Posted on 08.05.2003 @ 10:30:57 PDT
by admin

To this day, DJs who are just starting out still ask, "What's better? Belt Driven or Direct Drive?".

It depends. If you are completely broke and are starting out, belt-driven tables might be more cost efficient for you. If you have the cash for Direct Drive, by all means necessary....get the Direct Drive.

This article will go a little in-depth about the goods and bads of belt driven tables.

Belt Drive Turntables get their name from the band used to spin the platter. A rubber belt connects the motor to the turntable platter. As the motor turns, so does the platter. Direct Drive turntables use a strong magnet to engage the platter, in most cases providing substantially more torque, or rotational force, than a Belt Drive configuration. This is an important factor for scratch DJs, who often rely on fast pick-up time (the time it takes the record to reach full speed from a dead stop), or require accurate response to pitch control changes.

Belt Drive Turntables are generally more cost effective than Direct Drives, and are better suited to DJs who are on a budget. Belt Drives also experience less ambient motor noise due to the fact that not only are the motor and platter separated, but they are connected by a vibration- absorbing rubber belt. Because of this, audiophiles often prefer Belt Drive Turntables. The downside is, belts can fall off, stretch and/or break if subjected to heavy scratching, backcuing and rapid starts and stops.

I have never come across a great belt-driven turntable. Most of the platters are not very sturdy and this will cause a problem with skipping when handling the record while on the platter. If you are serious about DJ'ing, go with Direct Drive only. You'll understand when you use them.

For myself, I started with Gemini BD-10's because they cost me $50 used for the pair. If you can mix and scratch really well on these, then you can spin on anything AND upgrading to Direct Drive tables will be HEAVEN!