Advice on Turntable & MC cartridge under $2k

@chakster , don't need the factory as it is not an issue for me, I have soundsmith for the rebuild and if that is a problem for you just purchase from Music Direct for $100.00 more and your problem is solved and still under $2000.00 for the combo I mentioned to begin with. Thank you for your input though and enjoy the music.

@tooblue Thanks for the suggestion, I'm in the UK and those turntables are pretty expensive here. I'll keep an eye out for a used one.

@chakster I'm actually quite happy with my MM cart but I need an MC to test a preamp design. I'm set up with the lab test equipment but need something for listening tests. What do you reckon I'd need to spend to get a TT and Cart without going over the top?

I can stretch the budget a bit, I can get Rega 8 with an Apheta 2 cartridge for around $3k - does anyone have experience with those?

Technics 1200gr and a Hana SL (ortofon black) would be a nice combo, or any similar priced cart MM-MI-MC. 

I spent this past weekend at a tech event at my local audio shop they are Technics and Rega dealers they had all the technics tables set up in the same system, Naim-Totem based system. I spend 4 hours there Saturday evening listening and have to say the new Technics tables are fantastic IMO better then the similar priced Rega's they also had. I found the 1200gr to be the sweet spot in the line 95% of the 1200g at half the price (lets not get into the $25k table here), even the 1500c was surprisingly good for the money even the built in phono stage was quite good. All the tables had the same cart on it I believe an Ortofon black. 

Over all I was really impressed with the new Technics tables. The 2 Rega's we listened to (can't recall models but they were priced similar to the 1500c and 1200gr), are good too just not my choice from the listening session, I do believe they had Rega carts on them though so that will effect the outcome. I felt the Rega's were lean sounding in comparison, that of course could be the cart. 

I liked the substantial mass of the technics tables over the light weight tables from Rega. But I've always been a mass or suspended guy.