Is Direct Drive Really Better?

I must apologize. It is "audiobuddy" of course.

I don't disagree with any of what Tom has said here, but I do think it would be reactionary to suppose that there is a looming "specs war" afoot regarding turntables. First of all, almost the entire market today for the type of turntables we are talking about consists of audiophiles, and that is not analogous to the situation with mass-market amps in the 70's. (In fact, I believe I'm correct in saying that the THD wars were one of the driving forces behind the true emergence of "the high end" as an alternative, and essentially separate, market for audiophiles.)

Secondly, just because specs were abused or misused once, and we learned to be wary of them, doesn't mean that all measurements are worthless (not that Tom said they were). The wow & flutter measurement could certainly stand some improvement as a protocol, but there's nothing wrong with the idea of meausuring turntable speed-distortion, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and trying to correlate that with audible performance and manufacturing and design practices.

And I think there's no quibbling that in theory, a turntable with lower and/or more benign speed-distortions is better *in that respect* than one with higher and/or more malign speed-distortions. Unlike with amp THD, I don't think there's anybody ready to argue that certain kinds of TT speed-distortions are actually euphonic or restorative in some way, or that designing to lower them will necessarily compromise some other area of performance. (In fact, all ultra-premium TT's are ostensibly designed to minimize speed-distortions, whether they succeed or not.)

Also, there's a difference between independent testing and "specs", given by manufacturers and often not worth the paper they're printed on -- especially regarding analog transducers (think speakers) -- in terms of reliability, stating of parameters, or use of a consistent industry protocol. Since turntables (and cartridges) have become such an essential feature of the audiophile landscape once again, the fact that none of these often-expensive components gets measured seems a dereliction of duty by the audiophile press. (Well, I guess by Stereophile anyway, but it seems unfair to single them out just because they're almost the only audiophile publication remaining that tests for anything at all anymore.) I think it would give particular insight to test turntable resonance, showing spectral distribution, amplitude and duration of inherent modes, and resistance to external stimulus.

Zaikesman,
I agree, as long as everything is done properly in the testing, that a good turntable speed consistency is a good thing. Of course, also in keeping with all the other necessary attributes.

I only bring up the caution to not get into a "tunnel vision" approach to things.

Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I have been around audiophiles long enough to know that they tend to get "extremist" about certain things. I think it is important to emphasize good overall performance of the system as a whole. Because a very good overall implementation may very well outperform an implementation that excels only in one area.

Not trying to put a damper on things, but just trying to bring a note of caution into the discussion.

Nothing much to worry about, TWL. The existing stock of affordable DD tables is small and stable and the concensus here says that mass produced DD will never again be seen. So there really isn't much need for concern about buyers responding to a wrong impression about superiority.
The reference to spec wars was funny. I still have a copy of the October, 1987 Audio Magazine Annual Equipment Directory(The Industry Bible) boasting on the cover that it contains more than 4,300products and over 75,000 specs.
What a feast for numbers people. 62 Hz, 89 rpm, 16%. WOW! Doesn't that just give you goosebumps?

"62 Hz, 89 rpm, 16%. WOW!" LOL!

But: "The existing stock of affordable DD tables is small and stable and the concensus here says that mass produced DD will never again be seen."

The stock of new SL-1200's is virtually unlimited and will be mass-produced seemingly forever.