Turntable cost:benefit

What Dan said. My AudioGrail 401 in a slate plinth with a new steel idler, new heavier platter, and oversize bearing cost about $4200 (+ 2 tonearms) and would trash that SME for less than a quarter of their asking price. To answer your question on number of albums... When your rig sounds this good, you will start collecting records, scouring used record stores for great 60s recordings, and have a good number in years to come.

What the hell does the number of records have to do with it? You have 20 records you loved enough to buy but you don't love them enough to want to hear them sound even better? But if you have 100,000 crappy dirty scratched up records of no-hit wonders you'd never in your life play for yourself let alone anyone else suddenly this justifies a $30k rig? Are you kidding me?

And don't try to hide behind "crappy scratched up", you know what I mean. You either have records you love and want them to sound better, or you don't. You either want to hear the music you love sound as good as it can, or you just want to hear a lot of different music and the hell with how good it sounds.

I have now at least half a dozen White Hot Stampers. A cheap one might be under $100, if you're lucky, but anything really desirable can run $300 or more. By your logic I would have to play each one 100,000 times to be worth owning. Sorry if that sounds stupid, it is. But its your logic NOT MINE!

Mine is: you love it, its worth it. You don't, it's not. My system, every bit of it, totally worth it. Yours... is yours.

I'd love to own Garrard 301 (in Hammertone finishing only), it's a masterpiece of design in my opinion, but the price is absolutely insane! A good plinth will double the price. Fully restored units goes for crazy money compared to many killer vintage turntables on the market, some of them are still underrated and goes for reasonable cost even in mint condition. Taking in count all the hype about Garrard 301 i doubt it's justified its price today. So many turntables to choose and i'm sure anyone can find a truly high-end machine under $3k (complete). I'm totally satisfied with a pair of Luxman PD-444 and to my eyes this is the best design, so i'm happy. Was it reviewed by the Stereophile ? Never! They may never heard of it and never tried it. I always doubt in authority of these people, some amazing products has never been on their radar while so many forum members use those less known products and raving about it. 

Again, the argument about the price has nothing to do with reality. Why some new ugly turntables cost $20k+ ? I have no idea. In my world old Denon, Technics, Luxman, Victor... rules. All of them are direct drive btw. Everything from UK was twice as much in price, always, even records,  especially when the exchange rate of the pound was strong. So the Garrard is a typical example of over-hyped and overpriced unit from UK. I like how it looks, but come on ... 

I never completely understood the hype about audiophile pressing, the choice of music is limited, the price is high and it's all reissues. I always thought the real passion is good original pressings. 

I don't think it is at all possible to come up with a "rational" estimate of this sort for any kind of purchase.  If you have only a few albums that you are crazy about, it might make sense, to you, to get a great table.  I would spend quite a bit even if I were forced to pare my collection down to something like my favorite 100 albums.  

As for the 301, the price for these refurbished tables is extremely high, given that you can still get the same table in reasonable condition on the used market for a lot less, but, in terms of performance, it is a competitive table when compared to modern high end tables.  If you value highly sound that is  dynamic and punchy, and you are forgiving of some noise, it is a better selection than a lot of expensive belt drive tables.  I own an expensive belt drive table, but, I can see the appeal of top notch idlers like the Garrards, Thorens 124 and Lenco tables.

The bad news for owners of vintage 301 and 401 tables is that the newly manufactured replacement parts that use to come from Loricraft will no longer be available except to those who own the "new" (actually refurbished) tables.  It is time to scour the market for motor bushings and rubber motor mounts, etc.

Cost is all relative - balancing your means and what you value in life.  Cookie cutter assessments relative to self-reflective definitions of value only apply to you.  How much is too much to spend to nurture one's soul?