Direct Drive vs. Idler Drive vs. Belt drive

Is the Technics SP10 enough for me to experience many of the qualities direct drive has to offer?

Mike
How are all your new turntables comparing to your reel to reel? I’m on a similar journey with reel to reel as I am with vinyl.

@scar972

there are three different SP-10’s. the Mk2, Mk3 and new R.

and the MK3 and new ’R’ are 2 of the better direct drive choices. they can be very very good with the proper plinth. the MK3 also benefits from power supply upgrades.

i owned a Mk2 and a Mk3, both with Dobbins plinths, back in 2009-2011 and enjoyed them both

assuming you are referring to a Mk2; a step down from those other 2......but.....yes, if it is in good condition with a good quality high mass plinth then it should be able to display the positive aspects of direct drive. it is a great bang for the buck choice. the SP-10 Mk2 can be low noise and explosive sounding and a good one likely betters most under $10k new turntables i’ve heard overall.

as far as RTR and my turntables; the very best tapes are still better.......especially the 1/2", 15ips.; but my vinyl can now be equal or better than many of my tapes that use to be superior. the gap has closed to some degree. these days i am very selective about adding any tape due to this issue.

I’m wondering how can you say anything about "sound" of the drive itself if you can’t put this different type of drives in the same turntable ?

Most likely you’re comparing completely different turntable, no only with different drive system and plinth, but also with different tonearms, platter, armboards and cartridges.

I know only one modern turntable with two optional drive system inside it (Friction or belt, two direct current DC motors) user can switch between them, this turntable is Reed 3C . And when you can change the drive in the SAME turntable then you can say which one is better for your ears.

WATCH THIS VIDEO

But how can you say which drive is beter if your turntables are different (not only the drive is different) ?

You can say which turntable you like, but not the drive alone. Because same drive system can be awful on another turntable.

@scar972 If you want both optional drive in one turntable buy Reed and decide what you like, this will be a fair comparison, the rest is just speculation.

P.S. I'm happy with top quality Japanese vintage Direct Drive like Denon DP-80, Luxman PD-444, Technics SP-10mkII, Victor TT-101 ... and i want to assure they are all amazing. Motor vibration or bearing noise ... it is all myth and fear coming from belt drive users. 

@tzh21y

"Wow, you have sensitive ears. LOL"

The motor was naked for display purposes, and I held it next to my ear. The 2W precision motor was silent in the same test.

@chakster 

"Motor vibration or bearing noise ... it is all myth and fear coming from belt drive users."

No, it is demonstrable.

I have owned all three drive types, and am of the opinion that the DD tables such as the Denon DP 75 and 80 are an excellent value. I suspect the two part platter isolates the record and cartridge interface from the effects of motor vibration that has a direct pathway in many DD table designs. 

Now my personal tables are a Sota Cosmos Eclipse and a Well Tempered Reference, both belt drives of course. Both sound excellent, and offer quality sound. The Sota with the Phoenix Engineering speed control devices has solid sped stability, and even the WTR has no significant speed variations to be heard. There are other advantages to each design that seem to outweigh any limitations to drive design. 

I had divested myself of the Japanese legcy direct drive tables in my system. However, I could not be helped, and I bought a Brinkmann Bardo DD table. It does not use the high torque design of the Japanese tables, and the platter mass is in the 20 pound range. Start up times is similar to a belt drive table, and torque is noticeably lower. However this is a wonderful sounding table. I use an Audiomods Series 6 arm on it with a Ortofon A90, and this table is the most evenly balanced table I have heard. It sounds eerily similar to the Sota, with perhaps a bit more sharpness on the corners of notes. Yes it is like good CD or good tape in presentation. 

All drive formats have the ability to deliver excellent sound. Listen to them, and pick the ones that speak to your heart.