Direct Drive vs. Idler Drive vs. Belt drive

I had run various belt drive tables for years but got the urge to try something different when I listened to a friends Artisan Fidelity Garrard 301. It had an addictive quality that the TW Raven AC sitting next to it did not seem to capture. So I set about looking for a modern idler-type table after exploring various restored vintage tables and the PTP Lenco. I decided I wanted to see if someone would achieve better results by bringing modern technology to an old design concept. After nearly a year wait and lots of helpful and informative communication back and forth last week I received a Sempersonus TE-2, the first to arrive here in the US. You can learn more here: https//sempersonus.com/te2-our-first-turntable/

I worked with Jeffrey Catalano at High Water Sound NYC on a TW Raven (12 Inch) tonearm and a Charisma Audio Signature One cartridge. I'll come back and post some comments about the sound on another thread but just thought I'd share as the table uses an "epicyclic drive" system that is essentially and inner rim drive with an electronically regulated speed control system. The table is beautiful to look at and a breeze to set up. If anyone is interested I've got pics posted on my virtual system. 

my low flow-low pressure air bearing CS Port LFT1 turntable and linear tracker give me more detail than any conventional bearing turntable and conventional bearing tonearm i have heard. the bass is otherworldly. magnificent.

If you didn't use the exact same platter pad, cartridge and arm on both machines, this might only be anecdotal wrt the platter bearing type.

New Way air bearings have amorphous carbon faces, resulting in literally millions of ’apertures’. I saw a U-Tube presentation of a shaft rotating in an air bearing (maybe New Way), spinning freely, when the high pressure air supply to the spindle was cut. The shaft came to an abrupt stop with a bang - it was immovable. Now that’s low tolerance!

I did respond to this, in my post just prior to this.

Apologies, somehow I managed to miss it. Now remedied.

I took your original post to mean a mat with the same universal durometer as vinyl, which was why I wondered. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

@scar972  There's a photo on my System page. It's an aluminum light grease bearing with POM linings and ceramic ball. Made by a guy in Asia. SPH. sphBearing AT gmail com