New TT for ~$1500

Chakster, I noticed you never recommend "Grado";  that's my favorite cartridge, and I've tried many.

I believe a cartridge is like choosing a girl friend; this is the one for me, but not for everybody else.

As an owner of the recommended Marantz TT15, I would like to chime in.  It is a beautiful table and it does sound good.  I got it new a couple of years ago for $1000, which was a steal at the time.  That said, I am going to be replacing it with a direct drive.  Reasons:

- The belt drive. I hate changing the belt for speeds.  Especially on this table.  The belt is located near the bottom and can come off.
- The motor. It just sits in a hole in the plinth.  I get it, isolation.  However, when you turn it on, the motor moves.  It is just a poor design, IMHO.
- The cartridge.  As mentioned above, the overhang is significant and I know people with this table that have broken it off more than once.  I am SUPER careful and have not had any issues, fortunately.
- Also as mentioned above, it does have an additional ground wire and no dustcover.  I am not a fan of a giant acrylic box sitting over my tt(for another $200.)

I have a vintage Kenwood KD-500 that I am servicing.  It is a great looking table with a nice tonearm,  a dustcover and has a Grado gold on it. It is made of a composite that Kenwood designed that looks like marble and is quite heavy.  I am going to shoot it out with the Marantz when I am done and if I find it close, the Marantz will be sold.

Chakster, I noticed you never recommend "Grado"; that’s my favorite cartridge, and I’ve tried many.

@orpheus10
That’s not true, maybe you missed my recommendations for Grado, find my grado between Pioneer PC-1000 mkII and Grace LEVEL II BR/MR. This is Joseph Grado Signature XTZ and this is what i have right now on my Denon DA-401 tonearm. This is the best Grado cartridge i ever tried, but i must say i did not try all Grados. Prior to this i’ve been using a lot (and still have them) a $150 Grado DJ200 which is based on cheap Grado Black, those are not for the main system.

Grado Signature XTZ is high-end MI cartridge from the 80’s, i love it!
XTZ styli are available from Grado

Thanks for informing me Chackster. I had the Platinum, Sonata, and now the Master; there was a significant move up with each change, I think they're a good buy.

My .02

I've come as a long time user of JVC TT's. Namely the famed QL-Y7, QL-Y5, QL-Y55, etc. Great turntables all around. I don't know Techniques product. But I do know a little something about direct drive. I've been using direct drive TT's since the late 60's. 

That said - We're talking $1500, or less, including a cartridge. That settles it. The Marantz TT-15S1 kind of stands on it's own. The cartridge is what an $800 cartridge? I mean come on! And I"ve seen this Marantz sell used for less than $800. 

Oh, and I own one!

Run, don't walk...buy the Marantz...and come back here to thank those of us who suggested the Marantz. All the best!