Idler vs Belt vs Direct Drive (merged topic)

[flavio81]

My lencos are currently with the standard flimsy wooden plinths and
the sound quality is still very good. Of course i will replinth them!

Hi,

YMMV, but IMO experience with a Lenco, including due to frustration
updating the arm to the same apparent one as fitted to this RD11S

I am using the stock tonearm with great results.



After replacing v-blocks and careful balancing, of course.

I'd take the AR EB101 any day of the week. The Lenco did not
sound bad, but it did not sound good either, nothing like the
sound I can get out of a decent modded / tweaked bouncer.

The lenco should be plinted without those horrible springs. Or perhaps you are a genius in modding belt drives!

[Rap]

FWIW I can run an electric razor on my Lenco with the needle sitting on a non spinning platter, turn the volume to max and not hear a thing. It's all in the implementation, DD, Belt or Idler, they can all be made to sing.

[flavio81]

The oddball DUAL 701 (Direct Drive, but suspended, and no quartz lock) sounded pretty good to me in the end after substantial efforts to improve it (new heavier plinth, another few lbs of modeling clay inside to damp that, constrained layer damping on the tonearm). I didn't notice any pitch irregularity on this one...and it had a HUGE soundstage as suspended decks often have.

Hmmm... Someone offered me a rusty Dual 701... Should i take it then? Hmmmmm

[Rap]

Idlers? - not tried. Before I drop dead I will, tho...so intriguing to me

John

You should, they have great fun factor.

[flavio81]

Idlers? - not tried. Before I drop dead I will, tho...so intriguing to me

John

You should, they have great fun factor.

Quoted for truth!!

[hifidaddy]

...
Perhaps most important (and cheapest) of all was the addition of a Siemens inverter, which allows you to connect the motor in tri-phase, thereby practically eliminating any vibrations stemming from the motor (all EMT 930 motors I have seen vibrated more with the simulated third phase, which is part of the standard design). All of this together added detail and finesse compared to the standard version.
...

Hi,

could you please provide information about which Siemens inverter you used.

thanks,
Hartmut

[flavio81]

Idler versus Belt? Idler drive turntables by far!! z

[cafe latte]

[quote="ambok"]You're missing a DD turntable Wink


Yes but that would be no contest wink wink wink
Happy new year everyone

[KentT]

For moi, Idler drive first, direct drive next, belt drives mostly last.

[cids]

[quote="tresaino"]Ever had a chance to compare a top idler wheel with a top belt driven turntable? We just did an ultimate test, and I believe this may interest some of you.

We compared my idler wheel EMT 930, tweaked over the years to peak performance (with isolation base, glass platter, and, perhaps most important of all, an inverter), with a TW Acustic Raven AC. The Raven AC is considered by many as one of the best belt driven turntables currently on the market, and we listened to its top incarnation, with three motors and microprocessor controlled ....'

I see that you replaced the original EMT 929 tonearm with a FR64 S ??? What do you gain by replacing the EMT 929 with FR64 ? Do they share the same size mounting hole ? I'm a EMT 930st(50Hz) owner but the TT is not in operation yet since I still need to find a solution to make in work in my 60Hz environment. I need some info. on the inverter. Can u help ?

You can e-mail me privately if you like.

[Audie]

Belt / Idler /DD ? Which is best? I have/had good examples of each, Lurne/ Garrard/ Goldmund and Micro Seiki, and have enjoyed them equally. I currently mainly listen to a Garrard 301 or an Audiomeca Lurne J4 in my system, which I am currently upgrading with a new diy DACT phono preamp and Dussun V8i amplifier plus good interconnects, including JPS Labs Superconductor 3 (in the mail).

With these upgrades, I should be better able to hear if there are any significient differences between them.
The lurne/SME V/ Koetsu Rosewood (heavy original and van den Hulled) already sounds fabuluous with Audioquest Amazon (silver) tonearm interconnect and Synergistic Research Tesla Au79 IC DACT phono to Integrated amp,

Probably, both turntables will sound better than before and equally enjoyable, but each with their own strengths. So nothing will have changed - having both types of drives is the best of both worlds - this is what I have thought all along.

The Dussun V8i amplifier is very neutral sounding, and will not obscure any differences between the T/Ts .

Audie.

[Blue Angel]

Belt / Idler /DD ? Which is best? I have/had good examples of each, Lurne/ Garrard/ Goldmund and Micro Seiki, and have enjoyed them equally. I currently mainly listen to a Garrard 301 or an Audiomeca Lurne J4 in my system, which I am currently upgrading with a new diy DACT phono preamp and Dussun V8i amplifier plus good interconnects, including JPS Labs Superconductor 3 (in the mail).

With these upgrades, I should be better able to hear if there are any significient differences between them.
The lurne/SME V/ Koetsu Rosewood (heavy original and van den Hulled) already sounds fabuluous with Audioquest Amazon (silver) tonearm interconnect and Synergistic Research Tesla Au79 IC DACT phono to Integrated amp,

Probably, both turntables will sound better than before and equally enjoyable, but each with their own strengths. So nothing will have changed - having both types of drives is the best of both worlds - this is what I have thought all along.

The Dussun V8i amplifier is very neutral sounding, and will not obscure any differences between the T/Ts .

Audie.

Quite, Audie

I couldn't agree more

DD, belt and idler offer the best of all worlds - provided each typeis a decent example of its technology. And of course properly set up and with suitable arms.

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[Audie]

Blue Angel wrote:

DD, belt and idler offer the best of all worlds/

Hi Blue Angel! I have a Micro Seiki DDX1000 TT that sits idle because my system racks only have space for two turntables. When I built my home I had planned to also build a separate building for my music where i could have as many turntables and Hi Fi gear running that I fancied

That has not eventuated, but the optomist in me has not given up on the idea.

MY Garrard 301 is due for a complete overhaul so I will have an opportunity to listen to the Micro Seiki then.

Audie.

[DJO]

And of course you can easily identify which TT is running during blindtests. Congratulations.