If you were looking for a direct drive turntable ...

If you are a relative newbie to this hobby or to DD turntables, it would be a no-brainer to opt for the new Technics, the best one in the G series that you can afford. Among vintage direct drive turntables, my opinion is that the Denon DP80 or DP75 is the best bang for the buck. (The two models have identical specs, so I think of them as equivalent; I own and enjoy a DP80 that was refurbished for me and for which I made a Pennsylvania slate plinth.) If you’ve got the bucks, PBN Audio make a killer wood plinth for the DP80. The DP75/80 is also easily serviced, compared to some others that require hard to find parts, should something go wrong. If you go vintage, do not buy a "broken" unit with the notion that you can have it fixed cheaply. Buy only a known functioning unit in good condition, preferably with a recent service history and from a reputable seller.

In the present market the best value for money Vintage DD I am willing to make known to you is the Aurex/Toshiba SR-510. It was the Brand Top of the Line from the era of manufacture and can perform to a very high level of presentation.

I own a selection of the other Vintage DD TT's and do not see any model as being undesirable.

The Caveat is that they can be purchased as an Item that has never received any attention and can be received after a purchase in need of a visit to a service engineer that has a familarity and understanding of the chosen model.

With what is known today as well about our wounded beautiful planet, any purchasing that eliminates the need to Manufacture is kinder to our Global Home.

Used/Vintage Purchases are much more friendly to the planets future.   

Lots of upcoming listening enjoyment to be encountered either way, New, Used or Vintage Purchase.   

I just bought a lightly used Pioneer PLX1000 for $350USD with an Ortofon Concorde Mix cartridge and a Fluance PA-10 phono stage. I feel like I won the lottery! It's really good for the small money I paid for it. Can't wait to put a better cartridge on it an see what it can do. Highly recommended at the current price.

For my part the most accomplished DD that I ran was this tank of a turntable

http://www.thevintageknob.org/kenwood-L-07D.html

@elliottbnewcombjr , Yes, it is like a grand. The top should be open during play or you get a muffled sound especially since it is up against a wall. I would think "In the Garden of Eden" would do it.