Ready to try vinyl


I would like to buy a turntable just to see what all the fuss is about. Since I remember the pops and scratches all too well, I do not want to spend alot just to satisfy my curiosity. I want a turntable that is capable of giving me a "taste" of what the vinyl sound is all about without going overboard. I can always upgrade if I like what I hear. I would also like to avoid deciding against vinyl because the turntable was not capable of capturing at least the basics. What turntables should I be looking at and how much should I spend? I would prefer to buy used due to the experimental nature of this adventure. Current gear is Sunfire processor with phono input, a pair of Classe M 701's, and B&W 800N. I am relying on your responses since I don't know squat. Thanks for your help.
baffled
Certainly I'm up for it, I like tests.

Your welcome to fly here and bring whatever equipment you wish. I have a nice high end system to do the audition and a support group of audiophiles to help us physically move things.

If you don't like my equipment, one of my members must have a speaker you approve of, including Vandy 5's, Kharma Exquisite 1D-E, Wilson Maxx, Wilson Watt 6, Sound lab A-1, Sound Lab A-3, Magneplanar 20's, Magneplanar 3.6, Aerial 10B, and from the "do it yourself" crowd, multiple horn systems powered with SET amps.

How far away are you?
my humble take on this is that in fact speed accuracy IS INDISPUTABLY as important as it "seems," and the issue at hand is not the table/arm/cartridge combination, but the table ONLY, and it's one and only function, which is to maintain as stable a speed as is possible to reproduce the time domain of the LP. to compare this to specifications of amplifiers is comparing apples to horse apples IMHO. the key is IMPLEMENTATION (as in all things), and the walker had better be optimized in this respect to justify it's price. to hear a properly implemented/optimized technics, lenco or garrard with the same arm and cartridge would be preferred, and i guess that's where things are going. this is getting exciting!

i would add that jean's lenco thread did not require endorsement by anyone, it has stood on it's own merits and by his (significant and ongoing) efforts since day one. not trying to be overly contentious, but that needed to be said. credit where credit is due.
Raoul, since Albert is such a fine gentleman, make sure you bring him and his friends a case of the finest tequila: PatrĂ³n.

http://www.patronspirits.com

***
Accurate speed measured over what interval(s)? This might make all the difference!