Direct Drive

@lewm  Yes, what I wrote was ambiguous. I meant, "I agree with Lew (about TT and tonearm being important) AND TT is most important ...".

@pedroeb  Absolutely. Which is also why some mechanism of keeping the record flat is so important. Vacuum hold-down is effective but cumbersome, but a reflex clamp is just as good for most records.

@ketchup  My tonearm is an air bearing DIY with rock solid shafting and precision adjustments in all directions. The actual fine measurement of azimuth is from a fine scale counter marked in 100 micron increments, but capable of repeating to within 20 microns. Since the beam is 254 mm, resolution is calculated quite accurately by the small angle relation tan ~ sin ~ angle in radians, and 20 microns corresponds to about 30 seconds of arc. Adjustments on this scale are not sufficient to impair horizontality much at all, and so I have azimuth on the fly. Adjustment is secured by a brake.  

The TT > Tonearm and mounting method for these two items are all equally important.

A poor functioning TT will not allow the Tonearm to present to it best.

A poor functioning Tonearm will not show the TT when at its optimum performance to be presenting at its best.

A poorly thought-out mounting method will not enable, either TT or Tonearm, if both optimized in their design and setting up, to present at their best. 

When this Trilogy of mechanical interfaces is produced to a standard that is sympathetic to the optimised function of each.

It then makes sense to concern oneself about the other ancillaries to be used, i.e, Cartridges and the remainder of the Signal Path. 

My experiences have shown myself, that a sub £1000 Cartridge can prove to be as attractive in use as a £4000+ Cartridge when used on an optimised TT > Tonearm Set Up with careful consideration put in place for the Signal Path materials.  

OK the Technics 1500 is working and I’ve bought a few records. Unfortunately I am having a problem with the phono preamps that I had in storage as they both don’t seem to be working. I knew one was problematic but was disappointed that the other isn’t producing any sound, as it was fine when last used but hey, it’s been in storage for 6 years. The tt has a built in phono preamp-glad I opted for that— so that is what has been used. I also picked up a used Project usb preamp for about $30, as I am intending to digitalize some lps, and it does work but predictably sounds like you know what when just used as a preamp alone, but at least the fact that it works let’s me know that there isn’t a problem with the output of the tt itself.

So using the included pre amp I am impressed with the speed stability of the table. Also these used recordings sound dead quiet. However the volume is meh. I have to push my Cary SLP-3 preamp to its limit to get a volume that is about 80% of my normal listening level.

  So I want a new phono preamp but I have kind of hit the budget at the moment.  I am thinking of something in the 200-$300 range hoping that I can at least get to a normal listening level.  Yes, I have read the threads here that suggest the phono should cost as much as the tt, but reality is intruding.  I don’t see this as ever being more than a secondary source for me anyway.  I am going to ask a bricks and mortar store if they will let me home demo something in that range

You might be able to find a used Parks Puffin in that price range.