Idler wheel drive vs. Belt-drive

mig-ru · 15th September 2003, 05:18 AM

I'm thinking about getting myself an old Dual idler wheel drive TT, and was wondering if the sonics from the motor are all that bad, seeing as how the famous Garrard 301 uses idler wheel. Or should I just try and get a belt-driven TT?

analog_sa · 15th September 2003, 08:11 AM

It's largely a question of implemetation. Idler wheelers seem to share better pitch as a common trait and of course more rumble. In the very distant past i once heard an idler Dual with a heavy platter and it sounded nice. My point of reference was then rather low to be honest. With the Dual you'd be stuck with the auto-arm nonsense and the generally mediocre arm. Cartridge mounting, unless you thoroughly butcher the headshell is also non-ideal. I understand that it probably costs 5 bucks and as such offers tremendous value but it won't quite get you to audio nirvana. Still, it's likely to sound better than all the plastic Sonys, Hitachis and Technics POSs.

mosin · 2nd November 2003, 04:22 AM

Maybe you refer to the Dual 1019. It is very heavy built with its seven pound platter and other cast features. I own one, but a Linn Sondek it is not. I use mine in a secondary system that never used for critical listening. I am tempted to strip out all of the auto junk and the arm. I have an extra SME arm that isn't being used.

...hmm.

sreten · 2nd December 2003, 11:07 PM

The simple answer is that a high quality belt drive is
much easier to realise, and suffers much less from
wear related issues than an idler drive.

KISS

/sreten.

Cobra2 · 3rd December 2003, 12:06 AM

I would leave those idler-wheel tt's to the fanatics, can never forget the rumble from my first tt, a BSR...(in 1975+)

Since that, I have enjoyed many quiet & practical Direct Drive tt's,
that can (with a good arm + cart. combo) outplay a LP-12 everyday, exept on full moon, when the LP-12 may be better...

And now, after 20 years with DD, I'm back to belt-drive (by accident...).

Arne K

15th September 2003, 05:18 AM	#1
mig-ru diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Boulder, CO	Idler wheel drive vs. Belt-drive I'm thinking about getting myself an old Dual idler wheel drive TT, and was wondering if the sonics from the motor are all that bad, seeing as how the famous Garrard 301 uses idler wheel. Or should I just try and get a belt-driven TT?

3rd December 2003, 12:06 AM	#5
Cobra2 DIY ! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Stavanger, Norway	I would leave those idler-wheel tt's to the fanatics, can never forget the rumble from my first tt, a BSR...(in 1975+) Since that, I have enjoyed many quiet & practical Direct Drive tt's, that can (with a good arm + cart. combo) outplay a LP-12 everyday, exept on full moon, when the LP-12 may be better... And now, after 20 years with DD, I'm back to belt-drive (by accident...). Arne K __________________ Ars longa, vita brevis

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15th September 2003, 08:11 AM	#2
analog_sa diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sofia	It's largely a question of implemetation. Idler wheelers seem to share better pitch as a common trait and of course more rumble. In the very distant past i once heard an idler Dual with a heavy platter and it sounded nice. My point of reference was then rather low to be honest. With the Dual you'd be stuck with the auto-arm nonsense and the generally mediocre arm. Cartridge mounting, unless you thoroughly butcher the headshell is also non-ideal. I understand that it probably costs 5 bucks and as such offers tremendous value but it won't quite get you to audio nirvana. Still, it's likely to sound better than all the plastic Sonys, Hitachis and Technics POSs.

2nd November 2003, 04:22 AM	#3
mosin diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: US	Maybe you refer to the Dual 1019. It is very heavy built with its seven pound platter and other cast features. I own one, but a Linn Sondek it is not. I use mine in a secondary system that never used for critical listening. I am tempted to strip out all of the auto junk and the arm. I have an extra SME arm that isn't being used. ...hmm.

2nd December 2003, 11:07 PM	#4
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	The simple answer is that a high quality belt drive is much easier to realise, and suffers much less from wear related issues than an idler drive. KISS /sreten.