Is Direct Drive Really Better?

I'm in violent agreement with you about measurements, David. However, when what I hear flies in the face of reason (irregardless of measurements), I want to know why, or at least I want to think it through. That's just me, and it reflects my self-doubting personality.

I'll make a confession that may get me kicked out of the club. I used to believe fiercely in "trust your ears," but I have come to suspect that our ears (mine at least) can sometimes lie to us also. This does not mean that I choose what measures best (I don't pay attention to that), only that I pause and reflect if something doesn't make sense. I may end up choosing components or techniques that don't make sense but sound best to me (e.g., using a linestage). The thing is, I don't do so without first questioning it, and I continue to question it even afterwards.

Drubin,
I have a friend who insists that perception is reality. There's something about the comment that disturbs me but there's nothing there for me to contradict. That said, I certainly wouldn't think to kick you out of the club. In fact, your candor is grounds for promotion. I would guess from your writings that you would be more comfortable with 4yanx in the hearing dept. than with seandtaylor in statistics.
Personally I wouldn't consider a thread successful until it attracted your comments.

4ynx: Do you not understand the difference between "this table/arm/cartridge sounds better to me" and "since this table/arm/cartridge sounds better to me, it's drive system must be better"?

Macrojack, you are one fine gentleman.

Dan, I wrote this dreadfully huge post disagreeing with your presumption that static inaccuracy in baseline speed is more of a factor than dynamic micro-speed variations. I don't want to post it the way it is, so I'm just saying so, and we'll see if I ever elaborate ;^)