They can all be good depending on the execution of the designer. A well reconditioned idler at a modest price sounds wonderful to these ears.
Is idler drive better than belt drive or direct drive?
I’m sure this subject has been hashed out many times.
I am the proud owner of a Woodsong Garrard 301. Have owned belt drives and, long ago, a direct drive.
Just judging from the physicality of the idler drive and the result, I feel the idler drive gives more impact and drive to the music. This is very appealing. Believe belt drives significantly came into fashion since they are cheaper to make. I know there are several measurements which are less desirable, but the overall sound is most important and desired.
I am the proud owner of a Woodsong Garrard 301. Have owned belt drives and, long ago, a direct drive.
Just judging from the physicality of the idler drive and the result, I feel the idler drive gives more impact and drive to the music. This is very appealing. Believe belt drives significantly came into fashion since they are cheaper to make. I know there are several measurements which are less desirable, but the overall sound is most important and desired.
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What is important is that the turntable have a robust drive that does not slow down when the stylus lands in the groove and the like. So the motor should have a bit of torque! You'll find that the most respected machines have this quality and this is true of vintage machines like the Garrard. They usually also have a platter that is effective as a flywheel. Its also important that the 'table have an effective plinth; effective in that it is both dead (well damped) and rigid in such a way that the bearing of the platter is very well coupled to the base of the tonearm. This insures minimum coloration on account of vibration. |
mijostyn2,419 posts08-17-2020 6:41amHere we go again. 18 hz, on a TT, that would be something... Most of my stuff is cut off at 35-40, just for that reason.. Heck the old 78 stuff, didn't go below 60. There was nothing recorded below that. I have a LOT of the old stuff, sounds wonderful, but 18 hz has ZERO sound, lot of feeling though..:-) 28 hz on a TT, must sound like a train going buy all the time.. I don't push the sub bass issue with TT. I know you can I just don't. Better off with Reel to reel in the analog realm, going REAL low... Regards |
A very informative and interesting YouTube can be pulled up by: “Garrard 301 vs Studer reel to reel”. Not only is this one of the best sound quality MP4s I have heard, it is a great comparison. When he changes from TT to Tape, you don’t want him to go back to TT! Think it is about 15 minutes but well worth the time. |
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