Best turntable/cartridge combo for $700-$750

04-28-08: 5u4
Wondering why the Technics is recommended & not the Rega P1, which is the same price: is Technics a better table?

Overall, I'd say the Technics is a better table than the P1 or P2, though I'd get more disagreement on the P2.

They bring different things to the party. The Regas are lively and being belt-drive, have a certain relaxed presentation about them and a rather organic midrange. They represent 21st century thinking about vibration control and noise isolation. OTOH, for your money you have a pressed wood plinth, an MDF platter, a cheaped-up version of the RB300, and a cheap AC synchronous motor driving the platter via a rubber band.

The Technics is a marvel of economy of scale. These things weigh about 26 lbs., are built to insanely close tolerances (tonearm bearings polished to .5 micron, tonearm bearing drag specified at 7 mg or so). Sonically they have dead-on accuracy, good slam and bass. They represent noise and vibration isolation theory from almost 30 years ago.

As far as build quality, there's no contest that the Technics trumps the P1 and P2. Speed accuracy and basic S/N and rumble figures also tilt to the Technics. Controls are quiet and smooth. You change speeds by hitting a button, not by removing the platter and putting the belt on another part of the motor pulley.

But there's an innate relaxation and musicality to the Regas that is compelling.

It's my understanding that there's only so much you can do to a P1 (or P2) upgradewise to keep it cost-effective. For the Technics, there are myriad aftermarket upgrades that keep making it sound better and better. Since it's based on a very quiet, high precision motor, my personal opinion is that these upgrades are cost-effective and worthwhile. In other words, if you get a Technics for $400 and put $1100 in the RIGHT aftermarket tweaks in it, it'll still be competitive with a $1500 turntable, and to many owners who have done so (by what I've read in this forum), the performance exceeds most 'tables at that price.

I'll say that the $150 KAB fluid damper plus $40 Sumiko headshell elevates the tonearm performance surprisingly. I have no complaints now and no compulsion to upgrade the arm further.

I've also made great gains in inner detail, clarity, smoothness, musicality, etc. by getting a better mat ($10 for a used Oracle Groove Isolator), switching out the stock feet for brass cones ($20), and platforming it on a heavy slab of butcher block (25)supported by shock absorbing isolators such as Vibrapods ($24), Isoblocks, or sorbothane footers.

Wow, great answer, thanks!

A more relevant comparison (quality-wise) would be the 1200 to the newer, more expensive P3/24 which has much more potential for, and worthiness of, upgrading. In my comparison, posted elsewhere here, I mostly favored the P3/24. I would characterize the difference that I heard as more transparency and liveliness but a bit bright and edgy, compared to the Technics being more relaxed and opaque; just one controlled but somewhat limited shootout. I sell both.

dealer disclosure.

I want to thank all the members who responded to my post, especially those who recommended the Technics table and offered opinion about the Rega I didn't think that Techincs offered such a quality product. I have read reviews about the Rega 3-24, but it seems like a lot of money at $895 for what you get, and that does not include cartridge

04-30-08: Piedpiper
A more relevant comparison (quality-wise) would be the 1200 to the newer, more expensive P3/24 which has much more potential for, and worthiness of, upgrading. In my comparison, posted elsewhere here, I mostly favored the P3/24. I would characterize the difference that I heard as more transparency and liveliness but a bit bright and edgy, compared to the Technics being more relaxed and opaque; just one controlled but somewhat limited shootout. I sell both.

I'm curious as to how the Technics was accessorized and platformed, such as the fluid damper, clamp, outboard power supply, etc. I definitely appreciate your comparison of the two, as real side-by-side comparisons of equivalent-cost belt drives vs. the Technics are hard to come by.

You could trick out an SL1210 from Musicians Friend with KAB's tonearm rewire, fluid damper, and Isonoe feet (or most of the way on the outboard PSU) to bring the expenditure to the same level as a bone stock P3/24.

It's interesting that you found the Rega bright and edgy vs. the Technics sounding more relaxed. Usually it's the DD TTs that are characterized as bright and edgy.

In my experience with the Technics, the Sumiko headshell, vibration control platforming, and the right mat make a big difference on transparency.