[kach22i]

You might be in for some sticker shock.

Get your butt over to a high end audio store so you can hear the equipment for yourself.

Support your local economy.

Lots of good stuff out there. You are right, tubes and vinyl just go together.

Tube amp, tube pre-amp with tube phono section is heavenly. I just have to get my big old tube amps refurbished with new resistors.

In general direct drive kind of sounds like the name, well at least the bass is very direct and a driving force. This solid foundation is a nice match for classic rock, although it can be a bit under defined and opaque compared to belt drive models.

Belt drive turntables in general are more lively, full of tempo, open sounding and have a toe tapping beat. Direct drives are more robust in the lower frequencies by comparison but more one note sounding in my opinion.

Both approaches are enjoyable, and fine examples of each abound although some of them cost as much as a Porsche.