4 ms·

I am guessing that this turntable won't need isolation dampers to prevent needle jumping?! But on a more serious note, I have always been intrigued as to why t

I am guessing that this turntable won't need isolation dampers to prevent needle jumping?! But on a more serious note, I have always been intrigued as to why the majority of turntables still seem to rely on a belt drive system that goes back many decades. Surely modern technology has come up with a reliable direct drive motor that can better regulate the torque and RPM requirements of the platter, as well as offer better stability? Is it similar to the 'digital versus vacuum tubes' type arguments that are prevalent on guitar amp discussion forums?

vortico 8y ago
Of course, you can find direct drive brushless motors on higher-end models, but the truth is that they're more expensive, so when you're trying to make a sale to most customers who just want to spend a couple hundred bucks, they don't care about direct drive. Direct drive is certainly better and more reliable than any belt system. Very low flutter and wow.
- bashinator 8y ago
  Not to mention DJing requires direct drive for the better torque leading to lower latency for beat matching and scratching and the like.
  - crtasm 8y ago
    It's perfectly possible to beat match on belt drive but yes, not something you'd ever want to use over direct.
stan_rogers 8y ago
No. Direct-drive setups are prone to "cogging", where increasing the mass of the platter to make it a sufficiently effective flywheel verges on the ridiculous. (This being high-end audio, you can take it for granted that ridiculous has been striven for and achieved on more than one occasion.) A belt drive has smoothing built in, though it still requires a massive platter, a motor with enough torque and a belt that isn't actually sloppy/springy. You can get to the same place with less mass and at lower cost.
- KozmoNau7 8y ago
  I use a late-70s direct drive turntable (CEC DD-8200), from before the era of fancy quartz lock tables. There is no cogging at all, speed stability is exemplary and the platter is not some sort of 10kg monstrosity. The whole thing about cogging in DD turntables was a rumor started by European boutique manufacturers, because they couldt compete with the R&D budgets and engineering employed by big companies like Technics/National, Sony, Denon, CEC, Pioneer, Mikro Seiki and others. It's a non-issue on any decent DD table. Cogging only happens in bargain basement tables, such as the cheapest modern USB lightweight plastic DJ-marketed tables. Super OEM tables are fine though.
mosiuerbarso 8y ago
It similar to the 'digital versus vacuum tubes'. Many people don't realize that you can turn a technics 1200/1210 into a great hi-fi turntable. They are highly upgradable. People just assume because these decks were designed for DJ'ing they can't possibly sound good. I used to be a member of this forum: https://theartofsound.net https://theartofsound.net. There are guys on there who have spent a few thousand upgrading their technics. New tonearms, platters, motors, and other stuff. And they thought their upgraded 1200/1210 sounded better than belt drive decks which were 4X or 5X more expensive. I have an upgraded Technics Mk5. I've only spent a few hundred on it but it's the best sound deck I've ever heard.
- KozmoNau7 8y ago
  There is no point in "upgrading" an SL-1200 Mk2 and onwards. The motor, tonearm and all associated components are already top of the line. But because they were made by a big corp, audiophiles erroneously think they're not high quality.

vortico 8y ago

Of course, you can find direct drive brushless motors on higher-end models, but the truth is that they're more expensive, so when you're trying to make a sale to most customers who just want to spend a couple hundred bucks, they don't care about direct drive. Direct drive is certainly better and more reliable than any belt system. Very low flutter and wow.

bashinator 8y ago
Not to mention DJing requires direct drive for the better torque leading to lower latency for beat matching and scratching and the like.
- crtasm 8y ago
  It's perfectly possible to beat match on belt drive but yes, not something you'd ever want to use over direct.

stan_rogers 8y ago

No. Direct-drive setups are prone to "cogging", where increasing the mass of the platter to make it a sufficiently effective flywheel verges on the ridiculous. (This being high-end audio, you can take it for granted that ridiculous has been striven for and achieved on more than one occasion.) A belt drive has smoothing built in, though it still requires a massive platter, a motor with enough torque and a belt that isn't actually sloppy/springy. You can get to the same place with less mass and at lower cost.

KozmoNau7 8y ago
I use a late-70s direct drive turntable (CEC DD-8200), from before the era of fancy quartz lock tables. There is no cogging at all, speed stability is exemplary and the platter is not some sort of 10kg monstrosity. The whole thing about cogging in DD turntables was a rumor started by European boutique manufacturers, because they couldt compete with the R&D budgets and engineering employed by big companies like Technics/National, Sony, Denon, CEC, Pioneer, Mikro Seiki and others. It's a non-issue on any decent DD table. Cogging only happens in bargain basement tables, such as the cheapest modern USB lightweight plastic DJ-marketed tables. Super OEM tables are fine though.

mosiuerbarso 8y ago

It similar to the 'digital versus vacuum tubes'. Many people don't realize that you can turn a technics 1200/1210 into a great hi-fi turntable. They are highly upgradable. People just assume because these decks were designed for DJ'ing they can't possibly sound good. I used to be a member of this forum: https://theartofsound.net https://theartofsound.net. There are guys on there who have spent a few thousand upgrading their technics. New tonearms, platters, motors, and other stuff. And they thought their upgraded 1200/1210 sounded better than belt drive decks which were 4X or 5X more expensive. I have an upgraded Technics Mk5. I've only spent a few hundred on it but it's the best sound deck I've ever heard.

KozmoNau7 8y ago
There is no point in "upgrading" an SL-1200 Mk2 and onwards. The motor, tonearm and all associated components are already top of the line. But because they were made by a big corp, audiophiles erroneously think they're not high quality.