Best phono player for newbie with good 2 ch system

Fluance has a good table near the $500 mark else would absolutely get the Technics 1200GR.
Keep in mind that the Schiit Sol turntable will be out within 2 months or so (lots of folks eagerly awaiting this) and should be around $600. So, may want to wait to check it out

The Pioneer PLX1000 with Nagaoka MP150 is a nice setup, but it is nearly $1000 new. That's fine if it's within the budget. The Pro-Ject Carbon Debut Esprit SB is a complete setup for less than $600.

I recently missed a nice, less than 1 year old, Pioneer PLX1000 w/Nagaoka MP110 for $525 on my local Craigslist. That would have been a great setup at that price.

+1 reubent and noromance! The Pioneer PLX1000 is a solid contender in the "best under $1K" TT's! A quality machine! I have one with a Denon 103R cartridge. If total cost is a factor, then buy the new Grado Black Prestige cartridge from Needle Doctor ($79).

dtx images, What are you going to put it on and what type of flooring do you have. The environment around your table is very important. If you get an unsuspended turntable and put it in on softer floors, anything that is not concrete you will have an unfortunate experience and give up. Same if the cabinet is not rock solid. Good suspended tables like SME, SOTA and Basis are immune to this, not that you do not want to put them in a solid situation. If you have wooden floors you can compensate somewhat by using a wall shelf. They make them specifically for turntables. The SOTA Sapphire 4 is $3500 w/o arm. It is the least expensive suspended table I know of. You will never have a reason to buy another table. You can play with arms and cartridges. 

mijostyn, what am I going to put it on?  I knew this was going to take me deeper than I anticipated ha..
I was just going to put it on a solid side table or on a marble fireplace base.

I guess I'm unaware of how much the table mattered.

I did find a red Pro-ject Debut with preamp for $240 locally im going to pick up tonight.