Direct drive vs belt vs rim vs idler arm


Is one TT type inherently better than another? I see the rim drive VPI praised in the forum as well as the old idler arm. I've only experienced a direct drive Denon and a belt driven VPI Classic.
rockyboy
The main problem of idler drive is people have opinions on it after hearing turntable from the 60'. I have built my lenco after reading Salvatore review of the J Nantais reference Lenco.
I have tried different material and finished with a non wood plinth, a reference bearing ,and some tweaks ,an OL conqueror mk II and a zyx airy 3 . The sound is impressive, nothing to hear here with the traditional sound of idler drive.
Then i have heard a Lenco made by a hifi fanatic, and very sympathic person. He built a 200 kgs Lenco with its own table (as the goldmund reference),the finish is impressive, there are many many tweaks but it's idler drive and the sound on his high end system is incredible, in the treble it betters all the belt drive turntables I have listened to.
I have learned allot first hand over the past ownership of numerous tables including the different designs mentioned and the ones I have tried I have been absolutely shocked with their lack of speed accuracy which at the end of the day all of these table designs all have in common and should have.

I could hear such in my own set-up prior to using this TimeLine tool to check such but was being brain washed by others including the manufacture suggesting this and that, suggesting it wasn't important.

I know there is allot more going on than just operating at an accurate speed but if you can't get the speed accurate from the get go then the rhythm and pace is effected "off" so the rest afterwards really doesn't matter, to me anyways and once you have heard it well ....

It's simple, your table using the TimeLine is either accurate or not.

I have found it seems that many are in denial, some don't even want to try this TimeLine in fear suggesting this or that works for them but in the end this is the real deal and so simple to use to truely view what's actually going on with the speed of your table so why fool your self in believing different.

Buy or find someone with one and check it out and maybe the manufactures in the end will work just a little harder ensuring theirs will be accurate.

Would love to see a REAL list made up of actual tables that can actually show they are holding an accurate speed for the entire side of a record both playing and not with an actual video with a time stamp on it.

The distance behind the tables all being the same just using a pce of tape with a BOLD line on it so one can see the laser location easily.

I won't mention the members name because that really doesn't matter, this person ownes the same table as I once did some time ago and was adamant his was running accurate when I suggested mine didn't and wouldn't, when I went over and checked the table in question with the TimeLine in hand which was really simple we found his was also off and in the end we couldn't get it to run accurate on both speeds either.

If your table doesn't have the capability of adjusting the speed like a SP10 MK2 I had on hand won't be an easy correction, if such in the end can even be done.

Lets not debate or get pissed off, instead lets work on that list of tables as per above with proof.

I would personally love to view such and there are allot of owners with different tables just reading and posting on this specific thread.

Happy New Year! to all :)
So let's start a thread with which tables have and which do not have accuracy using the Timeline device?
Sksos1,

I think we all know which one you will put at the top of that list!

Seriously, such a list would be surprising to a lot of people, and it would undoubtedly generate angst among many manufacturers, not to mention all the explanations from end users claiming the results are from someone with an axe to grind, or it was just some unlucky random sample. Whatever, the thread would probably become Flame City right away.

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Wouldn't it be interesting if the only tables to pass the 'Timeline' test were all 30 years old?