Which TT Music Hall 5.1 or Rega P1 or P2

Sinister,
Yep...like hearing 20 year old recordings for the first time.

I hope you can forgive this interjection of a Japanese direct drive turntable in the thread, but the price range you mention is right in that ballpark, and it offers an interesting alternative, both operationally and sonically.

You can get a Technics SL1210 M5G from Amazon for $598.95. I actually got mine at a Guitar Center and negotiated down to $500. This model has the upgraded tonearm wire. I added KAB's fluid damper, bringing its total price to $650 and I really like it operationally and musically for every kind of music I throw at it, with great s/n, dynamics, slam, depth of image, and (when properly platformed) inner detail. I've lived with it for over a year and am far happier and more satisfied than I could have imagined when I brought it home.

You can also get a Denon DP500M at BrandToyz.com on sale for $561 (down from $700).

If there is one thing DD turntables are not, it is lazy! They are rhythmic and propulsive with great slam and drive. They are also extremely well built, precisely engineered, machined and assembled, and easy and smooth to use.

The Denon is designed for home use and has a lot of anti-vibration engineered into its physical design.

Thanks for the input. I was leaning towards the Rega.

After owning a Music Hall MMF5 and performing a direct shootout with a Rega P25 (with RB1000 arm, I believe), I would recommend the Technics SL1210 M5G from KAB.

I currently own both a Rega P1 and a Project Debut III. The P1 has been up graded with the Glass Platter option and the Debut with the Acrylic Platter and a speed box II. Cartridges are a Grace F9 Ruby in the Rega and an AT30HE moving Coil in the Project. Now with all that established I like the Rega better as it just seems to sound more open and "real" (even when both tables had their original Ortofon OM5E cartridges). The Acrylic platter was a significant upgrade for the Project as was the speed box. But, If I had to choose between them it would be the Rega. I realize these are not the models you are considering but both Rega and Project seem to have a "Family Sound" in their "flat plinth" product lines. Music Hall tables are basically similar to those from Project (as they are manufactured in the same facility) but the comparable Music Hall versions tend to have a few few more features at slightly higher price levels ie: the MH 2.2 has VTA adjustment the Project Debut III does not. The sound of both models is quite similar.