Looking for more advice on purchasing a new turntable.

Mofi ultra deck with a Hana ML cart.

I do understand that the top two mofi cartridges are excellent options. I used the cartridge that came with it for a couple years, a master tracker. It was very good and easy to live with. But when I installed the Hana and brought in a PS JC 3 Jr. pre, wow! Everything just opened up. IMO I’m going to have to spend gobs of dough to hit the next rung in performance. Estimation of my vinyl set up, $2k for deck, $1k pre-amp, $750 for cartridge. Total $3750.  (Everything bought on sale)

If you can find a Technics 1200G at a good price, that might be worthwhile for you; it was for me....  Plenty of good carts for around $1000.... 

Save some money and get a Technics SL100 C. Great turntable at the price.

I am currently using a Technics SL1200GR. It is better built than the SL100C but it costs twice as much (and has all the disco features). I bought it before the SL100 came out; I would probably have bought the SL100C if it had been available.

The SL1200GR is a great turntable.  I A/B'd it with the SL1200G with a variety of carts and could tell no difference. The 1200G is a bit sexier, has two motors, and a magnesium tonearm. I concluded those features were not worth the extra cost.

A feature of all these turntables that I really enjoy is the removeable head shell. I run different carts depending on my mood. Not sure about the 100C, but the 1200GR makes it super easy to dial in the settings for each cartridge (I keep notes on a piece of paper where I store my carts). This is an essential element of my enjoyment of playing records! If I am looking for absolute accuracy and convenience, I use digital sources. But with the ability to easily swap carts, listening to records is a hoot!

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisbbe3h-thorens-td-1600-turntables

And now for something completely different. A few years ago, I ordered a GEM Dandy Polytable in your price range, a table that was suggested to me personally by no less than Michael Fremer himself.

Despite the witty name, this table is pretty serious. It’s the first "entry-level" design by TT Yoda George E. Merrill ("GEM" -- get it?).  If you call the company directly to order, George himself will work out a configuration with you, after which, your unit is then built to order under his supervision.  This is a boutique operation, providing the kind of personalized service that is pretty rare these days.  Post-sales support, in my experience, is unparalleled.

The Polytables’ plinths seem to share a design philosophy with Rega tables like the Planar 10 -- lightweight, exceedingly stiff, well isolated. But the table’s big claim to fame is its DMD outboard digital motor, which (and Fremer’s own measurements confirmed this) is incredibly accurate.  Although I can’t personally confirm it, George claims the DMD to offer speed accuracy in a class with six-figure tables.

And as a lifelong gizmo freak, I'm blown away by the table's "Clockwork Orange" aesthetic.

One caveat: Definitely configure the DMD motor: in addition to speed accuracy, it lets you change speeds by pressing a button.

The GEM Dandy is aunique bespoke component, not for everyone, but still interesting enough to warrant a look. You can find reviews of the table and George’s preferred Sorane arm (a big upgrade from the original Jelco) at Fremer-era AnalogPlanet & TAS.

Today, a mid-to-high-end configuration + 9" arm runs about $4500-5000. I originally outfitted my unit with an Ortofon 2M Black (about $800 at the time) & that was a good match, but the table produced even more impressive SQ when I later upgraded to a $2500 Hana Umami Blue MC.

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/gem-dandys-polytable-signature-and-sorane-ta-1l-tonearm

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/gem-dandy-polytable/

https://www.hifigem.com/