Gear & technology
Direct drive
Also called direct-drive turntable, DD turntable
A direct-drive turntable mounts the platter directly on the motor shaft, with no belt. It starts and stops instantly and holds speed precisely, which made it the standard for DJs and broadcast, and modern versions are quiet enough for serious listening.
The Technics SL-1200 is the archetype: the platter is the rotor of a slow, powerful motor, controlled by a servo. With no belt to stretch, speed stays exact for decades. Early critics said motor vibration reached the stylus, and some cheaper designs do suffer from it.
The current Technics 1200G and 1500C and decks from Denon and others have largely answered that criticism with better motors and control. Belt-drive remains more common in audiophile circles, partly from habit. A Tonearm and cartridge of similar quality matter more than the drive type.