Direct drive turntable
The difference between direct drive and belt drive turntables is based on how the platter is rotated. What Is The Difference Between Direct Drive and Belt Drive? For this reason, some people prefer direct drive turntables where they never have to replace a belt. Belts wear out over time, stretch and can cause the turntable to rotate at the wrong speed, causing your turntable to sound slow. Do Direct Drive Turntables Have Belts?ĭirect drive turntables do not have belts because a motor is attached directly to the platter for rotation. I would focus more on other features like whether or not you want to change belts over time, if you want to use the turntable for DJ’ing or looking for pitch control options. That being said, if you are looking to buy your first turntable and worried that you will pick the wrong one by choosing either direct drive or belt drive, I wouldn’t worry about noisy playback as you most likely will not hear it. I’ve also reviewed the Pioneer PL-518 turntable where I purchased heavy duty isolation feet for the table which eliminated any audible vibration noises while in use. Both tables have large vibration resistant feet that help keep noise from being audible. Two of my direct drive turntables are Technics SL-1200MK2s and I love using them for DJ’ing.
I have yet to hear enough noise coming from my direct drive turntables to completely advise against owning one. I have both belt and direct drive turntables in my stereo systems at home. Therefore, some people claim belt drive turntables are better because the separated motor eliminates the noise caused by the direct drive’s motor. What Is Better, Direct Drive or Belt?īecause a direct drive turntable’s platter is attached directly to the motor, it can cause more noise and vibration during playback. A direct drive turntable’s platter is directly attached to the motor, eliminating the need for a belt. A belt drive turntable uses a rubber belt to connect to a separate motor that rotates the platter, spinning the record for playback. The main two types of turntables are belt drive and direct drive. This article will start with some basic questions, probably best suited for first time turntable buyers… What Are The Two Types of Turntables? They often have the same questions about direct drive turntables in particular so I decided to compile my most common answers in this article to hopefully help people’s decision be easier. Often they are worried they will purchase the wrong kind of turntable and regret their decision. These arguments lead to confusion for people interested in buying a turntable and can cause paralysis analysis.įriends tell me, “I want to buy a turntable but I’m confused on the difference between the models so I don’t know what to buy”. People like to argue a lot in the hifi world, especially when it comes to belt drive and direct drive turntables.