which was belt drive. My mate had the exact sam turntable but belt drive. I was convinced there was something about mine that sounded a bit better...

The overriding memory was his DD sounded a little faster than my Garrard. I'm sure nowadays that's been rectified, but because I haven't heard a DD table in years I couldn't say one way or the other.

 

[MajorFubar]

Y'all just amateurs, idler drive is where it's at.

 

[Al ears]

Y'all just amateurs, idler drive is where it's at.

You're right, the worst of both worlds...... ;-)

 

[plastic penguin]

Y'all just amateurs, idler drive is where it's at.

Indeed. Hi-fi seems to fall into two main camps: Honest amateurs and bull s######g know-alls. I like to think I fall into the former. *biggrin*

 

[Al ears]

Y'all just amateurs, idler drive is where it's at.

Indeed. Hi-fi seems to fall into two main camps: Honest amateurs and bull s######g know-alls. I like to think I fall into the former. *biggrin*

Really?

I am awaiting the revival of the Garrard SP25.....

 

[MajorFubar]

I am awaiting the revival of the Garrard SP25.....

To be fair, for a cheap deck it was leagues ahead of the low-end shite made today

 

[Freddy58]

Y'all just amateurs, idler drive is where it's at.

Indeed. Hi-fi seems to fall into two main camps: Honest amateurs and bull s######g know-alls. I like to think I fall into the former. *biggrin*

Really?

I am awaiting the revival of the Garrard SP25.....

My first turntable, the Mk3, actually *yes3*

After that, I had a Rotel RP5300, direct drive. Rubbish. It couldn't keep a constant speed.

 

[MajorFubar]

My first turntable, the Mk3, actually *yes3*

They were my favourite. Staple choice of every 1970s mobile DJ. Which actually is how I ended up with one when my brother packed in DJ'ing.

 

[Freddy58]

My first turntable, the Mk3, actually *yes3*

They were my favourite. Staple choice of every 1970s mobile DJ. Which actually is how I ended up with one when my brother packed in DJ'ing.

I thought they were pretty cool. I mean, they had a cueing device and everything! *biggrin* Fitting a cartridge was a doddle, with that slide-out thingy in the head shell. I remember being very pleased when I picked it up from a local audio stockist. I made the plinth for it out of mahogany and plywood, probably looked hideous, but it was my pride and joy. Ahh, those were the days *smile*

 

[MajorFubar]

I made the plinth for it out of mahogany and plywood, probably looked hideous, but it was my pride and joy. Ahh, those were the days *smile*

Yeah a lot of people made their own plinths in those days. Same with speaker cabinets.Carpentry and basic electrics/soldering went hand in hand with the hobby.

 

[Al ears]

I am awaiting the revival of the Garrard SP25.....

To be fair, for a cheap deck it was leagues ahead of the low-end shite made today

It was, I owned one, and it was idler drive. I rest my case m' lud.

 

[plastic penguin]

Y'all just amateurs, idler drive is where it's at.

Indeed. Hi-fi seems to fall into two main camps: Honest amateurs and bull s######g know-alls. I like to think I fall into the former. *biggrin*

I am awaiting the revival of the Garrard SP25.....

I'm not. Even though I have great memories of my old SP25 MKV, compared to modern tables they were fairly noisey. Now, the aesthetics.... *man_in_love*

 

[alchemist 1]

I was hoping there would be a review of the 1200G or 1200GR by now.........*sad*

 

[Al ears]

I was hoping there would be a review of the 1200G or 1200GR by now.........*sad*

There is... if you look at other publications.

Or there is this:-

http://www.whathifi.com/technics/sl-1200g/review

http://www.whathifi.com/technics/sl-1200gr/review

 

[plastic penguin]

With Technics releasing new versions of the SL1200, including newly designed motors.

Can they now claim the advantage of direct drive over belt driven turntables ?

Wouldn't it be easier to dem the table?

 

[MajorFubar]

I was hoping there would be a review of the 1200G or 1200GR by now.........*sad*

We all know the WHF review would be three stars, four at a push. But if Panasonic had made it belt drive, built it from laminated chipboard and with a motor suspended on an elastic band, it would get five stars. Especially if Panasonic put the word "Rega" on the front instead of "Technics".

 

[Al ears]

I was hoping there would be a review of the 1200G or 1200GR by now.........*sad*

We all know the WHF review would be three stars, four at a push. But if Panasonic had made it belt drive, built it from laminated chipboard and with a motor suspended on an elastic band, it would get five stars. Especially if Panasonic put the word "Rega" on the front instead of "Technics".

🙂 The motor on my original Planar 3 didn't remain suspended for very long......