Best turntable for the buck

For the "money", the Music Hall mmf-7.3 cannot be beat. Just look at what you get for your money. Split plinth, seperate motor, electronic speed control, 9cc tonearm, azimuth and Vta adjustable, acrylic platter, round profile belt, quality phono cables, quality spin on/threaded record clamp, built in level, dust cover, tip toe feet, beautiful real walnut finish (optional), Ortofon 2nd from the top 2m Bronze cartridge. The price has increases recently, and is now generally a 2k turntable... I love mine. Pair this table/cartridge combo with a good tubed phono preamp and it sounds splendid. Not to mention, the turntable looks awesome, if that at all matters....

Upscale offers the Feickert Volare with Origin Live tonearm and Ultratracker cartridge installed for a package price of 4.3k. Surely something like that would work.

@audioguy85 

+1 on the Music Hall products, I purchased a used mmf-5.3 for all the reasons you listed. Solved all my vinyl playback issues and looks great on the shelf. 

There is a glaring omission from the recommendations- the Technics SL-1200/1210 G.

I’m a former Rega and Sota owner. I see the recommendations for the exact same Sota that I owned and just cringe. I hated mine.

The Technics offers everything I value, incredible sound quality, amazing build quality, it’s easy to set up and won’t go out of adjustment. I’ve bought my last turntable.

@nferre66

... makes a good point... Do you want good sound with little fuss... or... the frustrations of pursuing "audio nirvana" with a "finicky" TT?!?  This guy's had both - and he made his choice.  Your choice...