Top ten DD turntables of all time?

It is a mystery to me how a belt drive table "sounds" compared to DD?

Shouldn't all tables sound, well like nothing?

I have a belt drive table. With a good quality pressing, all I hear is the record as delviered by the cartridge in the tonearm. I hear nothing extraneous from the tt itself that I can identify.

I used to sell various belt and direct drive turntables years ago and also do not recall hearing any inherent differences between the two drive mechanisms. I don't even recall other knowledgeable salespersons making such a claim. The turntable was either quiet or not and the sound was a result of the cart, tonearm and record playing.

Can sitting on a solid foundation be a reasonable substitute for having to re-plinth any of these tables?

If sitting on a solid foundation otherwise, does the plinth matter as much?

That might be a more digestible option for those not inclined to perform major surgery on their playback equipment.

Also, how hard is it for a layman to re-plinth a table? I must say it is something that I have never even considered attempting.

T_bone,

Please bear with me in that I am very interested in understanding the practical benefits of a more solid plinth and the effect it has on the sound.

What if I just don't tap and keep the jack hammer in the closet? Can I assume that airborne vibrations due to the music playing only is the cause of concern?

Also, the rigidity of the stock plinths on most of these tables has to be significantly better than a bowl of jello, so I understand the analogy but am not sure the magnitude of issues due to rigidity is comparable.

Also what if the speakers are in a different room than the system compared to in the same room so there is no sonic vibrations either? I have both cases with my system. I also have similar speakers in each room so I suppose I could do some testing to see if I hear a difference in the equipment room versus the other.

What work is involved to integrate table and plinth in the case where table is designed to be re-plinthed versus not? Do I have to take apart the old table somehow to put it in the new plinth? What is involved to put it into the new plinth properly?

T_bone,

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out further.

That Denon looks and sounds like a winner! What does it give up to your other good tables?

In my case the Linn Axis sits on a very heavy and sturdy solid oak table. That and my other main listening room with my biggest/best speaks (the OHM f-5s) are both located in the basement and sit on the concrete foundation above a thin but dense carpet and pad.

I do not think I have vibration issues that are audible, but cannot say for certain.

I can go as loud as Hades in the 12X12 equipment room and get no noticeable noise or feedback off the table. I know though that sonic vibrations can have more subtle effects on sound quality so that would be the area of less certainty for me.

I may do the test where I listen in the room with the table and in the other room where the F-5s are without it and see what I might hear.

I will still put this information regarding DD turntables and plinths in my hat for future reference at a minimum because my Linn Axis will surely not last forever, despite its going strong now since about 1987.

Thanks!