TT Recommendation

Think Long, proceed with all or some now.

What do you listen to? Any Mono? More than 1 Stereo Cartridge? A MM cartridge, and/or a MC Cartridge?

IOW, think about having either

1. TT with Single Tonearm with VTA on the Fly (fairly quickly change headshells with pre-mounted cartridges)

My friend, with help here, just chose a single adjustable arm, Technics 250 with VTA Base 500 to put on his Technics SP15

2. TT with Multiple Tonearms, i.e. Stereo and Mono arms ready to instantly choose in a listening session.

Just within your budget, bit by bit, I got a Vintage JVC Victor Plinth PL-2, Vintage TT81 spinner, 3 Tonearms, SUT with 3 inputs and Pass into single beloved MM Phono.

8th photo here

This would give you a terrific 2 arm plinth, tt81 spinner, 7082 long arm with VTA on the Fly., around $1,100 usd.

I wrote Eugene, he sent me photos of the arm's rubber gasket, it has no sag as most do (easily repaired if they do).

Get the P8 and put a Clearaudio Charisma cartridge in it. Stay away from unipivot arms!!!

You're close to being in the price point of the STST Motus DQ....modern low torque DD with 30 years of development...just to make you aware

disclosure: I am the N America sales agent for STST

Find a place to audition the turntables.

I have a Rega P8 with the Ania cartridge and I am very pleased with the sound.  Easy to set up too.

There's a lot of good options and be realistic with how much you like or dislike setting up and tweaking.  If you don't P8 is great set-up and forget - if you do VPI and others may be a better fit for you.  And if you want to really go down the analog path at some point the internal phono stage will be your weak link.