TT suggestions -- please

On a $2500 budget, I'd get a Teres 245 with a Rega RB250 and a Denon DL103.

When you want to upgrade the arm, you can get the OL or Expressimo mods, and get much improved performance without having to sell the arm.

When you want to upgrade the cartridge, you could move to a DL103R, or a Shelter 501.

You won't have to upgrade the TT. It's already as good as just about anything out there.

I think this is a sensible package, that allows room for upgrading without losing money.

The performance will stun you, and if you could afford an extra $100, then get the DL103R to start with. It is well worth the extra, and you won't believe how good it sounds for the money.

Thanks Tom. If I'm not mistaken, the Teres is not suspended, correct. Is this a good match considering my room is not on a concrete slab? Or, is this not something that I need to factor in?

Mike, it's very hard to say whether it will be a factor or not. I have a traditional suspended wood floor on joists, over a crawl space. I have my Teres near the outer wall, and I have no problems with any "dancing" of the TT during play, even when I walk over to it. I don't have to tip-toe around. My large Rottweiler even rough-houses around on the floor right in front of the TT while it's playing, and there is no effect on the TT. On the other hand, I used to have a Linn LP12 that is a suspended TT, and that used to skip any time I walked across the room. And it was properly set up, because I am a Linn setup technician.

So it is very hard to predict what type of behavior will occur on a wood floor. All I can say is that I got better results on my wood floor with a non-suspended TT. I don't know what will happen in your case.

I will say that the Teres will handily outperform anything else you can get near that price range. If the wood floor is a problem, you can address the floor problems by bracing the floor joists underneath. If it is on the 2nd story, then I'm not sure how to handle it. I can only say that getting a suspended TT is no safe bet for that problem either. I found that out with my Linn.

I would be the last person to argue with Tom, but I really like the Sota TTs and you should be able to get a better model at the price range you are looking in. You can buy factory refurbished tables right from them too. It's like getting the best of both worlds. A table fresh from the factory but without the New price tag.
Check www.sotaturntables.com if you are interested.
Good luck