Direct Drive vs. Idler Drive vs. Belt drive

Mike, I do not think it takes such heroic construction to make a synchronous or three phase motor drive to function at the state of the art. Those of us that do not have the kind of resources you have have a host of choices that also include adequate isolation unlike your Saskia and CS Port turntables which will freely pass on environmental rumble unless you have placed them on an isolation platform, an additional expense. 

@mijostyn,

agree completely.

i intentionally did not mention dollars, but degree of effort. it’s not trivial to have the right bearing/platter/plinth/motor assembly to get a great result.

there are many giant killer turntables. but lots of ordinary ones too.

just having a belt or idler and no servo is not sufficient.

regarding the CS Port LFT1 it has considerable mass (both plinth and platter) and an air film suspension and air bearing (low flow, low pressure) all contributing to low noise.

the Saskia has a 180 pound plinth + 40 pound platter and built in suspension. all that mass in all the right places does help to make it easily the quietest idler i’ve heard.

but there are pressings where my active shelf takes the NVS to another level of precision.

both the CS Port and Saskia might benefit from a Stacore shelf. i say ’might’ because with isolation you have to try it to know whether it helps.

@mikelavigne 
Have you done the spin test with any of your current TT’s Mike ?
I disconnected the belt from my Maplenoll yesterday, and gave the 100 lb platter a spin. It took 45 min before it was stopped completely, i was expecting 10 min or something like that.

@kps25sc

no; not done that. would guess that the CS Port, with it’s air bearing and air film, would go on for a while.

if/when i do it i will report.

don't expect that the Saskia idler would be good at that. as i recall Win said it has some designed in resistance in the bearing. those design subtleties are beyond me. i might have misunderstood.

congrats on the Maplenoll tt, not heard one myself but they are legends.

The CS Port looks like a much better built Maplenoll. Heavy plinth, air bearing, belt drive and integrated air LT arm. Most Maplenoll’s where badly finished, and the pumps where nightmares. High pressure pumps where made out of oil lubricated refrigerator pumps and would leave your listening room smelling like a machine shop. But like old American cars they can be modded into amazing performance, they are simple constructions that work well.