Tables That Feature Bearing Friction

Dertonearm, You wrote, "Stylus drag is a very small sliding force in constant motion and is - coupled with any serious platter (of course not if the LP lays just on the platter and is not firmly clamped down) - really neglectable. Its a force smaller by several magnitudes compared to the energy the stylus puts into the platter while modulating the groove information. A force smaller by several magnitudes compared to any motor generated vibration."
In writing thus, you are implying that you know the approximate magnitude of the force of stylus drag. I would be interested to know what that is, so I can compare it to the magnitude of the other forces you mention. I tend to agree with you, that the force of stylus drag cannot be THAT great, since, if it were, cantilevers would be ripped from their insertions into the cartridge.

I don't think anyone would take issue with your definition of the function of a turntable. The problem is that many of us have heard or think we hear deficiencies in LP reproduction that are attributable to "something" that is at least partly overcome by the use of direct- or idler-drive, as opposed to belt drive. In this tiny little world of vinyl audiophilia, that "something" has been identified as being the result of stylus drag, because there are no data to indicate what else it might be. By the way, I don't think you meant to infer that stylus drag is a constant. Would it not be expected to vary according to groove tortuosity and distance of the stylus from the spindle?

Lewm, "distance from the stylus"? Why would there be component that varied with this distance? Unless we're jumping to AS?

Dan_ed, I think Lewm is talking about inner tracks vs. outer tracks on the disc. This will of course vary the amount of stylus drag torque that is applied to the platter, by a simple difference in leverage.

Dear Kirkus, Lewm, (Teres ??) and Dan_ed, if we all join forces in this discussion I am positive that it will become a really worthwhile discurse.
Of course - stylus drag is rather a very variable force and can not really be called a "constant".
So - how do we proceed?? Do we carry on in this thread or is one of you starting another focussing on the turntable design in general, maybe with stylus drag and its influence on stability as a sidematter? Any suggestions? I am happy to participate in a real good discussion when we focus on technical aspects.

What I wrote was that any effect of stylus drag on speed will in part be a function of the distance of the stylus from the spindle (not "distance from the stylus"). I was referring to the mechanical advantage gained by applying a force some distance from the center of rotation vs near to the center of rotation. Kirkus got it right.