Direct Drive vs. Idler Drive vs. Belt drive

Hi Thuchan,
Thanks for giving us this 'current' appraisal of your turntable preferences...😃
As you are a long time connoisseur (and user) of all turntable types....it is valuable for us to hear your experiences.
I must admit I'm slightly surprised that a belt-drive turntable is not amongst your current favourites as you've been a long-time fan of that technology starting with the SOTA big Micro-Seikis....
You also have the SOTA full Air-Bearing Caeles II which is at the forefront of belt-drive technology like the TechDas Airforce Zero....

It would be interesting to hear your impressions of the differences you find in the vintage DD Japanese turntables like the Denon DP-100M and Victor TT-101 compared to the modern Brinkmann Oasis..?

Regards

I would have thought that the Cu Infront would have given it away.....

Nice Post Neil 😃
I have tried over a dozen different platter mats from copper, carbon composite, felt, suede, leather, glass, rubber etc and have found that the MICRO SEIKI Cu180 solid copper mat sounded subjectively 'best' on my VICTOR TT-81 and TT-101 turntables.
I was concerned however, at the increased weight on the relatively lightweight aluminium platters Victor employed.
More importantly....the method of Bi-Directional speed control Victor utilises might surely be compromised by tampering so drastically with the 'mass' of the platter...?
Strangely enough....of all the other mats and materials I tried, the VICTOR PIGSKIN 1mm original platter-mat sounded the closest to the Cu180 🤗
Those Victor Engineers knew their 'onions'.....😃
Jico came out with their own version a few years ago....but using deerskin.
Not as good....😕
My RAVEN AC-2 BD Turntable....because of its solid copper bonded top-plate.....sounds best without any mat.
Regards
Henry

but the case is that this cart has elliptical stylus.

Well, VinylEngine describes it as HYPER-ELLIPTICAL.....
But we can't always trust VinylEngine...🤗
They also use the same description for the 'ordinary' SONY XL-88....
It appears a bit more advanced to me....?