You plan to make Hi-Fi purchases, and in particular to equip yourself with a turntable? It is not always as simple to choose among the wide selection available on the market today. Many questions are raised before buying a turntable, according to different criteria.
One of them is notably the drive type of the turntable. There are two options: belt drive and direct drive. In this guide, maPlatine.com offers you to know more about these two principles in order to help you make your choice.
1. The drive of a turntable: what is it?
In the operation of a turntable, the drive is an essential element. We call "drive" what makes rotating the platter of the turntable. Consequently, this is what allows the reading of the different information inscribed in the groove of the record.
The platter is driven, i.e. rotated, thanks to a motor. This motor can be connected to the platter in different ways: by belt or directly. So these are the two main principles to drive a turntable.
2. The two drive principles of a turntable
Depending on your expectations in terms of vinyl listening, one of the two drive principles of a turntable may be more adapted to your needs than the other.
2.1. Belt drive
Belt drive is a principle found on many turntable models today. Many famous Hi-Fi manufacturers, such as Pro-Ject, Rega, Clearaudio, MoFi, Thorens, etc., have chosen this type of drive for their record players.
Here, the motor enabling the rotation of the platter is fixed or suspended on the turntable. On some models, such as the Pro-Ject RPM range of turntables (RPM 1 Carbon, RPM 5 Carbon...), the motor is an integral part of the turntable, placed externally. In all these configurations, the platter is connected to the motor via a belt.
With a belt drive, the motor is not directly connected to the turntable spindle. Technically, although it may seem simple as configuration, the belt drive ensures a precise rotation of the platter, while reducing the vibrations generated by the motor. These benefits are evident when listening to the vinyl record, which is therefore more accurate.
For an audiophile listening, the belt drive remains the most successful and performing method in High Fidelity.
Note: Over time and hours of listening, you may need to replace the belt. A belt can indeed slightly stretch, so we recommend you to change it after a certain time to ensure a good rotation speed of the platter.
But do not worry about that! A belt can be changed very easily since on most turntable models, it is located under or even around the turntable. Replacement belts are offered by a large number of manufacturers.
2.2. Direct drive
The direct drive is a principle that was very common in the past. Some of today's Hi-Fi manufacturers still use this method, such as Audio Technica or Technics.
The direct drive turntables are designed so that the motor is directly connected to the platter spindle. This allows an instant start as well as an instant stop of the turntable. The rotation speed of the platter is always the same.
However, having the motor so close to the platter creates vibrations, which can affect the quality of the record. To compensate this mechanical inconvenience, manufacturers regularly choose to use heavy and massive materials, thus giving quite imposing turntables.
This type of turntable is most often found in the professional world. With a direct drive, it is indeed possible to make mix techniques used by DJs (scratch for example). It is therefore possible to "play" with the speed of the turntable and create sound effects. Attention, for such a use, your direct drive turntable must be equipped with an adapted Hi-Fi cartridge!
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We hope that this information will help you to decide between belt drive and direct turntable. If you would like more information about this subject, our technicians are at your disposal by phone (0 810 810 121) or via the contact form.
