1.- buy yourself a nice vintage MM cartridge from the same era with Line Contact type stylus (avoid spherical/conical or elliptical).
2.-All of the prog bands had many great recordings on Island, TFCL, Deram, Chrysalis, Manticore, Virgin, Harvest....
3.-Regadring turntables you can always buy brand new Technics Direct Drive like SL1200GR for example.
4.-The price doesn't dictate what your ears will like.
5.- Be careful with the new MFSL, Direct to Disc... new pressings!
6.- Technics DD + SME V arm can suck the life of any deck.
You're great! be safe!