CDP Belt drive

Well in many ways same as a belt driven analog TT slipping,stretching,speed instability, and I am sure their are many here that can name a few more. I have heard a Parasound many years ago don't remember model but it was musical and built very well. But like any highend design it had it's Plus and minus depends on what you are willing to live with.

The rhythm and pace of the music can sound a little slower giving the belt drive a sound that seems more analog. The direct drive units can seem to have more detail and dynamics.

These are generalizations as you have to hear each in your system. The tube Metronome CDPs also have a more analog sound to them but they also loose some of the details and dynamics.
It all comes down to the sound you prefer in your system.

Happy Listening.

Vinyl is CAV (constant angular velocity) which means the speed is constant. When it comes to CAV you need to have as precise as possible constant rotation speed. This is why belt drive can be used, which also helps eliminating the vibrations from the motor drive.

Digital formats CD, DVD, SACD are CLV (constant linear velocity) which means the rotation constantly changes preserving the linear speed constant. It is controlled by a servo system. Earlier CD players used slow and noisy analog servo systems, the newer ones use super-fast digital servos. This contributes to reduced jitter induced by the servo system.

This said, it is strange to me that someone would design a belt driven CD transport since it will not be capable of fast and accurate speed changes needed for proper speed control.

So I vote for direct drive.

Regards,
Alex