Thanks for that advert. I studied it a bit more and noticed all except the rondine delux used the same motor, with the “custom built hysteresis synchronous motor” in only the rondine deluxe, which gets the better s/n. All the others indicate a “ new design hysteresis synchronous motor” and when they do, the idlers are about the same as the belt driven ones. Also supporting the theory that its the motor is that the rondine with the induction motor is significantly worse than all the others. It appears idler vs belt does not make a difference, but a motor does.
i didn’t have to replace my belt to quiet it but on a rim drive, i would be surprised if someone wouldn’t have to replace/rebuild the idler to get it useable (at least that has been the case with rim drives i’ve been exposed to. No rondines, but i have spent some time around a lenco and a stanton rimdrive - which i still own mostly because that mag levitations is neat and I’m a sucker for unique)
and i really don’t have a reference back to my k-33h’s stock, so maybe if i went back, i wouldn’t be so happy.