The Advantages of Direct Drive Turntables
Due to the motor system used, direct drives offer several advantages over belt drive turntables.
Their main set of advantages stems from the higher torque the motor provides. Because the motor is attached directly to the platter, there is less resistance to the energy applied. This creates near-instant start and stop times, as the motor is in full control of the rotation.
Direct drive turntables also provide more stable speeds, as the physics of belts adds extra instability and randomness. Direct drives typically have less wow and flutter, although they have increased motor noise as the motor is directly attached to the platter.
Direct drive turntables are also more durable and require less maintenance than belt drive turntables. The belts tend to wear out, can break, and need replacing. They can also loosen and slip off. Unlike a belt drive turntable, there is no rubber belt to wear out with a direct drive deck.