And now for something completely different. A few years ago, I ordered a GEM Dandy Polytable in your price range, a table that was suggested to me personally by no less than Michael Fremer himself.
Despite the witty name, this table is pretty serious. It’s the first "entry-level" design by TT Yoda George E. Merrill ("GEM" -- get it?). If you call the company directly to order, George himself will work out a configuration with you, after which, your unit is then built to order under his supervision. This is a boutique operation, providing the kind of personalized service that is pretty rare these days. Post-sales support, in my experience, is unparalleled.
The Polytables’ plinths seem to share a design philosophy with Rega tables like the Planar 10 -- lightweight, exceedingly stiff, well isolated. But the table’s big claim to fame is its DMD outboard digital motor, which (and Fremer’s own measurements confirmed this) is incredibly accurate. Although I can’t personally confirm it, George claims the DMD to offer speed accuracy in a class with six-figure tables.
And as a lifelong gizmo freak, I'm blown away by the table's "Clockwork Orange" aesthetic.
One caveat: Definitely configure the DMD motor: in addition to speed accuracy, it lets you change speeds by pressing a button.
The GEM Dandy is aunique bespoke component, not for everyone, but still interesting enough to warrant a look. You can find reviews of the table and George’s preferred Sorane arm (a big upgrade from the original Jelco) at Fremer-era AnalogPlanet & TAS.
Today, a mid-to-high-end configuration + 9" arm runs about $4500-5000. I originally outfitted my unit with an Ortofon 2M Black (about $800 at the time) & that was a good match, but the table produced even more impressive SQ when I later upgraded to a $2500 Hana Umami Blue MC.
https://www.analogplanet.com/content/gem-dandys-polytable-signature-and-sorane-ta-1l-tonearm
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/gem-dandy-polytable/