Direct Drive vs. Idler Drive vs. Belt drive


I'd like to know your thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of each drive system. I can see that direct drive is more in vogue over the last few years but is it superior to the other drive systems? I've had first-hand experiences with two out of the three drive systems but looking to learn more.
128x128scar972
Nandric, I'm happy to learn not all Dutch are to blame for Philips propoganda. Thank goodness, I'm off the hook! 
Your grandpa was generalizing a bit, woudn't you agree? Besides, Linn is not a British, but a Scottish company. In the United Kingdom, or what's left of it, they feel there's a distinction there. Then again, Tiefenbrun does sound rather German, the country you say that invented propoganda.....

I posted my latest contribution before I ended my writing. There
is ''Preview'' and ''Post...'' so I obviously pressed ''Post'' instead
of ''Preview''. What I wanted to add is that ''referencial theory of
truth'' won the ''contest''. Scientist are interested in the 'real theory
of truth'' and consider the so called ''propositional attitutudes '' as
not truth funcional. So ''whishing'' ,'' hoping for'' , ''believing that'',
etc . statements don't  satisfy truth criteria. They also defy 
logical analysis in the sense of consistency. 
I see that edgewear, say, like the referential theory but the names
which he uses are referential opaque. With Dutch he means all
Dutch but the quantifier ''all'' is not an name. It is used for universal 
statemens like ''all x are Fx& Gx'' . But if one x does not satisfy
conditions F and G then the whole statement is no truth.
Then the reference to UK is not ''correct'' according to him because
Scotland is not included in UK. It is the only country where Linn
LP12 are made. So the statement Linn is made in UK is not
true? Well ''extension of names'' is difficult ''subject''. Frege's 
definition of numbers was ''extension of notions'' but was 
refuted by Russel because of paradoxes in the theory of sets .
More in particular by ''sets of all sets'' (grin).

One thing I have found in common with all of the popular British TT is the constant need for upgrades.

There are dozens of threads on the audio forums with folks constantly talking about upgrading the popular Rega tables. Did you know that if you upgrade the stock belt that comes on the Rega table to the better white belt that they sell it helps regulate the speed better! Than put it the F*** on from the factory! Or the stock power supply that comes with the table is so weak it won't hold proper speed so you really need to buy an upgraded $400.00 power supply from them!

Oh, throw away the stock plastic sub platter because it sucks and upgrade to the aluminum one that they make for the upgraded model. Than they want you to purchase a new platter to use on your new sub platter. It never ends.

A couple of different post about sagging plinths on the Rega Planar 6, seems the foam core plinth doesn't always hold up well. Even the better Rega models don't have adjustable VTA, you need to stay with Rega carts or start shimming.

And the owners will defend Rega all the way to their next upgrade with glee.

It's the Rega Merry-Go-Round.

Oh, by the way, Linn just came out with ANOTHER new spindle bearing! Yup, all the Linn owners are busy buzzing about it.

So I just play my rock steady, Japanese, speed stable, fully adjustable, dependable JVC QL-A7 DD turntable that I purchased for less than a Rega P3 and enjoy the music.

BillWojo

This is a great post, i could not explain better than this.

I'm wondering why people still buying those belt drive turntables like Rega and then post question about their weakness every week on audiogon? 

Direct Drive available NEW or USED for less money and they are so much better. 


Thanks chakster, I didn't know if I would get beat up by my opinion but figured I'd be safer in this post than expressing it on a Rega post.
And it's a daily occurrence if you read several audio forums like I do, either the need to update or complaining about a problem. And there are lot's of problems it seems.
The Rega defenders absolutely adore Roy Gandy and his approach to making the TT non adjustable. Seems he doesn't believe that you need to adjust VTA.
Have you seen the prices on the upper tier Rega TT? You can buy a nice machine for that kind of money. It makes no sense to me at all.
BillWojo
billwojo
One thing I have found in common with all of the popular British TT is the constant need for upgrades.
Actually, there is no "need" for an upgrade. Without the upgrade, your turntable will perform exactly the same as it always did. An upgrade is just an option for those that might want to seek improvement. It’s the same as when a company such as Audio Research offers upgrades to its electronics; the availability of an upgrade doesn’t diminish the performance of your existing component.

Oddly, some audiophiles complain when upgrades are not made available for existing product, claiming that it reflects "planned obsolescence" and lessens the value of their existing product. That argument does seem to have some validity.