I would definitely consider a Clearaudio Concept Wood (Maestro V2) https://tinyurl.com/yc6gjx4u as an alternative to both TT’s that you are considering. The lesser Concept has won a TAS product of the year in 2010 and a rave review in Stereophile: https://www.stereophile.com/content/erick-lichte-august-2012
I am a sucker for Ortofon cartridges, and I would add to that a Quintet Black S MC cartridge, which together cost the 4K that the Technics costs.
My experience with DD is quite limited, having owned a 1980-era Luxman PD-246 TT. I eventually couldn’t live with the wow and flutter, two phenomena to which I am very sensitive. That TT had a novel automatic shut-off mechanism, based on an LED and a photodiode - when the arm reached the end of the LP, a plastic piece connected to the underside of the arm blocked the LED, the motor would stop, and a solenoid would lift the arm from the record.
As for high vs. low torque motors: The most extreme case of a low torque motor is found in the British Nottingham Analogue, where you have to give the platter a spin with your hand after turning the motor on, otherwise the belt would slip off either the platter or the motor pulley. With high-torque motors, the plater MUST be very heavy to ward off the noise and clogging coming from the motor. Ditto with idler drive: the idler is made of a stiff rubber and it is directly coupled to both the motor pole and the platter. This is a recipe for considerable noise and vibration transmitted to the platter. Indeed, my old Lenco L78’s platter weighed 5 KG’s.
I am a sucker for Ortofon cartridges, and I would add to that a Quintet Black S MC cartridge, which together cost the 4K that the Technics costs.
My experience with DD is quite limited, having owned a 1980-era Luxman PD-246 TT. I eventually couldn’t live with the wow and flutter, two phenomena to which I am very sensitive. That TT had a novel automatic shut-off mechanism, based on an LED and a photodiode - when the arm reached the end of the LP, a plastic piece connected to the underside of the arm blocked the LED, the motor would stop, and a solenoid would lift the arm from the record.
As for high vs. low torque motors: The most extreme case of a low torque motor is found in the British Nottingham Analogue, where you have to give the platter a spin with your hand after turning the motor on, otherwise the belt would slip off either the platter or the motor pulley. With high-torque motors, the plater MUST be very heavy to ward off the noise and clogging coming from the motor. Ditto with idler drive: the idler is made of a stiff rubber and it is directly coupled to both the motor pole and the platter. This is a recipe for considerable noise and vibration transmitted to the platter. Indeed, my old Lenco L78’s platter weighed 5 KG’s.
