Whilst we are talking up the benefits of SOME vintage DD decks in relation to speed consistency and low wow and flutter.....it is not to say that surprisingly good results can't be obtained from certain belt-drive turntables.
Here is the Frequency Plot for my Raven AC-2 which is almost as good as that for the Victor and is better than that of even the
VPI Direct...😱
Compared to other belt-drive models like the Wilson-Benesch and George Warren that I showed previously, it shows that 'smarts' and 'implementation' is everything in the world of analogue.
It also explains why I can happily listen to either of my turntables...😍
The main differences between a really good belt-drive and a really good direct drive is in the micro and macro handling-ability of 'stylus drag'.
With the Victors, the Frequency Charts (and Timeline tests) are the same whether an arm (or two or three) is tracking the record or not.
With the belt-drive however, the speed is different between tracking a record and not.
Now this may seem initially like no big deal...?
Just adjust the speed to be accurate when tracking a record....
But the 3150Hz test tone produces a steady state undemanding mid-frequency sine-wave.
The music embedded within vinyl grooves is an ever-changing torture test of low to high frequencies totally unlike the steady test tone.
If the belt-drive deck changes speed with the cartridge in the groove....it is also changing speed (at the micro level) with every change in frequency and amplitude within the groove.
The fact that most of us are not audibly aware (or bothered) by such an occurrence is highlighted by our abilities to be unperturbed by the
Wilson Benesch.
But there is just something elusive to the experience of great speed-consistent analogue reproduction when you get used to it..😋