Direct drive vs belt vs rim vs idler arm

Just my 2 cents, but I have to agree with Albert, that all three are capable of excellent sound but when executed correctly i'd have to vote for DD. My current setup is a Technics SP 10 in a slate plinth and what you hear is a substantial increase in pace and drive probably secondary to the DD's ability to transfer the motor's torque to the platter and maintain it without issues of stylus drag etc. My prior turntable was a VPI TNT.
The BD manufacture's have, in their way, acknowledged the issue by their efforts to upgrade the BD systems all of which are designed to increase torque transfer and decrease belt compliance.
The VPI platform is an interesting microcosm of the issue. Prior to the introduction of the rim drive option they upgraded the belt material making it stiffer and less compliant which improved pace and drive. A few hearty souls even took it a step further modifying the table to allow for the use of Mylar tape in place of the belt, which improved things even further. The rim drive, when properly executed, takes it further still. Their rim drive though is kind of a hybrid DD, as the motor is connected to the rim drive via a belt.
Happy listening

ZD542

Which DD are good ?
NVS, Technics SP 10MK II & MK III, The Beat, Brinkmann, Rockport, flagship models from Sony, Denon, JVC, Kenwood, Yamaha and Pioneer's top decks to name a few.
Take care,

As with most of the group answering, I own all of the types mentioned, and at many different price points ranging from $8K to $29. My most played TT? Denon 47F, 103 cartridge. As Ron of rotisserie fame tells us, 'set it and forget it.'

Zd542, You are of course entitled to your opinion, as is anyone else, but it would be well to keep your facts straight. Like it or not, in a DD turntable, the motor is not "attached" to the platter in the way you seem to think. Rather, the platter is part of the motor. Typically, the platter is attached to a permanent magnet that revolves around, but makes no contact with, the motor's coils. Thus, nothing at all is in contact with the platter except the bearing, not even a belt. Any well designed DD turntable can compare equally or favorably to any BD turntable, in terms of noise. (In a BD turntable, there really IS an external motor connected to the platter by its noisiest part, its drive shaft, via the belt.) You may still not like DD turntables, but find another reason. Perhaps it sounds better if you use the term "magnetic drive", which seems to be all the rage among hi-end BD turntable makers these days. They are one and the same thing.

I agree with Viridian and (mostly) w/ Albert - execution is everything. I own (and have owned) all three types of decks, and I have had enjoyed some and others less so regardless of their drive type.

I would not necessarily agree with Albert that DD is the best, although I have had some DD decks that I think stack up well with the best BD and ID decks I have heard.

I will say that, IMO, the biggest downside to Idler Drive is that you will spend a lot of money and time (or more money for someone else'e time) to get a deck to sound as good as a top notch DD or BD deck. They are just more complicated machines.

Albertporter,

Can you give an example of a Direct Drive TT that you refer to? I'm not saying you are wrong, I just don't know of any.

Ahhh, three posts and three opinions. Let me be the fourth post and fourth opinion.

All systems at their ultimate execution, direct drive is best. Between idler and belt they are almost perfectly split with dynamics and punch in favor of the idler and signal to noise and simplicity in favor of the belt drive.

Yes, I've owned all three, and multiple versions of each design type.

The worst - by far - is idler drive, followed from DD and best is Thread Drive (when done right).
But there is a Fangroup for everything :-)

Belt drive is much better. When you connect the motor directly to the platter it introduces vibration. There are other things that effect sound quality, as well, but don't think too may people would disagree on the advantages of belt drive.