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Is Direct Drive Really Better?

I've been reading and hearing more and more about the superiority of direct drive because it drives the platter rather than dragging it along by belt. It actually makes some sense if you think about cars. Belt drives rely on momentum from a heavy platter to cruise through tight spots. Direct drive actually powers the platter. Opinions?
macrojack
phd
1,322 posts
 
Ok I'll rewind. A few years ago I owned a direct drive turntable, couldn't get much volume due to rumble, I thought the speakers were going to come unglued. Switched to a belt drive turntable & life was much better. Maybe more current direct drive designs have improved.
macrojack OP
1,303 posts
 
Phd- Isolation has improved as we have become more aware of it. Your direct drive experience might have been due to feedback. Or it could have been an inexpensive direct drive. Several posters have noted that cheapo DD tables tarnished the rep of the genre back in the day.
phd
1,322 posts
 
Another thing, one only has to look at the specs between a belt drive & direct drive to see a clear improvement in wow & flutter specs. I would think that when the platter is part of the motor which is the case in direct drive, this would be the kiss of death.
rwwear
2,873 posts
 
My SP-10MKIII is as quiet or quieter than anything I've heard and I've heard a lot. Phd have you read this thread from the beginning?
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Raul: "BM" for "brain-masturbation"? (Well, I guess those who've got... BTW, "BM" is already taken my man, or didn't you know? Or maybe you meant it that way? Classy!)

Look, it's regrettable you can't handle being disagreed with in good grace, but I stand by my comments. Speed-stability is the crucial issue, not speed-accuracy within reasonable limits. IMO.

Of course it's better to be more accurate, and 0.001% is speed-accurate. So is 0.01%. So is 0.1% -- that equals a mere 1Hz error for a 1,000Hz tone, which if constant has zero perceptible impact on the listening experience. Even a 1% static error alters the essential character of the music only very slightly, and even then usually only in direct comparison with the correct speed. 0.001% vs. 0.002% baseline inaccuracy means nothing, you cannot hear the difference. And it's not even worth getting into how valid or comparable the claimed specs you're throwing around here are anyway -- probably half of those quoted mean nothing as well. Judging from your posts, you seem to think that listing specs somehow qualifies as "scientific" as you say, or is a substitute for making a cogent argument. Guess we could call that "SM" if it hadn't already been taken. "With all respect", Ciao.
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