Most hyped turntable, tonearm, and cartridge?

@chakster  I heard the Nakamichi turntable with auto centering feature back in the 1980s at M&K Sound in Los Angeles.  At the time, it was the finest LP sound I had ever heard.  Dyanamic and without wow problems.  

I had a choice of a Linn table in 1981.  I purchased the VPI 19-1 instead.  It sounded better.  Then in 2005, I bought a fully loaded VPI TNT VI.  It sounded blah until I placed it on a Townsend Seismic Sink, then it became the table it can be.  I still use the VPI 19-4 for 78s and it is super dynamic.  Neither table is unattractive although the VPI 19 does look pedestrian but so what?

Commonwealth 12/D if you can find one.

Not all vintage is good. If it was a top pro deck back then it’ll be up there now. Not all modern is good. Same rule applies. If it is good now it’ll hold it’s own in the future. As a record producer and mastering engineer cutting vinyl everyday we have 7 turntables and a lathe. We use the best of breed both ancient and modern. No bias except that the good vintage stuff was not built to a price. It was built to last and the professional side of the business using and making the products had big R&D budgets: RCA, Decca, EMI, Western Electric, BBC. Those budgets have shrunk now. The only money being spent is for high end home stuff now or pro software. This is why good vintage matches good modern. Emphasis on the word “good”.

Also it depends on the application. For my radio show, Technics. It’s not all about sonics in that scenario because the output is compressed and normalised.
It’s more about useable and reliable gear.

In the studio flat response and several reference decks to be sure. EMT, Audio Note, Rega, lathe in playback mode and TW Acustic.

At home musicality and aesthetics are more important.

For me only the Commonwealth does it all. Like an EMT but built like a lathe. It’s actually quiet for an idler too. 

He thought it should cost $40K instead of $20K. I kid you not. They were from Asia somewhere and were trying to impress their friends

Thx for response. I believe you. For some, what is important is how much they paid for. The more they pay, the less chance other people can afford, which will make them feel that they are something special. Like those who carry Gucci and Chanel bags. Yes, some of those super rich (not necessarily Asians but many other too) will think 20k is too little to spend for turntables and other audio gears for them to show off. Well, nothing wrong in the modern economy. 

I Just picked up a Kenwood 5021 Table built in 1972 paid $650.00 for it. The drive system looks about the same as the Thorens 124. Anyone have any info about this table?

Don’t sleep on the JVC QLY-55F. I’ve an example that’s in 8/10 condition. Very good performance. Okay maybe not overhyped, and it’s direct drive, but it’s a classic and it’s still running on all original equipment. That’s what a 42 year old turntable? 
I recently mated it with a Clearaudio Virtoso cartridge, and you know what? It sounds really good!