The alloy platter can work just fine; it just benefits from a better mat that dampens the platter more and isolates the record better. The cheapest fix is to get KAB's Supermat, the original Technics mat which weighs over a pound and is only about $20. Besides the mats mentioned here, owners have reported good results with the Iron Audio, the SoundSteel one, and the Herbie's Way Excellent Mat.
I use a discontinued Oracle Groove Isolator heavy sorbothane (NOT sorbothane gell) mat with good results.
I also use the KAB fluid damper, threaded brass cones instead of the stock feet, situate the TT on a thick butcher block cutting board, and place silicon gel pads under the cutting board.
Several users/owners (including me) really like the Sumiko or LP Gear Zupreme headshell at $40-50. It has better lead wires and tags, the headshell is more rigid and non-resonant, and it enables you to adjust the azimuth.
The extra weight of these headshells makes an ideal pairing with several cartridges with a compliance around 11-15, such as the Denon DL-110 or 160, Denon DL-301 or 304, and Audio-Technica AT150MLX or AT OC9.
I'm running an AT150MLX mounted on an LPGear ZuPreme headshell and couldn't be happier. It's the longest I've gone with a single cart/headshell combination since I got the turntable not quite 2 yrs ago.