I really don't want to throw a monkey wrench in, especially since I'm not sure, but wasn't the HR-S9600U the flagship model here in north america?
Didn't it use direct drive for everything?
I had some goofy model brought over from japan that seemed to be the same unit (or similar to the HRS10000U) with the addition of a built in satellite receiver (worthless in the u.s.) but I'm sure it didn't use a single rubber belt in it.
Maybe confusing it with a Toshiba or NEC I used to have but something is bugging me that it was the JVC that did that on the upper end "editing decks". A motor for everything, no belts.
-bruce snipped-for-privacy@ripco.com