Is Direct Drive Really Better?

As a proponent of the "niche market" rim drive group, I would suggest that Eldartford omits probably the most important character of the TT-resonance frequencies. I grant that he does mention vibrations. My real question, as always, is how do specs. capture this. Again as always, all I want is to hear the TT. I did hear the Shindo/Garrard 301, and I bought it.

I should say that regardless of how good it sounded, putting it on the Halcyonic base greatly improved it. Again resonances. Would it not be great to have freedom from resonances.

Is it really possible to design the perfect turntable. I think not. I do not agree with Twl, that designers have a hole in their knowledge base. I think it is the knowledge base that has the hole. This and the absence of perfect materials.

Interestingly, were we all willing to convert the signal into digital information immediately, it might be possible for a computer to "remove" non-rigid materials' impacts on sound such as the new telescopes remove the atmosphere's impact on light hitting the mirror. Or remove the resonances of the table, or the LP being off center. All we would have to give up would be analog sound.

Zaikesman, what post does this respond to? I kind of agree with both of you. I sit in performance cringing to singers or violins being off key while most sit unmoved by this, including my wife. Having perfect pitch is a two edged sword. I imagine that three way speakers with an out of phase midrange bothers you also.

I now use a highly modified rim drive and it causes me few problems when listening.

In my last post I had the Shindo Labs turntable, arm, and cartridge. This, of course, was the remodeled Garrard 301 and a rim drive. I now have a Bergman SIndre turntable and arm with the Ortofon A-90 cartridge. It is a belt drive. They sound different.

I must say that I have had enough experience with isolation devices, most recently with the StillPoints Ultra Stainless Steel feet, to realize we are mainly just moving around the vibrations that are coloring our music reproduction. With the StillPoints, I finally know what real isolation means. I have them under my Bergman.

I once heard a good experiment with the same turntable with identical platters except that one was mpingo or ebony and the other acrylic. When the acrylic was put on, everyone said go back to the wood. I would love to hear a similar comparison or other materials for the platter and of rim versus belt and direct drives. Until that time, I love my Bergman.