06-20-08: Rccc
There is no best at any price point. In the range your asking about there are a ton of choices that come down to personal preference.
True. They all have compromises--belt drive, rim drive, direct drive, mass-loaded, suspended, 9" arm, 12" arm, etc.
You need to hear the sonic signatures of the various design philosophies (and their executions) and go for a good representative of the type the presents music the most like you perceive it.
