Direct Drive Turntable Pro Turntables for Pro DJs

Direct Drive Turntable – A Little Insight

There are 2 primary types of phonographs in the market, one of which is the direct drive turntable. This type of turntable is so called because the motor is connected to the platter; hence it turns the disc directly.

History of Direct Drive Turntable

Although the first model, called Technics SP-10, was manufactured in 1969, the history of the design can be traced forty years back. Thorens received a patent for gramophones whose platters were directly driven way back in 1929. However, it was the release of the Technics SP-10 that made these gramophones available in homes, radio stations and music studios.

Technics SP10 (courtesy of disctodisc.com)

Technics Company targeted the broadcast market by designing a transcription turntable of professional quality. The SP-10 was designed to overcome a number of challenges.
The common turntables by then had many moving parts supported by bearings. Apart from requiring frequent servicing, these designs had significant resonance. The only way to avoid these problems was to reduce the moving parts.
While using a motor to turn the platter directly was an ideal option, the problem was that motors did not run smoothly. Technics used a difference signal to regulate the motor used in the SP-10.
The success of the Technics SP-10 prompted other companies to come up with their own versions of direct drive turntable within just a few months of its release.
The Japanese companies did not just focus on the professional market. By the 1970s, the domestic audio market had many products from Japan.

Teething Problems

The earlier direct drive turntable designs faced some teething problems. The difference signal used to regulate the motors was controlled by a reference signal. Fluctuations had to take place before the right difference signal could be generated to correct them, which meant speed would drift a bit before being corrected. In addition, some of the turntables did not generate clean reference signal in the first place.
EMT from Germany introduced a new way of regulating the motors where the reference was Hall-generator’s signal, which resulted in a clean reference independent of external influences.

Direct Drive Motor

Renaissance

After the 1970s, the popularity of the direct drive turntable started to wane as companies focused on other designs. This type of turntable was largely forgotten until the 1990s, when the Rap music style revived its popularity.
Innovative DJs used the turntables as musical instruments. Such techniques as scratching and spinning required fast speed regulation and strong motors.

Pros

A direct drive turntable has a number of benefits, including:

• Speed: The platter reaches the right speed faster, eliminating the distortions associated with belt-driven turntables when records start playing. The higher torque makes this possible.
• Stability: The platter is not affected by external forces, such as from the stylus or hand.
• Control: This type of turntable has a constant playing speed that puts a DJ in complete control. It is therefore a good option for serious DJs.

Cons

The major drawback to using a direct drive turntable is that the motor causes vibrations that the needle can pick, thereby affecting the quality of sound. However, the use of slipmats on the platter and other types of shock absorbers eliminates this problem.

Direct Drive Turntable - Some Examples

There are many models in the market. Here are a couple of the models.

• Technics SL-1210Mk2: This model seemed to set the standards when people returned to direct drive turntable. It gained popularity with DJs in clubs in the 1990s. It has quick start-up because of its high torque and absorbs vibrations by using a heavy rubber base material. Its pitch control is accurate and smooth.
• Numark TT200: Particularly designed for vinyl DJs, the turntable uses a high torque direct drive motor that runs at 3 different speeds – 33.33, 45 and 78. It has a starting time of up to 33.33 revolutions per minute (RMP) in just 0.8 seconds. The speed settings and pitch control may be adjusted for either battle or club setups. It has a user-replaceable pitch fader and allows for an S-shaped arm, which is optional.

Many DJs love direct drive turntable designs because they do not only start faster than belt-driven ones but also stop faster. It provides them with a great feel.