Direct drive vs Belt drive turntables: Which are Best & Why? (2024)

Direct drive vs belt drive turntables work in a different way and are designed to be more suitable for certain types of vinyl playback. Each has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses.

In short, a belt-drive system has less motor noise, more consistent speed, and a better sound. A direct drive has higher torque, reaches full speed quicker, and is better for DJs but can sacrifice sound quality.

This article gives a full comparison of the two turntable types. I’ll explain why both types exist and help you decide which best suits your needs.

What does “drive” mean?

The term “drive” explains how the central motorized components of a turntable are configured. It describes the type of mechanism that “drives” the rotation of the platter.

If you compare two turntables of similar quality, with the only difference being the drive type, the differences will become clear, particularly in an audio comparison.

For example, these two models from Crossley are very similar in terms of quality and features, the only difference is the drive type.

• Belt-drive: Crosley C100A-SI – $169
• Direct-drive: Crosley C200A-BK– $229

Just from looking at these turntables, you wouldn’t be able to see any differences, although you would when you get them spinning.

To truly understand the differences between these two turntable types, you should understand the underlying mechanism. The type of drive used refers to the system used to rotate the turntable platter with a motor.

What is a direct drive turntable?

The motor of a direct drive turntable is attached directly to the rotating platter underneath the center spindle. It spins the platter in a 1:1 ratio.

The platter is directly driven by an electric motor. This design was developed in response to problems with belts slipping, so it can be considered an alternative to the traditional belt-driven design.

A direct drive turntable does not use a belt to transfer the power from the motor to the platter. Instead, there is a direct physical connection between them. The platter sits directly above the motors. The motors are located directly beneath the center of the platter.

Advantages of direct drive turntables

The benefit of this type of turntable is that it has less friction than belt-driven models, which means it offers better speed stability and less wow and flutter, which are two problems that occur with most turntables.

Direct-drive units were first introduced as the SP-1 in 1969 by Matsush*ta, which later became the Technics SL-1100. A direct-drive model record player (or rather turntable – these are the differences between those terms) uses a heavy platter that needs high torque powering to get it spinning.

Direct drive decks usually feature a high torque motor, which can spin the platter up to speed much quicker. It also has much more strength against friction and resistance, which makes them need to jog the record slightly. The platter can spin freely regardless of whether the motor is on, which also makes it better for DJ tricks.

Jogging is typically performed by holding your finger on the edge of the record platter to slow it down slightly, for a short amount of time, letting it sync up with another spinning record. Direct drive motors return to full speed nearly instantly, whereas belt drives take a few seconds to catch up. This is just one example of why these are much better for DJing.

Disadvantages

Issues with direct drive designs arise in their sound quality. Because they are attached directly to the inner platter, vibrations made by the turntable motor are passed through the platter, affecting the record and stylus. This means you can hear some noise and other interference generated by the motor. This reduces the quality of the signal relative to belt drive models. Although high-quality, premium direct drive turntables are manufactured with techniques to reduce noise interference. (Although it will never be as clean as a belt drive).

Direct drive turntables Pros and Cons

Direct-drive turntables are often used in DJ setups because they allow for faster start-up times and smoother operation. Several factors make direct drive turntables the better choice for DJs.

• + Instant start-up times
• + Higher torque motor, ideal for DJing
• + Faster speeds
• + A shorter lag time when changing speeds
• – More noise
• – Not quite perfect pitch
• – Less stability
• – More expensive (due to higher manufacturing cost).

Examples of direct drive turntables

Here are some of the best-recommended turntables of this type.

• Crosley C200A-BK
• Gemini TT400
• Audio-Technica AT-LP120XBT
• Technics 1210 – (My personal favorite, although expensive and hard to find.)

Decided direct-drive is best for you?

Check out my full list of recommended direct drive turntables.

What is a belt drive turntable?

These turntables use a completely different mechanism design than directs.

Rather than connecting the motor directly to the platter, it is connected by a rubber belt. As the motor turns, it rotates the belt, which in turn rotates the heavy platter. The main attraction of a belt is that it isolates the platter from the engine of the record player – creating a cleaner sound.

