Which vintage direct drive?

I too use a Trans-Fi. Actually, two of them. Both on belt-drive turntables which are directly coupled to a slate table and thence to concrete and bedrock.

Suggest that you consider belt drive. I tried a quality vintage DD, and it was notably inferior to the belt drives - but then again, they (the belt drives) were far more money.

Good choice on the Trans-Fi, IMO. Best deal in high end.

As for the SUT, I too would be cautious. There’s a lot of EMI happening just under the platter (hence just under the cartridge), and a low output MC might pick it up. Maybe just enough to degrade performance without obvious symptoms like hum - which is pretty much the worse case, because you’ll never know what to improve.

Just a theoretical thought, no data to back it up.

Wolfie, I didn’t pay too much attention after I mounted the air bearing tonearm and listened for a minute - it was one of the second tier Technics, maybe an SL1500 mk2. Anyway, compared to the Nottingham Mentor (Dais bearing, modern motor controller), the DD was unlistenably coarse. To me. In my system.

I bought the Technics because it was real cheap and I wanted a second TT - but the Technics was not the answer, so I gave it away. Kept the Trans-Fi arm.

And agreed about the NA tonearm. About as adjustable as a concrete block.