Best turntable under $4000


I am looking to take the next step in my analog journey. I currently am using a Fluance RT85 with ortofon 2m blue. I have a Rogue Audio cronus magnum iii. I am running them with Kef 104/2 's. Fluance seems to get alot of hate on here. I was considering a cartridge upgrade but I am hesitant to upgrade more then the cost of the table. I don't hear much background noise and like the sound. I guess I am wondering if I don't know I hear noise because I have not heard a turntable that eliminates that noise? When I went from my Onkyo to my Rogue Sphinx iii I realized I had been missing a whole lot of sound. Then I ditched my rebuilt EPI M150's and heard hidden instruments in tracks I have listened to for years. I am looking for that in a turntable upgrade.  Apperance is important. I have interest in the following:

Clear Audio Concept Wood w/ maestro v2

Mofi fender precisiondeck w/ mastertracker

Stretching my budget is:

Dr. Feikert Volare no cartridge

Gold Note Pianosa no cartridge

These take me out of my budget once I get a cartridge

Any other reccomendations 

I will miss the autostart function for those buzzed listening nights. I would like the 4k to include a cartridge. Any opinions are welcome. Anyone think I should say screw the "rules" and get an Ortofon black?

 

Thank you in advance

cpdkee

Goofy and Elliot, OK, perhaps I should have put it another way:  Many of the turntables you guys have recommended either suck outright or are going to be problematic for any newbie, because old TTs (e.g., greater than 20 years) with high degrees of automaticity (e.g., autolift at the end of an LP) are going to need service, if not in the short run then very soon thereafter. So, for a true newbie, which neither of you are, purchase of complex vintage TTs is not advisable, no matter how quaint any particular one of them may be.  An initial bad experience with a troublesome TT might alienate someone from vinyl altogether. I guess that's what got under my skin. I meant no offense.

lewm

true, all these are not meant for newbies, that's for them to decide,

others have varying skills, perhaps like me, didn't know that model existed.

newbie, like my two nephews, this will get em started enough to decide if they are going to stick with Vinyl.

$228. best price I found, orders confirmed, shipping/tracking issued (could have been a come-on)

 

 

I just sent them 100 lps each.

 

@lewm The best advice I could give to a newbie is to buy a belt driven transcription  type turntable. But even that comment would be met with disapproval. I’d also try educating that person on the various types of tonearms and how adding an after market tonearm to a good table with a stable motor can potentially reward the listener with a better rig. I’d also recommend potential buyers to visit their local dealers to find out what type of tables they offer. I believe the point is to plant a seed in the mind of newbies so they developed a curiosity and eventually understand the advantages and disadvantages regarding various design choices in both new and vintage turntables. I honestly think the best way to help on these forums is just to mention all of those things I mentioned above as they come to mind. There’s no way we can help someone completely, they are going to have to think for themselves. If someone looks at an $800.00 direct drive table and think it’s going to beat the flagship VPI in a listening test, then they just lack the brain power to make pragmatic choices and should have an appointed legal guardian to take care of their finances.

unusual from McIntosh: Integrated TT with Preamp and Amp Built-In

 

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