The Pro-Ject is also a belt-driven turntable. The information at that vendor's website might be a little confusing. Of course, they just get that info from the manufacturer, so it is probably confusing on the Pro-Ject website, too.

The direct-drive turntables can do a nice job. My Marantz 6300 is direct-drive, as is my Technics SL-7. They spin accurately and that's a obviously a good thing. My Technics is a linear, so there's minimal tracking error and no need for anti-skating. It's also impossible to set up the P-mount cartridge wrong. But direct-drives are uncommon at the high end and they're even uncommon at the low end of the models made by manufacturers of high end. Take a look at these from Thorens. They're belt-driven from top to bottom:

http://www.needledoctor.com/Online-S...ens-Turntables

The musical quality that's missing from many direct-drive turntables and the quality to like about the Rega are essentially the same answer. It's like my Music Hall MMF-5, too...another belt-driven turntable. The belt-drive certainly isn't the only characteristic that separates Rega and Music Hall from the direct-drives. When you listen to the audiophile turntables you'll hear a more engaging sound, more dynamic, life-like, etc. I have had mechanical issues with my MMF-5, but it produces fuller bass, smoother highs, clearer and more life-like midrange than my direct-drives.

That said, I was showing off the MMF-5 to a friend two weeks ago and he asked if the Technics played as well as the Music Hall. And I really couldn't say the Technics can't compete. After all, it was a $400 turntable in around 1980. It should be good.