Direct Drive vs. Idler Drive vs. Belt drive

Dear Lewm,
got you! 😀 there are many products with three motors which is just a waste of energy, time & money. When I went to Burmester in Berlin I had the chance to look deeper into their new 4 motor concept. Brilliantly implemented!
E.

One could argue that if they have to add so many motors, the fundamental belt drive implementation might be flawed.

So, although I was joking about 4 motors and never dreamed there actually IS such a turntable, Burmeister have built it.  I'll probably never get to hear it, so I leave it to you to consider. But the more motors you have driving the platter, the less of the circumference of the platter can be contacted by the belt, which means a smaller "contact patch" and greater energy losses, more opportunity for belt slip, unless each motor or each pair of motors drives/drive the platter via separate belts.  I'd guess that is the case with the Burmeister.

Burmester, not "Burmeister".  I just looked at a photo.  One cannot see how the belts and motors are implemented but from the text, I am not sure.

Some more detail on the Burmester 175.

"The drive is not only equipped with its own tonearm and MC system, but also with a first-class phono equalizer, which is even supposed to keep the legendary stand-alone component Burmester 100 at bay in some areas. The barely compact turntable may still be worth its price of 31,800 euros, but its fighting weight of 60 kilos is not. This classy lathe is incredibly heavy!"

They are not joking as regards the pricing, I say! 🤭
Michélle