Turntable recommendations

solypsa, I hate it when people advertise on this sight however you did it gracefully and if the suspension on that table is tuned correctly (it looks like it is adjustable for tonearm mass) it is way too cool for school. It is the first suspended direct drive I have ever seen. IMHO a turntable that is not isolated is worthless. Please message me with your contact info.

Mike

Done.

I hear you about schilling for business on forums. I am an analog enthusiast foremost and I do have an audio business which I try to make clear always. I post out of enthusiasm as much for business and always with respect. Like I said there is a lot of analog goodness out there!

I've had the Luxman PD-171A for 11 months. This is my last TT. Well thought out and easy to setup. I love the built in strobe window as you can dial in the speed for both 33 & 45 rpm. Easy to change carts as it comes w/a detachable head. Fit and finish is equal to any TT on the market. My opinion is they could have charged more and no one would complain. I have it hooked up to a Luxman CL38U-SE all tube preamp which has a 3 tube phono and includes 4 stepup transformers. Two for MC High and two for MC Low. Currently I'm using a Dynavector 20 XL2 MC cart. After I get my Tax refund I'll be moving up to a Dynavector XX-2.

If you can find a used Merrill Williams REAL with the mid level Helius arm. Origin live arm also perhaps with a Kuzma table as another mentioned. Probably cant find a Kuzma 4 Point with table within your budget. 

 The alacrity with which certain persons state their personal preferences as absolute fact always surprises me. I won’t name names. 
Tasty, you keep asking about Vertere turntables. Could you be referring to “Verdier”? The Verdier Platine is a classic, uses string drive, massive maglev  platter, mounted on a soft mushy footed granite base. IMO it has a few design flaws and is out of date these days, but it certainly is loved by many. Try to get an audition and take a good look at its construction so you can form your own opinion. 

Mijo, your blanket statement that idler drive turntables are per se noisy is just ridiculous. In fact a well developed idler is perhaps one of the best choices if you want great bass. That does require expensively modifying a Lenco or Garrard 301/401, I admit. I don’t like TD 124 Thorens based on my opinion of SQ, possibly because it’s got a belt driving the idler. Worst of both worlds, IMO.