Why do we believe the idler drive is the ultimate expression of analog?
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Idler drives reproduce music in ways that defy measurement on paper, delivering superior torque and drive that no modern turntable can match. While they may not always excel in technical measurement contests against some of the most expensive modern tables, in our opinion, their poetic sonic qualities are musically superior. Some idler drives may be a little noisy, but with a good plinth and proper refurbishment and setup, they will deliver music—pound for pound, dollar for dollar—in a way that is purely musical. Not just technical specs, but musically.
In the modern era, idler drives have largely been replaced by belt drives and direct-drive turntables, which are generally cheaper to produce. The purpose of SimcoTIDA is to provide a roadmap and service for those seeking the best-sounding analogue reproduction in beautifully crafted packages, touched by the world’s finest artisans upgrading, refurbishing, and modernizing these tables. For decades, they have been at the forefront for collectors, enthusiasts, and audiophiles. They are folklore in the realm of vinyl reproduction, and as time progresses, they become harder to find—requiring repair, upgrades, and modernization to push their capabilities beyond their original specifications, while preserving the technology that makes music come alive.
Once you experience a properly set-up and refurbished idler drive turntable, there’s no going back.
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Note: Wow and Flutter measurements are technical metrics. Idler drives are not simply technical instruments; they are some of the best analog machines ever made in the 20th century for reproducing music on vinyl—capable even of playing 78 RPM records, which most modern tables cannot do.
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Idler drives reproduce music in ways that defy measurement on paper, delivering superior torque and drive that no modern turntable can match. While they may not always excel in technical measurement contests against some of the most expensive modern tables, in our opinion, their poetic sonic qualities are musically superior. Some idler drives may be a little noisy, but with a good plinth and proper refurbishment and setup, they will deliver music—pound for pound, dollar for dollar—in a way that is purely musical. Not just technical specs, but musically.
In the modern era, idler drives have largely been replaced by belt drives and direct-drive turntables, which are generally cheaper to produce. The purpose of SimcoTIDA is to provide a roadmap and service for those seeking the best-sounding analogue reproduction in beautifully crafted packages, touched by the world’s finest artisans upgrading, refurbishing, and modernizing these tables. For decades, they have been at the forefront for collectors, enthusiasts, and audiophiles. They are folklore in the realm of vinyl reproduction, and as time progresses, they become harder to find—requiring repair, upgrades, and modernization to push their capabilities beyond their original specifications, while preserving the technology that makes music come alive.
Once you experience a properly set-up and refurbished idler drive turntable, there’s no going back.
—
Note: Wow and Flutter measurements are technical metrics. Idler drives are not simply technical instruments; they are some of the best analog machines ever made in the 20th century for reproducing music on vinyl—capable even of playing 78 RPM records, which most modern tables cannot do.