Sent Back the Pro-ject Turntable: What would be the best option in the $1800 range?

They are very bad belt drive for crazy price like $2000 and can’t compete with Technics GR Direct Drive that OP can buy for $1500 (amazing deal actually).

Schiit is a piece of sh.... t.
A proper phono stage required anyway sooner or later, SoundSmith can offer MM phono stages, JLTi is offering great MM/MC phono stages....

I highly recommend the Gem Dandy Polytable - designed and manufactured by turntable guru, George Merrill - see www.hifigem.com/polytable.html.  I have owned one and loved it, and now Ihave upgraded to George's Super12. George is great to deal with and he really knows what he is doing from a design standpoint. 

Sounds like the OP’s tastes and sensitivities might be more oriented to the sound of a table with a suspended sub-platter.

I’ve a personal preference for suspended sub-platter designs, personally. Finding that they seem to have the best noise floor and dynamic range, overall, as a type of design.

I second the Polytable (with Jelco 850) as an alternative to the GR.

Just found this on sale at Audio Advisors  Bryston BLP .5 Turntable With BTP1 Power Supply-Audio Advisor this should be in your price range.