Best way to spend $2k on a used Turntable & Arm?

Doesn't the Manfred also have a maintenance free bearing? I don't mind having something that is "less common". I may be using a Mastersound tubed phono preamp with my selection. Thanks again.

The bearing is supposed to be maint. free.I believe the VPI bearings should be lubed annually.

Any Thoughts on the Roksan Radius 5 w/ NIMA arm & Corus Black cart.? ($3410.00 retail)

While a little over your budget audioclassics.com has a VPI Aries 1 with JMW 10 arm for $2300 (I had contacted one of the sales reps -Rick and he said he would do it for $2300 shipped). I was considering that table but bought an Aries 1 on audigon (for more but with an sds speed controller). The audioclassics aries has the orignal heavy platter (similiar in design to the super platter but not as heavy). The Aries is a beautiful table and sounds great. I had owned a linn lp12 and a rega p3 and this was a big step up in my opinion (the linn was an older stock version that I didn't want to put money into). The Aries is a bit large compared to some tables so you will need room for it

I will look at those. It is more than I thought I wanted to spend, but I appreciate the suggestion. The VPI tables seem to be universally liked. There are other lower models on Audiogon that seem to be good buys if I can't swing the Aries 1.