Direct Drive or Belt Drive?

[_Easy_]

Whats the deal? Ive heard them both talked up and i can see the pros and cons of both, but what do you think?

[kukuman]

Belt drives are quiet and best for serious listening and for making digital backups. They're not for playing out or turntablism. Direct drives are the opposite.

[Litelet]

whats the exact difference?

[_Easy_]

the difference is that in direct drive the platter is hooked directly to the motor while in belt, there is a belt between the motor and the platter.

[Litelet]

And what does it change for the sound? I thought it was a particularity of the cell... no?

[gunosantos]

I've always thought the main difference is the amount of time it takes to get to the right speed when you push play...

I believe that the direct drive gets to the right speed faster than belt drive... that's why they're suited for playing in sound systems...

While the belt drive you have to wait about 2 seconds (or 1 complete turn) to get to the right rotation speed, the direct drive goes straight to the right speed in less than 1 turn (or 0.3 sec)...

Besides that, I also believe that belt drive turntables should work quieter than direct drive... but still, it's only minor differences wich, to me, doesn't make a huge difference...

I could easily play on a gig with my belt drive turntable (already did...) and I guess it wouldn't be any problem to have a direct drive plate as my home set.

IMO, both will do the job... but I'd like to hear some more opinions though...

Blessings,

[Jesco77]

Belt drive gives you a more constant speed with no variation, direct drive because of the nature of an electric motor (2 coils of wiring with 2 gaps in between)means it is "freewheeling" part of the way round, so you get minute variations in speed as it slows down for a nanosecond then speds up again... so hi-fi purists used to go for belt drive, but maybe they do turntables with twin motors now, I'm well out of touch!

[wareika]

Direct drive system generate electromagnetic energy (because the motor is under the plater) that affect the cartridge because their is a micro in it. This is exactly the same kind of probleme that the one which occure when you put a micro close to speackers...

All the direct drive system have this problem. You can find some turntable that minor it with some motor protected with expensive system that isolate the motor frome the plater. Otherwise, the only way to reduce it is to lower the treeble. Other issue seems to be a reduction of stereo separation.


wareika

[ganja farmer]

i recently purchased a cheap stanton turntable(100 us dollars)which is belt drive. i have on the other side a direct drive. when mixing or queing a record if you hold down too tight on the wheel of the belt drive you hear the rubber belt rubbing and it doesnt sound good, with a lighttouch just holding the slip mat and letting the wheel spin you can avoid this, but when queing up a record on direct drive you can spin it in any direction hold down the wheel and it doesnt matter.

No question i think Direct drive are best experience for DJing, but as others have stated it seems there are some advantages to belt..

[6anbatte]

I believe that the direct drive gets to the right speed faster than belt drive... that's why they're suited for playing in sound systems...

While the belt drive you have to wait about 2 seconds (or 1 complete turn) to get to the right rotation speed, the direct drive goes straight to the right speed in less than 1 turn (or 0.3 sec)..

Not sure if this is of interest but Rega Planar recommend you manually rotate the (belt-driven) platter *before* you turn the deck on so that it is already moving when the motor kicks in.

This a) makes sure the deck is already up to speed, b) takes strain off the motor and c) lengthens the life of the belt.