Well Ketchup, I'm a relative newcomer, amongst the really heavy players here.
I'm in a way not too ashamed to realize that I don't even have brass ears in comparison to Doug Deacon, Paul, or many others here, my ears are actually "tin ears", really bottom of the barrel so to speak! lol
All the different drive systems I've read of which are very intriguing. Tape drives, strig drives, floss drives, velt drives, rim drives, idler pulleys out the wazoo, SAMA's, does it ever end!!!
I'm almost thinking of upgrading to a G-String Drive, when my buddies are over, just to impress them, and make my table a real conversation piece! Naw, I'm just joshing with you folks in jest! :-)
I would "assume" Platters that have heavy weight, and high mass would lessen the effect of speed anomalies, with stretch, and transients affecting speed. I wonder, how could a short few millisecond transient affect a 25lb Platter much? Can it be "heard"? Can it even be measured?
Not to ever be insulting to my good friend Doug, and Paul, because I highly respect thier opinions, and thier help they have peronally given me, but does one really want to listen this intently, as to somehow nitpick away at every little flaw, and detract from what we all try to achieve, and that is, relaxation, and enjoyment when we listen to our vinyl?
I think Doug, Paul, and all will agree, it can never be "perfect", but we all try as hard as we can, to come aweful darn close. Mark