Is Direct Drive Really Better?

Thanks. Very interesting. It'd be fun some day (this is pure fantasy) to have a show-down of the three formats (idler included). Everyone bring their tweaked, DIY examples, categorize them by some leveling criteria (price?) and let it rip. Of course, we'd have to hire enough security to keep things peaceful, but it'd be a hoot to hear the show. And congrats for nurturing a most entertaining and educational thread.

It wouldn't prove anything I don't think, but it certainly would be interesting. You would want identical arms and cartridges, equally broken in and meticulously set up to the same exacting parameters. But even if you couldn't manage that, you would probably discern the differences in overall sonic character between the three. Doing it blind would be a good thing since many of us clearly carry expectations with us when it comes to this topic. Does anyone here have the wherewithal to organize such a comparison?

Drubin,
You've hit upon a great idea. Talk about a crowd attraction. Denver is pretty central in terms of U.S. geography and RMAF in October would be a terrific site since it is likely that the principal competitors might all be there anyway. The only hangups would be classification and maybe ground rules.
Should we start a new thread for this topic or just keep going here? Obviously we would see older and probably reconditioned models for Idler Drive and no holds barred new stuff for belt. I imagine that it would be NOS DDs unless the Monaco might show up. Who are going to be the judges? Will it be a panel like in the Olympics where each judge holds up a card with their score and then we average them?
More comments and ideas, please.

Those coming to Denver will get to hear the exact same table, arm and cart with belt vs. direct drive. It's a simple matter with the new prototype to switch between belt and direct drive. But I hasten to add that this still will not mean much about the debate at hand. The motor and controller topology is completely different. So people will be hearing motor differences along with the belt vs direct differences. I suspect that in this case the motor/controller differences will have a larger impact than the drive method.

There seems to be a lot of religion about drive methods, but I see it as just a small part of the equation. The motor/controller design and characteristics are at least equally important. Rather than taking our direct drive development as an endorsement of the drive method it would be more accurate to say that we have developed a promising new motor and we are implementing it with direct drive. A suble but important difference.

And, that Denver trip is less than 10 days away! I'm salivating all over the keyboard just thinking about it!

Microjack, if you'll allow me an observation. I get the impression that your real motivation for starting this thread, and coming to some of the conclusions you seem to have, was to somehow justify doing what you wanted to do. Sell your current table and buy a table that you had your eye, or curiosity, on. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I'm much the same way. However, there is a pervasive theme through many of the well thought out posts here. That is, all of the popular drives have their benefits and short-comings, it still comes down to implementation of the whole table.

Personally, I'd be much more interested in a shoot out between your Druids and a few other well regarded speakers. Not trying to hi-jack the thread, but the Zu's do have my interest.