Turntable selection advise

No! None of these is a good choice if you are interested in sound quality. Are you REALLY going to play 78s? Do you have a large collection of the 45 rpm 12" records that came out in the late 70s and early 80s? Any preamp that is built into a turntable is unlikely to be suitable for hi-fi use. This sounds like a DJ's table; they have entirely different design priorities than hi-fi users. Look for a good used belt drive table. The direct drive VS belt drive war was fought in the 70s; direct drive lost. You don't say how much you want to invest, I think that VPI represents the most for the money if you purchase new. I have just resumed being a dealer for them after a lapse of 14 years when I was out of the retail end of audio. I did this not to make money, I never have selling audio equipment, but because they represent an attractive , easy to set up package that gives high value. I don't do mail order so I am not trying to sell you one. But there are many other good choices. Have no fear of buying used from someone with a track record.

I checked the tables for sale and VPI Scouts are available at around $1100,A VPI Jr with cartridge for $800, a Rega P25 for $795. These are all very good. If these are too high there are older Thorens at lower prices and Rega has a table for about $400 that will outperform the tables you mentioned.

If you're not looking for the ultimate hi-fi experience the Technics 1200 (or 1210) would be excellent choices. They're really easy to use, dead stable and very reliable. There are also a lot of mods available from KAB if you ever do want to upgrade. They are also an excellent value.

A lot of audiophiles look down their noses at the Tech-12s because they're not hi-fi enough. I wouldn't let that kind of snobery put you off these machines if you just want to play some records. They're really quite good.

I would not mess the with the AT table, but their cartridges are very good. I'm listening to one right now (AT-OC9).

If you're willing to buy a used machine there are lots of great tables out there. Personally I'm a big fan of Sota tables which can be very reasonable here on A-Gon.

all will get the job done...a vintage dual will too,,, go for it.

Doubtful you'll find a better table for the money, than a Technics 1210 MkII, or Mk5. They're loaded with good, usable features, and will surprise you, that they are a good sounding table.

One of the reasons Belt Drive became more popular, was because of its cost, being much less expensive to implement an AC Syncho Motor, rather than a sophisticated DC Servo Direct Drive Motor.

Implementation is the key, and the quality of the sum of parts. Remember, Technics use Direct Drive Motors on thier Record Cutting Lathes. Yes, it's an age old battle, but this doesn't mean one of these Technics Tables, with a very good Cartridge, and Phono Stage cannot produce very good sound.

Not sure how important this is to you, but I believe there is a 78rpm mod-kit from KAB for the Technics, as well as a large slew of other worthy upgrades from them, which will greatly improve the performance of these bulletproof Turntables. Most of the mods can be installed by an adept end user. Things like a Cardas Tonearm rewire might be best left to Kevin at KAB.

You can modify-upgrade the Technics as funds allow.

About a phono stage, I again gather you have none in your current component arsenal, and if you wish to stay with a Moving Magnet Cartridge, these don't necessarily have to be prohibitly expensive to acquire a great sounding Stage.

I think a nicely set up Technics, with a good MM Cartridge, something like the AT-150MLX, and a good Phono Section will give many years of great enjoyment. The entire package (Table-Cartridge-Stage) should be able to be purchased new, for around $1K.
Mark