Best budget turntable?

If you can increase your budget, Echo Audio in Portland has a used Pro-Ject RPM 10.1 EVO with a decent cartridge for under $2K. At your current budget you may just scratch the itch and find yourself upgrading sooner than later. The Pro-Ject isn't an end game table by any means, but it's pretty nice.  

I also agree with this: 

I think a used Clearaudio Concept, Marantz TT-15 or MoFi Studio Deck may be some of the better choices. Just a thought….

 I would go with Project all day long over Rega. In fact Rega would be last on my list with the exception of some vintage tables that some on this forum seem to hold in high regard. I havent looked at Music Hall for some time, but I used to think they were a very good value. A used Nottingham Space Deck? 

@jim5559 

I have a Rega 6 and  a MoFi best  and a Pioneer 1000

Do you have the new/current Pioneer PLX 1000? I have the same, with an Audio Technica AT-VM740ML cartridge. It replaced a Pro-Ject Carbon DC Esprit SB w/Ortofon 2M Blue. I prefer the Pioneer.

Yes and 10 carts to play with them, right now using a Denon 110 a very good for 300$

The Grado gold 3 is sweet on it with Classical music , the 3’s are better with all .

Nag 200 is good as need be with anything .

To my ears all AT’s are rock only . Just my ears and I hate rock.

I use my Rega 6 mostly with opera  where it shines .  Sorry I ever wasted 2k on MoFi . Just my ears.

Why not buy him the Technics MK7 for $999? It’s cheaper that the 1500 and looks better, at least to me. I think it silly that they got rid of the strobe platter on that 1500 model. Put a Shure M97xe on the MK7 and away you go. Although, now you will pay a pretty penny for that Shure...as they no longer make it. New on Lp Gear for $350 I believe. I love my Mk7 along with the Shure..... I’m not certain I would pay the extra 600-700 for a Gr just to gain maybe 2 kilograms In weight. It has the same exact tonearm as the Mk7, and its pitch contol is not as good as the Mk7’s...if that is important. The Gr does have a slightly heavier platter and maybe the base contains less plastics....that is the only advantage, not worth 700 bucks more to me. The MK7 gets a bad rap because it is geared or advertised to the DJ crowd. Funny, because when you think about that, the original technics 1200 variants were never designed to be dj turntables, but they were adopted by the dj crowd and used as such.

Just to add, you can buy a glass platter/thin rubber technics mat combo from KabUSA to increase the dampening and weight of the MK7 platter.