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
Good read guy's, as some here are well aware off centre record holes including test recrds are problematic especially for us that are sensitive to variations of pitch and are acutely aware of it. With a off centre spindle hole,as the stylus traverse through the grooves changes in velocity occur which of coarse with change pitch , low in the beginning of the Lp to high as the stylus traverse toward the label, then add this to a table that can't keep speed when the needle is in the groove.
You can fix the off centre hole by checking the run out and carefully open up the hole with a needle file to centre it. Then you simply mark with a pencil on the label which part of the elongated hole butts up to the spindle for next time.
Option 2 is to drill/mill the hole oversize. Then centre the record to minimise runout. You can make it easy by making up a washer with a spindle hole, and once you are happy that you have found the true centre, then push the washer over the spindle and glue it to the record. Now you have a record with a true centre.
PS As Tony has pointed out, dont assume the record is round, it isn't. You must play the record and work out how far it's out by measuring the lateral movement of the stylus.
PS2 : As this advice is free, there is no responsibility on my part if you screw up.
Dover,
Then centre the record to minimise runout.
Can you please explain what you mean by this?
Thanks.
Halcro - exactly that. If the hole isn't in the centre, then drill a big one. Position the record so that the arm is not moving in and out from the centre.

Definition of run-out - oxford dictionary - noun
slight error in a rotating tool, machine component, etc. such as being off-centre or not exactly round:

Have you been watching too much cricket ?
Have you been watching too much cricket ?
With the current bunch of Aussie batsmen? Are you serious?
But Andy Murray to beat Jokovic in the Australian Open tonight?