I need a turntable, only have $450 to spare...


More than likely used. I haven't had a turntable since when I was in Germany in 1989 when I had a Denon 37F but I still have my 392 count vinyl collection. I've searched and read plenty of things but they were always with a larger budget. My budget will grow (hopefully!) in the future but I need something to get me along now as I plugged my Teac X-1000r over the weekend and it reminded me how good analog sounds.
My noisemaker goes as follows: CEC 3300R cd player, tube DAC-68, Adcom GFP-750 preamp, 2 Adcom 545 amps biamped to a pair of Wharfedale diamond 9.6 speakers, Dayton interconnects and homebrew power cables. In anticipation to my future TT purchase I got a Bellari VP-130, new but open box. With my current equipment and what I have to spend I'm not expecting a masterpiece BUT I don't want a $99 piece of junk either, just something that I can play for a while and be happy. I understand it may need to have the belt replaced, cartridge. Musically I'm all over the map but mostly Jazz (Monk, Marsalis, Coltrane) and Brit Wave (Joy Division, OMD, Smiths). Where should I start?
mtandrews
ok guys, I'm down to 2 duals and I need to pull the trigger within the next few days. A beautifil CS 5000 (needs cartridge) and an equally clean 721 (late model) with a Shure V-15 type 3 cartridge. Both are pretty close in price. The 721 has been cleaned, oiled and cueing fluid replenished. I'm leaning towards the 5000 due to it being newer, what do ya think? I don't like the rca's on either, I wouldn't attempt to replace the wiring myself (got a local audio repair shop) but where should I look for a reasonable replacement if one is available?
I would choose the 721. I wouldn't change anything until you live with it awhile and hear how it sounds. Is the Shure Stylus in good condition? If not, replacements are available.

Wendell
Narrod nailed it. Get it (and check the stylus), listen to your stuff, and enjoy is all for a while.
i pulled the trigger on the 721. I paid $299.00 but oh well, its less than my $450.00 budget. I'm kinda anxious being I haven't heard vinyl is so long. Thanks to all and Mr_hosehead, the stylus is new(shure V-15 type 3 w/stylus), the reciept and service sheet is supposed to come with it. And Narrod I'm not gonna mess with it right away, but I know me! I hate the interconnects that comes with the components. It's only a matter of time for a obsessive like myself to fall off of the wagon ;-)
MT- If you are gonna change ICs, my suggestion would be to get the whole tone arm re-wired from the cart clips to the RCAs in one continuous run.