Stylus-Drag..Fact or Fiction?

Boy, that CS Port LFT-1 is one handsome turntable. I seriously doubt stylus drag is going to be a problem for it. The platter is massive, driven by a Kevlar string! Granite base. Wonder what it goes for. Any guesses? 

CS Port LFT1 is not distributed in the Western Hemisphere as of right now.

in the UK it’s 47k Pounds Sterling....including the linear tracking arm. i think that includes the VAT. then the granite base is a few thousand more.

so equivalent to around $55k to $60k USD if offered here.....maybe into the mid 60k USD range. distributors tend to set their own prices.

mijostyn
The platter is massive, driven by a Kevlar string!

mijostyn
Kevlar would not be my choice of material to use on a string drive designed turntable.

"been there done that"

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4CeXnpSNXhk3fKKv6

Kevlar has strength, but is far, IMO from the best sounding. The best designed String Drive tables (again IMO) are very delicate ? (for lack of a better word) with the STRING - allowing the audiophile owner to use the most DELICATE of strings/threads. Very audible differences.

Now you want to talk about an Audiophile Rabbit Hole.

Opportunities await the Audiophile at Fabric land for the String Design.

feedback from CS Port LFT1 users i’ve spoken to is that the Kevlar string works exceedingly well. directly compared to a number of tt’s, belt, idler and direct drive.

i’ve not heard it personally. and have never owned a ’string drive’ high mass platter turntable myself. so i don’t have any personal opinion on the kevlar choice. OTOH this part of the turntable is the least costly and easiest to experiment with.

i would expect that CS Port has their good reasons to use kevlar.

mikelavigne
feedback from CS Port LFT1 users i’ve spoken to is that the Kevlar string works exceedingly well. directly compared to a number of tt’s, belt, idler and direct drive.

i’ve not heard it personally. and have never owned a ’string drive’ high mass platter turntable myself. so i don’t have any personal opinion on the kevlar choice. OTOH this part of the turntable is the least costly and easiest to experiment with.

i would expect that CS Port has their good reasons to use kevlar.

IMO
When a manufacturer of a product builds something - anything - there is a scale. Put simply to make a point here. It has been my experience as a consultant working in multiple industries.

A-----------B-------------C

A - represents the best performance but usually not lasting as long. Short Life.
B - represents middle of the road - good performance - lasts a good time.
C - represents - durability longest lasting - performance not as good as A and B.

Now depending on the field, A or B or C could be the best solution. Where do you think the Audiophilia field fits ?    Well it depends of course. 
   
Where does Kevlar string fit for this particular TT. I don't know the TT. I don't know the answer. 
 
I do know that Kevlar has 1) durability, and 2) is good for marketing. It seems to have impressed mijostyn based on his response. A regular person will say "Hey they make Bullet Proof Vests out of Kevlar". An audiophile might say - "Hey doesn't B&W use Kevlar in their drivers ?"

3) It is slippery more so than other examples tried. Now think slippery, and a big heavy platter, and the force required of the string around the platter, that will be needed to turn it - and this will depend entirely on the motor design. So each string drive design is unique on its own. More variables !

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Look, I own authentic Verdier string that came with my turntable. I did give it a good go. I don't use it anymore for a number of reasons. Its doesn't make my TT perform/sound as good as it can. and 2) maybe more important - does not allow me to set up my TT in a fashion that allows for this best performance. Now most people are just happy with the basic 101 setup, and leave it at that. Some even change the pulley and use a belt (sacrilege...)  JC Verdier RIP - rolls in his grave each time this happens.   
    

I’ve not heard it personally. and have never owned a ’string drive’ high mass platter turntable myself. so i don’t have any personal opinion on the kevlar choice. OTOH this part of the turntable is the least costly and easiest to experiment with.

Changing out the string, and the (length)..... if the design allows, is sonically like changing out power tubes - EL34, KT66, KT88, etc... just as one quick example. You will get a leaner, thicker, bloatier, quicker, slower, etc.... performance / presentation with different strings/threads.

On the 2nd part of your paragraph - this is a good thing if you own a cat / feline....