I've owned at least a hundred TT's for an tricked out Linn LP-12 to a AR-xa ..
Right now I am listening to a Pioneer PLX-1000 with a Soundsmith Ottelo
cartridge at a total cost of 1k + tax .
And yes , it IS great . It was very good but a 700 $ Project DS-2 Phono
pre-amp made it great .
Read The Stereophile review of the PLX-1000, it is spot on !
People who have have never heard one , much less own one , will tell you
it is Chinese junk . They lie .