Best turntable under $4000

many people love VPI, especially older production

notice, the dust covers for this type are not included, and when made, are quire large

these, the unipivot arm wand simply lifts off, you switch to another arm-wand with other cartridge pre-mounted. I have seen/listened to these at VAS, Steve Leung's shop. Start with one arm-wand, never or add a second arm-wand as things develop

used, Mitsubishi linear tracking: single arm, optional auto/manual, removable headshell:

horizontal version is Quartz DD, vertical version is belt drive

I helped a friend buy/install a very lightly used horizontal model. don’t let low price put you off, it is a great performer.

again, this one has problems, just to see it:

note: wood look, not real wood, other versions exist without the wood.

vertical belt drive version

My vertical LT-5V belt drive version is shown here, in office system photos.

example of used, allows 2 tonearms: luxman PD444DD, rear can be  long arm, side 9".

start with 1 arm. add or never add 2nd arm as things develop.

more metal than wood, but very low/sleek design. needs wider area, advantage, many two arm tables are deeper than normal.

https://www.google.com/search?q=luxman+pd444&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS949US949&oq=luxman+pd444&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i512l2j0i22i30l2j69i61l3.9693j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

this example has problems, you would need to wait for a good one to show up.

I helped a friend buy and install this with 2 micro seiki arms, there is some great engineering that is not apparent.

appearance:

you have generally picked wood, rounded corners, low height, slim horizontal look. can you give other examples of alternate desired appearance regardless of price?

belt or direct drive. you have picked mostly belt drive. coincidence or definite preference? is quartz lock direct drive acceptable? compromise, or equally acceptable?

is used a consideration? not only to save money, access to models no longer made.

semi-automatic, optional manual/auto is a nice way to have that. I suspect used models are more likely to offer that, just an example:

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personally,

1. I consider a removable headshell as fundamental.

a great many turntables today have fixed cartridges, pre-aligned, nice but very limiting regarding alternate cartridges, i,e, a mono cartridge, a MM, a MC, listen to a friend's cartridge. eventually the supplied cartridge will wear, a new cartridge will  need to be aligned, so that pre-aligned advange is fleeting.

2. tt with no arm. flexible mounting system. buy an affordable arm now, perhaps a better arm later, or best, buy most desired/affordable arm now.

3. two tonearms. if you listen to a lot of jazz, many greats made great music/albums prior to stereo era. 2nd arm: having mono cartridge pre-mounted, aligned, ready to go to switch instantly between stereo arm and mono arm in a listening session is wonderful.

I would get the Dr. Feikert Volare and use your current cartridge.

Cartridges wear our and you can upgrade when you can afford it or need to replace the cartridge.

The Technics is also a good suggestion

@yogiboy 

(In best Yoda voice). “yes, yes, to yogiboy you listen.”
 

will last you 40: years 

I own 3. No issues, no breaks, no belts,perfect rotation, no slowing down, no speeding up, always flawless play.

bought first 2 in mid late 80’s, bought. Third, black version in very early,2000’s I think.

no issues at,all. Start &:stop on a schilling!

Save yourself 2 grand . My friend has the Technics SL-1210GR and it is real nice. With the savings you can get a real nice cartridge to go with it!

I had the RT85 and personally found it unlistenable.  I felt the sound was brash, excessively contrasty and very unnatural. I bought a used Rega P6 with the Ania cartridge and have been really enjoying it.  It is an enormous upgrade from the RT85 and has actually made me a believer in vinyl.  I have the Hegal V10 and PS Audio Stellar phono preamps.  Both are good but the PS Audio is probably better.  Downside of the Rega P6 is the tonearm isn't fully adjustable so you won't be able to use a lot of great cartridges by other manufacturers.  I think Rega is probably great at integrating the table, tonearm and cartridge so if you want a no fuss solution then a used P8 with the Apheta cartridge (with low hours) is probably as good as you can do for $4k but if I ever buy a higher end table it will be something that permits me to try a wide variety of cartridges easily.  

I had the RT85 and found it very good, for the money. But I was willing to spend a few hundreds more and get a Rega.

If I had 4K, I would look at

• Rega P8
• Clear Audio Concept Wood
• Dr. Feikert Volare 
• and Thorens

i don’t know what is best, been through many over the years, though certainly haven’t tried them all, and i streaming more these days

but my favorite two tt’s are the oracle delphi (i have a nicely restored v2 with a brilliant origin live arm) and then the well tempered labs amadeus

I agree the term ‘best’ is vague. And I think you should consider the analog chain - table (including tone arm), cartridge and phono stage. 
 

I believe you have an internal phone stage with your Rogue so I’ll focus on turntable and cartridge. First of all - I recommend only buying what you have listened too or can audition. Second I have been happy with Rega and most recently P8 with Ania cartridge which is just under $4k. I appreciate the set it and forget it nature. There are other options from manufacturers such as VPI that allow more adjustments and tweaking. 

I would look at a cartridge upgrade first.  I have the Blue and it is good but not the best of the four cartridges I own.  Denon 103, ADC VM760, Grado Sonata, and the Blue.  The others definitely beat the Blue in all parameters.  

You asked for the best TT in the $4000 price range.  Frankly, I don't think there is such a thing as "best" in the upper price ranges.  What you do have are differences that will influence your decision on one over another.  I would look at all of your choices carefully, find one that fires your rockets, and put your money into a better cartridge.  Do make sure the compliance is suitable for the arm you have or will buy before you send that backhoe into your wallet.