Typically the belts are wrapped around the platter. It can either be attached to a separate spindle or it wraps around the edge of the inner platter, where the outer platter rests.

Belt drive turntable designs are generally quieter than other types and can be found in higher-end ‘audiophile’ record players.

Advantages

The main advantage of this type of turntable is the lack of noise created by the motor. Belt drives tend to have much more accurate, stable speed and have less unwanted noise and background rumble than direct drive record players. Because the vibration noise is reduced, you will be able to hear your vinyl records in more detail. The main reason they have less noise is that the only connection between the motor and the platter is the belt. This means vibrations from the motor are not passed to the stylus as you play records. The increased speed-accuracy results in less noticeable pitch wobbling from motor wow.

Disadvantages

Whilst belt-drive turntables have superior sound quality, they do have limitations and downsides in comparison to direct drive designs. The main weakness of belt drive tables is the amount of time it takes to get up to speed. Because the drive belt separates the motor and the platter, it takes a few seconds to reach terminal velocity. In most listening situations, this isn’t much of a problem, although it is for DJs.

Another issue of belt-driven turntable designs is the lifespan of the belt. It’s only a matter of time before the rubber belt wears out, slackens, and breaks, which you’ll need to replace it. They generally last for a long time but will eventually wear out, even in a great turntable. You’ll need to remove the whole platter and replace the belt, which isn’t a huge task but can be inconvenient.

Belt Drive Turntables Pros and Cons

• + Better sonic performance
• + Quieter motor
• + More accurate/correct speed
• + Higher quality, cleaner sound
• – Slower startup times
• – Rubber belts wear out and break
• – Not suitable for DJing.

Examples of belt-drive turntables

Here are some more highly recommended turntables.

• Crossley C100A
• Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT
• Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN

Direct drive vs belt drive turntables: Comparison table

What are the main differences?

• Speed and torque: Direct drives reach their max speed nearly instantly, whereas belt drives can take a couple of seconds to reach their full velocity. This makes direct drives more suitable for DJs, who need the instant start-up to cut between records quickly, and for more consistent beat matching.
• Wow, flutter and wobble: Direct drives are wobblier and noisier. As the motor is directly connected to the platter, it creates more interference with the record. This is reflected by a slightly lower quality with more noise and wobble.
• High-Quality Sound: Belt drives have a smoother rotation with less wobble and interference, thus creating a more accurate and consistent listening experience with higher audio fidelity.
• Durability: Belts eventually wear out and break, so these turntables may need servicing more often than directs.

Direct drive vs belt drive turntables, which should I choose?

The answer to this depends on how you will be using your turntable.

Neither design is objectively better than the other. It’s impossible to say which is best because both can win in different situations; each has their strengths and weaknesses. It depends on which factors you compare them to. Different types have situations where they perform better than the other.

The main attraction of direct-drive turntables is their fast startup speed and torque, which are ideal for DJs. The issue is that this comes at the cost of less stable performance and sound, which audiophiles always try to avoid.

In a nutshell: Get a direct drive if you plan on DJing; otherwise, go for a belt drive. If you mix vinyl records, a direct drive is the best choice, as it provides better control of the playing speed. If you don’t mix and just listen, the steady speed and clean signal of a belt drive is the better choice.

If you’re less interested in DJing and more interested in pure listening, the obvious choice is a belt-driven turntable. These offer cleaner sonics and a smoother listening experience. They also generally cost a little less.

To choose, you need to consider what is more important to you: the audio quality or ‘mixability’.

The only reason to go for a direct drive is if you need fast, DJ-friendly torque speeds. Otherwise, you’re sacrificing audio quality for a feature you won’t use. If you’re somebody who goes to great lengths to maximize your sound, then belted models would be the right choice, as they have a more audiophile-grade sound.

Your choice

You should now have a good idea of the differences between these two types of turntables. This will help you to choose the right design for your needs.

If you are in the market for a new turntable, check out some of my reviews and recommendations of the best choices out there!

• The best direct drive turntables
• The best turntables under $500