"If you want to buy a direct drive turntable you might as well buy a digital front end - its the same sound."
Bill, I totally agree with you, ABSURD. what a lack of understanding displayed by that statement.
I say: Analog does overtones, time and volume delay better than digital. Getting the speed PERFECT for the fundamental yields perfectly timed overtones.
Perfect speed, highly desirable (look at all the belt drive speed controllers) has nothing to do with platter weight, bearing design, isolation techniques, arm design, cartridge, phono stage, all the things that vary the audible results in the TT world.