which turntable for the future?

Thales TTT slim 2 + easy tonearm

Yeah. None of my business regarding your financial status, but if an everyman like me had a Michell Gyrodec with SME V, I would simply be looking to maximize the performance from that setup. Cartridges, tweaks, etc.

lordy i want an ELP in the worst way. if one has that kind of money to spend [not much more than some of the tables mentioned elsewhere in this thread] that is the table i'd get along with the analog i/o declicker they market with it as well as a SOTA record cleaning machine.

@jafox , oh you think? You would be surprised how poorly some people take care of their equipment. Then there is the question of why they are getting rid of the unit. Most can’t pack the turntable appropriately for shipping as the packing can be frightfully complicated. You can bounce around an amplifier without damage but not a turntable. Only if you know the seller, can pick up the table and hear it in action should you consider a used turntable.

Consider a TW Acustic Raven.  Add a Wheaton Triplanar or a Reed arm.  With a top flight cartridge, the combination will sound and look beautiful.  And, it won't need frequent fussing and adjustments.

Keep your current TT as a back up BTW, not worth selling on the cheap.

Just my 2 cents ....