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Idler, Belt, or Direct Drive... What's Best?

131east23

131east23

...near Frank's Pizza!
I see a lot of interest in Garrard 301 and 401 TT's, Thorens' TD 124 and variants. Is there a real advantage to idler drive TT's or perhaps, is it just the over-all quality of these tables that make them so desirable?

(I used to think I knew something about stereo gear but this site has really humbled me. It's also made me pull all the vinyl out of the closet and get the TT running up to snuff.)

Thanks!
 
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No one design approach is any better than the other, IMHO. You've got excellent examples of each across the years. Machining and tolerances are everything for most of these mechanical beasts and the Thorens, SME and others who specialized in such craft did great jobs that are still held in high regard today.

I also believe that direct drive turntables can be just as well regarded. While the electronic complexity is far higher with DD 'tables, the machining costs are far lower to meet the same spec.

So, essentially, you have choices today but no one that's better than the other. This really isn't a bad thing given that vinyl ceased to be the major media for distribution decades ago.

Cheers,

David
 
I agree with dshoaf. It's not about the design, it's about the implementation of it. There are excellent examples of all. And, also, bad examples.
 
My Dual 1219 is a nice idler drive TT with a massive platter. It's a great sounding table. It sounds different than my belt drives and DD tables in that dynamics seem a little punchier. I feel they are great for Rock music or any music that has rhythmic swing. I would characterize my Belt Drive tables as perceptively more laid back, and my direct drive tables seem the most neutral in feel, but not tonicity.
 
Do you love a big, lively toe tapping presentation. If so, you love PRAT (Pace, Rhythm, and Timing). If so, a good idler turntable is something you might like. The turntables you mention are among the best ever made. In their day, they were the top of the line. There's superb examples and horrible examples of all 3 types of drive.
 
When I was growing up in the seventies, i remember idler drive being considered sort of obsolete; the kind of thing chiefly useful for changers. The more modern technology was belt drive and then direct drive.

Of course, a little later, vinyl records were considered obsolete, and the modern technology was the CD. So much for modern technology.

However, I've gathered through the years that a truly first rate belt drive or direct drive will be better than a first rate idler drive; there's that idler wheel to give more intimate contact with a noisy, vibrating motor.

But real life is rarely cutting edge, so there's probably a lot of overlap among the designs. Besides, I'd still be much more interested in high tonearm quality, because it's got such a tough job to do.
 
Idler drive was available mostly on changers. The good ones I heard no rumble, while the bad ones rumble was heard during the low passages. Belt drive and direct drive are the better technologies to look for.
 
shocley said:
When I was growing up in the seventies, i remember idler drive being considered sort of obsolete; the kind of thing chiefly useful for changers. The more modern technology was belt drive and then direct drive.

Of course, a little later, vinyl records were considered obsolete, and the modern technology was the CD. So much for modern technology.

However, I've gathered through the years that a truly first rate belt drive or direct drive will be better than a first rate idler drive; there's that idler wheel to give more intimate contact with a noisy, vibrating motor.

But real life is rarely cutting edge, so there's probably a lot of overlap among the designs. Besides, I'd still be much more interested in high tonearm quality, because it's got such a tough job to do.
Click to expand...

A lot of the recent popularity with idler drives is among the DIY community, they put them in huge layered plinths to drastically cut down on vibration while retaining the involvement and drive a good high torque motor and heavy platter can bring.

Even without that plinth, there's something to be said for the sound. They are very musical. The beat just drives forward in a way that is different than with a lot (but not all) belt drives. But I think a lot of people are more interested in the silence than the music :D

I've found my VPI Classic to be a belt drive that has the momentum, the PRAT, of an idler drive. Perhaps because it uses a high torque motor and giant platter and heavy plinth.
 
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