I owned a Sota Star Sapphire III with vacuum for many years. It was eclipsed handily by my Nottingham Hyperspace, which revealed to me that piano music does not have to have the wavering pitch that I always heard with the Sota. In fairness, the later Sota products are said to be much better in this regard. But then in turn the Notts was eclipsed by the Lenco and direct-drive, IMO and in my system. Actually the contrast between the SSS III and the Hyperspace may have been greater sound quality-wise than was the contrast between the Hyperspace and Lenco. I think the pitch instability of the SSS was caused by belt stretching as the platter bounced on the spring suspension whilst the motor stayed still because not suspended.
Lespier, Thanks for the information. When I wrote what I wrote, I was thinking of the seminal Papst motor, as used in the Empire tt's. I actually thought that the term "Papst" (Pabst?) refers to a particular motor configuration, patented or invented by someone named Papst, not to a company that makes a wide variety of different kinds of motor. But maybe you are inferring that the Papst type motor can indeed be adapted to direct-drive. Good idea with the Dual motor.
Lespier, Thanks for the information. When I wrote what I wrote, I was thinking of the seminal Papst motor, as used in the Empire tt's. I actually thought that the term "Papst" (Pabst?) refers to a particular motor configuration, patented or invented by someone named Papst, not to a company that makes a wide variety of different kinds of motor. But maybe you are inferring that the Papst type motor can indeed be adapted to direct-drive. Good idea with the Dual motor.