Direct drive vs belt vs rim vs idler arm

Halcro -
I'm a bit like you - the Raven doesn't look that bad. When you study their website, the motor supposedly has some accuracy, and the belt is elastic, so presumably the steepness of the initial drop will be due to the elasticity.
I have listened to the Raven - but not played with it, I gather some have said that the speed issue is more around that the adjustment is stepped, and you cant get it spot on ??
Techdas on your shopping list for this year ? Retro EMT idler will go nicely with the classic Porsche. You do need more TT's for all those arms dont you.

Dover,
Techdas looks interesting........if not 'Classic' material?..although I was surprised to see no comments on its 'sound' from anyone at CES?
Can't wait for Fremer's review coming shortly and I can see Thuchan having one if it's positive?
I simply have no real-estate for another turntable?
Thuchan has been at me for ever to buy a big Micro like the SX-8000.....and I've never heard a good idler...but again....Thuchan does love his EMT?

If I could find a turntable that looks as fine as THIS...and sounds as well as THIS and performs as well as THIS......I might buy one?

Regards

How about this ... very retro....very rare Fidelity Research idler....as Syntax would say the quiet rumble of the London Underground on every record can be comforting...

http://www.hifido.co.jp/KW/G0301/E/450-10/C12-65456-39066-00/

Ha ha,
Never seen or heard of that idler before?
In fact......didn't know that Fidelity Research made ANY turntables?

Dover

I do not think that the published specs for the SP10 are wrong.....There is no measurable speed change due to stylus drag.
I have alluded to another problem with speed stability in DD TTs that is unrelated to stylus drag or cogging. See my earlier posts. This problem can be fixed. It is related to the method in which the TT measures its own speed. Get this wrong and we have problems. It occurs at much higher frequencies and at a much lower level than the overt cogging and stylus drag phenomena.
Taking it away however is dramatic.
It also shows that we can perceive timing problems well below the threshold of measuring instruments.