Direct Drive vs. Idler Drive vs. Belt drive

Who exactly is trialling tts w the same carts? I can’t think of anyone trying out tts in a retail store and moving the same cart from one tt to the next.
That’s just so...70s-90s Lol.

Can’t remember when i was buying a turntable in retail store, probably in 1998 last time.

In the UK, I can count the dealers on one hand who can even fit a cart probably, let alone move it btwn rigs.

Is it possible to come with your own cartridge mounted on your own headshell ? Honestly i don’t care about dealers

Nope...today you just pick a tt and cart and hope for the best I think.

Exactly, normally you’re buying a Drive, Plinth, Tonearm, Headshell, Cartridge ... separately, assembling it yourself and comparing one turntable to another (if you have a few). It’s a part of the hobby, great fun!

I have more fun swapping tonearms and cartridges on my Luxman PD-444, because i think the turntable is perfect and it was designed for two tonearms with armboards that are so easy to adjust for any PS distance quickly. Clever design, very user friendly! Denon DP-80 is another story.

As you can see turntables are 40 years old, so no retail store needed to buy them online.

Interesting as VPI just came out with a DD TT.

Dear @spiritofmusic  : ""   I can't think of anyone trying out tts in a retail store and moving the same cart from one tt to the next..."""

me neither but when you own two different TT/tonearms you can make comparison of a cartridge performance with each of those TT/tonearms. 

According the ML room/system Agon pictures he mounted ( at least pictured. ) the same cartridge with today 2 different TT/tonearms.
Again, not at a retail store.

R.

Aha Raul, I neglected to consider owners of multiple tts. 

I have to put a word on belt driven tables. The biggest mistake in my eyes is that most TT-builders only use a one sided configuration regarding the motor issue. You need to have at least two motors on both sides to counterbalance the drift of the belt. On smaller tables you might not hear a difference but in the field of excellent High End tables it does! From my three belt driven tables two incorporate a both sided motor design. Just imagine you go for the most expensive TT, the Techdas Zero for 400 K and it does come only with one motor? No one mentioned the vector issue etc. I have now implemented the most expensive tonearm on one of my designs. You may have a look under AudioCirc.

best
E.