What is the best vintage TT for new audiophile?

Sonographe SG-3; AR ES-1; an early LP 12; Planar 3; VPI HW 19;

I recently had the pleasure of starting to restore a friend's SG-3. In terms of its drive system, it is very similar to the AR, and it almost appears that the entire design brief was to make the best AR possible.

What I ppreciated is that the table can be balanced directly from the top of the plinth.

All the tables I mentioned are solid designs which can be bought these days very reasonably. The least fiddly one is probably the Planar 3.

You ask for the best vintage turntables, here is my rating by personal experience :
1/ EMT 927
2/ EMT 930
3/ Lenco L 75
4/ Garrard 301 / 401
5/ Thorens TD 124

My opinion is based on musicality and dynamic factors.
Best regards,
Jean.

Jean, You have a decided idler bias. EMTs are stratospherically high in price these days, even for examples in really nasty condition.

For much less money than Jean's #1,2, 4, and 5 choices, and for a direct-drive option, I suggest Denon DP75 or DP80. Although they have gained a lot of recognition in the last few years, the prices are still way below $1000 for the chassis'. I slightly preferred my fully serviced and updated DP80 to a fully serviced SP10 Mk2, so I sold the latter, kept the Denon. I don't necessarily endorse the lesser Denons in that series.

Well, the best vintage Turntable is that one which works. When you find a
Denon in top condition, think about it. The old Seiki from Japan normally run
like a swiss watch, but the prices are rising from year to year.
Most vintage turntables are grossly overrated (sonically), all I listened to never
moved my impression to the better, the only exception are some Micro Seiki
(but not all). Why not a modern Well Tempered Amadeus? There is definitely
worse out there (sonically) ...
Or you can try to find a Technics SP-10, they are dirt cheap normally and you
can build your own Plinth for it...