Turntable recommendations

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 IMO it has a few design flaws and is out of date these days, but it certainly is loved by many.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.