TT suggestion in the $7 - 10K range?

Buy the used Sota Cosmos MK IV here on audiogn it is the best sounding table I have heard under 30K. Get the right arm and cartridge and you will be in vinyl heaven. I have owned many turntables and the Sota Cosmos MK IV is one of the best turntables I have owned.

2nd the recommendation for the Well Tempered Amadeus for a table below your price range. In your price range, I recommend the Dynavector DV500 Amadeus, or even better, the Ayre-DPS.

Personally, I would stick to a table with strong customer support. Truthfully, I have never heard the Ayre table, but I know the company and have only the highest praise for their products and their support. That is true as well for VPI. There are many more VPI's/models to be had, but you should see them and do your own evalutaions.

I will second the recommendation on the Sota Cosmos IV. I run mine with a SME 309 arm and Lyra Delos cartridge and it provides the best overall sound I have heard in my system. In the price range you are looking at, I think it is unbeatable.

I am quite surprised that the range of recommendations is so narrow (except for Peter's), given the highly permissive price range. I would say that, before you spend any money, you should go wherever necessary and LISTEN to a wide variety of turntables that are within your price range, new or used. Also, it would be foolish to exclude categorically direct-drive and idler-drive options. Take 6 months, if necessary. It will be a rewarding effort. It will also be difficult to control for tonearm/cartridge combinations that have a huge effect on sonics. After a while, you will develop some skill to separate the "sound" of the tt from that of the tonearm/cartridge.