best turntable under $5k

Another vote for SOTA. I have the Nova Series V with a Kuzma Stogi tonearm. This combo is around your price range new. Using a Graham or Shroeder Model 2 will take you a little higher but is worth the upgrade I'm told. I'm considering the Model 2 myself.

If still available there is a lovely Teres 255 for sale.

Table or table and arm?And for that matter rember that your Cart and phono stage will DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR influence the sound of your set up.Also what kind of sound do you like (now what we like).Sprung suspension vesus hard mounted cones (used SME 10??) i.e.soft versus hard and or fatser sound.A Linn will sound best to some a Rega P-9 where eveything is as tight and stiff as possible may sound better to the next guy.Then there is convenience features.Do you want to use more than one carttridge?Me I'd like to havce a ghreat stereo cart ,one for mono,and one for beaters which is why instead of multiple arm decks (many fewer today than say the 70's)which could get expensive I went with VPI (though Graham and SME allow either tube or headshell swaps).Also for economy I need to find a good phono section which allows for front or easy changes in configuration.Think there are lot's of variables that go beyond "what's the best at X price" unless you know you have proper matched cart/phono section and other citeria figured out.
Good hunting
chazzbo

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Pedrillo,
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The Turntables from Teres are an incredible value. The best value point might of the line might be the model 320 that sells for % 5,600.00. It would be worth the stretch of $600.00 over your $ 5,000.00 limit (if that is your budget for the table alone).
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Here is the link to the Teres home page:

http://www.teresaudio.com/tables.html
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The Teres TT's are incredibly simple and reliable tables, one of the best motors on the market and perhaps the best sound for the price out there.
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Rgds,
Larry
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Avid Volvere with Rega arm (if you can go 800 higher SME 309. Great tt. Easy to set-up, extremely well made. Dynamics, timing and detail of a non-suspended tt but midrange with depth and palpability of a suspended. Background quietness not unlike cd.