Technics SL-1200GAE or VPI HW-40 or …?

@billstevenson As you are quite familiar with the models and the Technics can be purchased without a Tonearm.

Do you feel either TT's would be as equal to each other as you describe, if the Technics had a much more expensive Tonearm mounted to push the overall cost more towards the cost f the VPI ?    

It seems to me that Technics makes a model much more expensive and perhaps competitive with the VPI in their 1000 series.  Truthfully there is not as much difference in performance between these TTs as you would think. 

I had an original VPI Prime and traded it in for a Technics SL1200G. If you want to constantly fuss with the turntable, get a VPI. If you want to enjoy your music with a fantastic turntable that is not fussy but pretty much a set and forget table, get the Technics. I love mine and now I have both a MM & MC cartridges set up on 2 headshell. It is so easy to swap and reset the tracking. In less than 2 minutes you can swap cartridges and enjoy your vinyl.

I agree that the VPI Prime was more fussy than the Technics because I had a Prime before I traded it for the HW40.  The HW40 is not fussy at all, however, and is just as set it and forget it as the Technics. 

I owned the HW 40 and the sound quality was dynamite. It is huge and barely fits on a normal rack. I own a Technics 1200g now and believe the engineering is tighter if that makes sense. Nothing is left to chance.  I would recommend the HW 40 but highly recommend the Technics. I can only assume the more expensive Technics TT are even better.