Driving myself crazy with TT purchase...

If it was me I would avoid problems and buy a NEW virgin Rega.

From what I understand, you are better off going for a MKII version of the Thorens TD-125, the MKI had some electrical component problems and is why they went to the MKII shortly after coming out with the MKI. Don't discount a TD-160, with some work they are fine sounding decks.

My first "real" turntable was an Ariston 11e. Back then, I was reading about turntables in "Hi-Fi Answers". I used a Grace 707(mk11?) with an ADC XLM 3 cartridge. I got the best sound I've ever heard from a turntable with this setup. Unfortunately, it would only play for a few minutes(I think this was due to the fact that I was using a flat belt[mostly]. I also had dropped the motor, so it was more or less hanging from the top plate-that's why I am intrigued by Roxsan's implementation of a similiar system.). I think you have to use the round belt(they do sell them.). I also took the foam out of the springs, which was popular back then. It seemed like the belt pulled up the platter, so that it became a closed system(along with the arm). I was using a heavy Osawa mat. I was a poor student back then, and didn't have many alternatives that I knew about. I learned about what each parameter of the turntable, arm, and cartridge did. For instance, each of the three legs are audible-the same goes for the springs. I did combine the tweaking with a little bouncing of the platter. I believe you can hear one spring come out of one speaker, one out of the other, and the middle one goes to the middle of the soundfield. What I did learn was invaluable, and puts me in a good position today, compared to many other people-when it comes to many turntable, arm , and cartridge parameters. I guess that is how life is. What you learn seems to come in handy down the road. That, being said, with the computer, and it's access to a lot of information, you can probably do better, and you might not have time for all this. I didn't have a choice back then.

I should mention that I think the bottom of the springs have a washer that has a peak, and that peak is used to align the springs(the board in its cutout), I believe. It is best to read up on this, if you are interested.