Whilst most turntables on the market today utilise a Belt Drive, for the ALVA TT, we opted for a medium torque Direct Drive. Although harder to manufacture, it offers several key benefits over
Belt Drive:
- Over time, the rubber belt will need to be replaced. Belt Drive elastic can wear down, and can eventually break.
- The belt stretches and contracts under the load of the platter. Belt Drive turntables have a less accurate playback speed than Direct Drive turntables as a result.
- The best Belt Drive turntables can achieve 0.2% Wow (slow speed drifts, slurring) and Flutter (high speed drifts, warbling). Direct Drive turntables perform much better, with the ALVA TT having just 0.06% Wow and Flutter.
- This means a far better pitch stability – particularly during longer, more sustained notes.