McIntosh MT5 vs Rega 8 or 10

 "Everything I read claims the 10 is another step up in improvements. Are you meaning the 8 has a better value/looking for overall best sound. "

I would stick with those claims. You're always going to encounter opinion with "better value/price  ratio" with everything audio.

Based on your budget for the Mac table, if do keep the Rega P10 as your final choice, get the Apelian cart to go with it. You are going to plug it into a proper phono stage-$3-5K?

The MT5 is made by Clearaudio-there are options in your budget likely equal to or "better" than the Mac facade. 

Yes, looking at phonostage’s also. So many options. How about the Rega Aria or Aura?

I have a P10 and I highly recommend it.   I had the Rega RP10 before upgrading to the P10 and it was a big improvement.  I would get the P10 over P8 because the Rega engineers know what they're doing and they made refinements in the P10 over the P8.  The P8 is a very good value and if you can't stretch to the P10, get the P8 over the McIntosh turntable.

@smatsui

Yes, trying to stretch my budget to the P10. It’s  just a big jump (with the aphelion cartridge) from the 8. What cartridge and phonostage are you using with the 10?

For some unknown reason, McIntosh is taking extreme amounts of time regarding repairs, orders, etc...

As stated before, McIntosh tables are made by Clear Audio. Their turntables mainly appeal those who have McIntosh systems and want to keep the aesthetic. McIntosh makes an electronic sign that display's 'McIntosh' in green and an electronic clock that displays the time in green. Both are above a thousand dollars. And if people have the expendable cash flow to purchase McIntosh equipment for these aesthetic reasons, that's fine but if you're on a budget, I'd seriously consider something comparable to or even better than, for less money.

So then that leaves you with the Rega. I personally am not a fan of Rega's laminated foam core construction. I also had a friend that ordered the P3 and he kept getting a ground hum from the tonearm. He kept taking it back to the dealer until they exchanged the Rega for a Clear Audio. My thought is that you're not likely going to have a problem with the P8 or P10. If you do decide on the Rega, I'd consider installing an Origin Live tonearm in place of the Rega tonearm. I'm guessing that you could order the Rega table without a tonearm but I might be wrong about that.