Are more turntable motors better?

Syntax, I could not have said it better.

Thanks, Guys. I see the new TW Acustic for $$$$$ has 3 motors, so maybe there is some advantage if everything is properly controlled, but, like so many things in our hobby, the answer is probably "it depends."

05-10-09: Klinerm
Thanks, Guys. I see the new TW Acustic for $$$$$ has 3 motors, so maybe there is some advantage if everything is properly controlled, but, like so many things in our hobby, the answer is probably "it depends."

what I noticed about the TW Acustic Raven 3AC was Thomas was using 3 motors to effectively create a platter rim drive. I saw this TT at the RMAF2007 show & I heard it in the dealer's room (Highwater Sound?? - the dealer had a prick of a personality IMO). I cannot comment on the sonics after just hearing it for 10-15 minutes but I noticed what the 3 motors were trying to accomplish - the platter rim drive.
I also notice that many other manuf like Teres & VPI have gotten into rim drives.
Apparently the notion is that the less the surface area of the belt that touches the platter rim, the better as people feel that too much surface area "chokes" the TT sonics. Well, I have no personal experience but am only recounting what I've heard.

yes, probably too much rubber from inferior quality can decrease sound quality. To minimize the contact area will help =)
To move it away from the platter via more motors has a lot of advantages, more money for the manufacturer and better sound.
But with a better belt ($100) you can save a lot of money (honestly, the most).
Or with a better motor.
But you need for everything a good and important explanation.
But please, not from an engineer =)

A point not yet mentioned is that the typical belt drive solution suffers from inherent belt creep which causes loss of dynamics and accuracy. (The key word being "typical") Mark Kelly has outlined this at various places on the Internet. You will find the appropriate math along with those explanations. There are workarounds to reduce belt creep however, and a three motor implementation is one approach. There are at least three other clever approaches to the problem that I have seen that connect the belt in various ways, add components, etc. It is a given that belt condition matters, and although it is an important aspect, it is not the only primary concern.

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=vinyl&n=694199&highlight=belt+creep

*Disclaimer...I manufacture turntables that do not use belts. I mention it, not because anything I have said here is controversial, but so it won't appear that I am attempting to promote any agenda.