Direct Drive vs. Idler Drive vs. Belt drive

Gawd- the original AR tt was awful. The motor was underpowered; the speed would oscillate back and forth just by setting the arm on the LP. The foam platter pad was a joke but the suspension and drive really needed it to be light. While the bearing location in the arm was an innovation, it was vastly overshadowed by the simple fact that the arm bearings had slop, making it chatter when anything complex showed up in the musical program. The headshell was plastic and over time wore out (from being installed and removed from the arm tube) or warped as it perished. It was a machine that was cleverly built to a price point, and didn't challenge machines like the Empire 208 that were around at the same time.  


Given how innovative AR was at the time, its a bit surprising that they chose to under-serve their concepts as presented in this machine. If they had been a bit more aggressive and upscaled it a bit, they would have built a classic.  

Loosecannon,
do not understand what your are saying, why more mechanical noise by using a passive flywheel? Can you explain?
idler wheel is a great technology but not easy to build and implement. It is much easier to build a „very simple design like the Acoustic Research“ your are promoting. Thorens had similar suspensions as the AR but much better arms.
Have you heard an EMT idler wheel (e.g. 279) or the latest Garrard models - all excellent idler wheels!
best

E.

I have owned many TT over the years and will likely own plenty more... but I think my Garrard 401 is a keeper no matter what else I may buy.
There is just something about the drive and dynamics of a great idler and no Mijo it is not rumble!!!!!

chakster, no joke at all. You should review your audio history. The AR XA was a ground breaking turntable. Not only was it less expensive than everything else. It was also better performing and not by a little. It’s only over site was the lack of anti skate. It is in the Museum of Fine Art and one of the 10 best turntables of all time according to Absolute Sound.

Looks awful and as Ralph pointed in his post the tonearm is awful.

Watch the video and you will never look at an unsuspended turntable again.

In fact my Luxman PD-444 is suspended, for the rest of turntables in my arsenal (Denon DP-80, Victor TT-101) i have excellent AT-616 Pneumatic insulators under the plinth.

Room Rumble. Oracle , Basis , SME, SOTA, Techdas and others followed ARs advice.

Yeah, all those turntables that i don’t like for some reason.

Very interesting thread--thanks everyone who has participated. For those who wish to explore a newcomer to the idler-type turntable marketplace, I have posted Part 1 of my "review" of the Sempersonus TE-2, TW Acustic Raven 12, Charisma Audio Signature One, WyWires Platinum vinyl playback system over on AC. Hopefully, this link will take you there:

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=171102.msg1810956#new

I hope this helps to sustain the discussion.