Looking for a turntable around $1k...

Fluance RT85
Comes stock with the Ortofon 2M Blue. It has an autostop feature(not lift and return), ceramic platter, and is quite beautiful to boot. There are plenty of Fluance haters on here and would have you spend $$$$$ on a tone  arm. I don’t deny the knowledge or merit of expensive equipment. If you are budget minded the RT85 is $500 and sounds pretty awesome. Lots of videos online to check out opinions.

What do people think of the Technics SL1500C? I'm in the same position- have a Moth that runs slow, a Thorens TD160/ SME3009/ V15 which I've never liked and is in need of TLC and a Technics SL-B210 that also takes eons to lower then bounces like crazy and a brilliant but dull Project Debut

agree dd is better. less hassle switching speed etc. less maintenance issues like loose belt. fast on off. 

the most important is the adjustability opitions  of the tonearm IMHO. and the type of compliance range  you want to play with. tonearm is as or more  important as cartridge. 

70db or more
0.025 percent or less 

for tt spec will have less upgrade bug problem as well. 

The Pro-ject the classic with 2m silver is right there at your budget. It is $1199, but I’ve seen it go on sale for anywhere between $999 and $1099. It is a fabulous well made solid turntable. The Pro-ject the classic sb @ $1499 will get you the speed box option built in plus either a sumiko blue point or Ortofon quintet red moving coil. You are not going to find a better built or better sounding turntable for the money, unless you buy something used. I own both the classic and the sb and use the Hana el moving coil on one and an ortofon quintet bronze on the other. They sound terrific. Go and read the Michael Fremer review on the Pro-ject the classic sb. He found that it sounded great and believes it to be a great value. In fact, read any review of the Pro-ject the classic turntable, all are positive, some glowing. It has very good isolation properties, a terrific carbon fiber/aluminum 9" tonearm, full adjustability for azimuth, VTA, etc....and a genuine wood plinth in three finishes. Its a Linn on a budget.

Alternatively, the Music Hall MMF-5.3 is a bargain right at about a grand.

That plx 1000 has proven to be junk....it is NOT built like the technics 1200 or whatever...it is cheaply made with a crappy tonearm with loose bearings.

Here are some reviews to keep you busy.
https://www.analogplanet.com/content/pro-ject-classic-sb-superpack-turntable-%E2%80%9Cbrains%E2%80%9...

https://www.whathifi.com/us/pro-ject/classic/review

https://worldofturntables.com/pro-ject-the-classic-complete-review-hearing-test/

https://www.cnet.com/news/pro-jects-turntable-makes-you-want-to-get-up-and-dance/

https://www.audioappraisal.com/pro-ject-classic-turntable-review/

https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/pro-ject-the-classic-sb-turntable/

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1218-project-audio-systems-classic-sb-tur...

https://wallofsound.ca/audioreviews/double-tt-review-pro-jects-the-classic-sb-super-pack-funk-firms-...