Sent Back the Pro-ject Turntable: What would be the best option in the $1800 range?

The Techdas Air Force 1 is a really nice looking TT.  If someone can show me where I can find it in the OP's $1800 price range, I'd sell my beloved 1200G and buy one in a heartbeat. 

I like my pro-ject the classic sb.....personally, I would not even buy anything below this from pro-ject. The evo classic looks to be an even better turntable with many improvements, including a new precision machined aluminum sub platter, an evo inverted bearing with four ABEC7 spec ballraces borrowed from their 175 VPO turntable, an improved carbon fiber/aluminum evo tone arm, improved arm bearings, a stiffer suspension, and improved speed box performance, and a ortofon quintet red moving coil cartridge....A crazy good table @ 1700 bucks. Take the red off and put on a quintet bronze or black and I’d venture to say it would be a killer table.

https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/the-classic-evo/

Here’s Fremer's review of the classic sb

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/pro-ject-classic-sb-superpack-turntable-%E2%80%9Cbrains%E2%80%9...

A Positive feedback review of the sb

https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/pro-ject-the-classic-sb-turntable/

And CNET (audiophiliac) on the sb....

https://www.cnet.com/news/pro-jects-turntable-makes-you-want-to-get-up-and-dance/

And to think that the Evo classic betters it, wow...and for relatively cheap money, what a great time to be an audiophile I’d say....

About the fifth turntable I ever purchased was an entry level upscale turntable the Pro-Ject RM 5.1 SE Pro-Ject with the Black Speed Box S 60Hz. A beautiful looking deck. After awhile I noticed a hum and even after making sure the TT was grounded and still there was a humming issue. However I still loved the sound that came out of it.

It was not until after a number of evenings falling asleep with the stylus being played over and over on whatever record I had on it, I opted for the auto return the Technics and Pioneer turntables I already owned.

And this probably will get the turntable purist really pissed off, but one of the reasons the Technics SL-1500C is selling is because of the auto return function that the G, GR and others don’t have.

Auto Lift - Not an auto return @tyray.

" Equipped with an Auto Lifter Function That Allows You to Enjoy Playing                                      Records More Comfortably"
"When the tonearm reaches the end of the record, the Auto Lifter function automatically raises the cartridge"
As per description.

@rego,

I appreciate the correction. Thanks