Good Direct Drives

@andysf You can find the motor for $1200. You’ll have to make your own plinth. And fit a suitable tonearm. It’s a tremendous waste of time. When all is said and done, better turntables can be had for an overall similar price. I would take the ready high density solid metal 1200G over trying to DIY some crappy plinth for an SP10MKII. 

My SP10 MK2 project toped out at about 4k yes it adds up . I cannot say that it sounds better then a table costing more money as I don't have one to compare in my system . All I can say I am happy with the way it turned out and enjoyed building it . My table is unique to me anyone could go out and by a finished product . . A waste of time for me not . I had fun doing it .

Got it @chakster

Btw, I don’t believe that one needs a super duper tonearm to evaluate a turntable’s greatness. A rewired jelco or Rega 1000 with a quality cartridge and phonostage will clearly show if turntable is average, good or great. Whether the Technics tonearm is as good as the jelco and Rega stuff, we need to see.

If the 1200G is really high end turntable then adding a super arm will definitely make sense.

I had Nottingham Analog Spacedeck and Specearm. One day I compared it with my friend Lenco L75 With Rega RB250. The biggest difference was PRaT accuracy. When we listened classical piano. When Lenco played, a message of musician was so clear! In opposite to it, Nottingham played a set of not connected sounds.

I bought Lenco L78 with SME 3009 tonartm and heavy plinth.
I liked it a lot. It was much more musical it has better tone naturalnes compared to Nottingham (espessilay on piano and organ). The base was more detaled and sound separation was better too.
I wanted to try something better. I bought DD - EMT948. Is was as musical as Lenco but even more accurate and detailed.

The love of audiophile to belt drive turntable is on of the biggest delusions.
Most of belt-drive turntables ruin PRaT the entity of music.
Producers started to built belt-drive (like Linn LP12 and Thorens 125), because they where cheap! But it is sad that now people buy turntables with toy car engine and price tag of luxury car.

Amen axelberger ! You told it like it is .