Direct Drive


I am firmly in the digital camp, but I’ve dabbled in vinyl.  Back in the day I was fascinated by Technics Direct Drive tt, but couldn’t afford them.  I was stuck with my entry level Gerrard.  I have been sans turntable for about 5 years now but the new gear bug is biting.  I am interested in the Technics 1500 which comes with an Ortofon Red and included pre amp.  I have owned Rega P5 which I hated for its speed instability and a Clearaudio Concept which was boring as hell.

  Direct Drive was an anathema to audiophiles in the nineties but every time I heard  one it knocked my socks off.  What do the analogers here think of Direct Drive?  I listen to Classical Music exclusively 

mahler123

A direct drive transmits motion to a system or object requiring actuation without the use of any further mechanical components.

Whatever Harry Weisfeld wrote on Audiokarma, it cannot be accessed unless one is registered over there.

Sunnydas1, what is your point? In a direct drive turntable, you can think of the platter as the rotor part of a typical motor.  As in a classical motor, the rotor is driven by the stator due to electromagnetic interaction.  Nothing physically touches the rotor (in this case, synonymous with the platter) in a motor.

At entry-level, I would start with a Technics SL-1200 Mk2 (one that was not used and abused by club DJ's), there are some out there that were not used by a DJ and start there, and you should get one of those for $500.00 or so, and start with an Ortofon 2M Blue and go up from there (a Denon DL103 or better comes to mind here).

Further up the food chain, I would then hunt for a Technics SP-10, use whatever tonearm that sonically pleases you, then start with a Denon DL Series Phono Cartridge and go on from there.  
 

Don't forget not skimp on the phono stage while you're at it.  I do like the Sutherland Phono Stages.  Maybe overkill for the SL-1200 Mk2 depending on which model you select.  Now, with an SP-10?  You're good then.  Don't want to spend a King's ransom on a phono stage (which I don't), then I would look for a PS Audio GCPH that's also well kept.  Those were $1,000.00 when they were brand new, but you should be able to find one for $500.00 or less now.

Good Luck and Happy Listening.


--Charles--

@chaskelljr2001 - you match the phono stage to the cartridge - it has nothing to do with the turntable. I have the Sutherland Insight LPS and really like how quiet it is, and it's very straightforward design. Matches nicely with my van den Hul One Special. Plus Ron Sutherland is a great guy and will be glad to talk to anyone - he picks up his phone! It's a one man company with the manufacturer local to him so he can insure quality. He talked me through the install of the LPS, (which I got directly from him) in my Insight after I got a nice deal on a basic used one (under $1K). I couldn't believe the time he took with me for a $350 purchase.