Pro-Ject turntables

$2500 can buy you a pretty sweet rig, but don't forget to factor in the cost of a good phono stage. If your budget is for table, arm and cart, now you should start to research phono preamps.

If you are just starting out with vinyl and do not have an existing collection, then there are many good budget units available. And BTW, keep in mind that the cart and phono stage need to be a good match.

Johnnyb53, very nice post, thanks for doing the work I'm too lazy to do.

04-25-14: Dave_72
Thanks again, Dayglow. I'm open to all suggestions really. I can basically afford the $2500. Matter of fact, even double that, but is it worth going into that price range? My Technics + cart cost me all of around $900, and it sounds pretty sweet to me, lol.

I have the exact same turntable, but I've gotten significantly better performance out of it with some tweaks--the KAB tonearm fluid damper, a Sorbothane mat, tonearm wrapped in Teflon plumbers tape, an LPGear ZuPreme headshell, and a platform made of some gel pads, a heavy 3-1/2" thick maple butcher block, and some Vibrapod cones and pads. Here's a picture.

However, if you're considering the $2500-5K range, you can do better a couple of ways. One is to get an SME armboard for your Technics and mount an SME tonearm. Tone Publications did just that and the review is here starting on p. 15.

Another alternative is to go for one of the overachievers in your target price range. My nominees would be something from Well Tempered such as an Amadeus or Simplex, or the $3K-ish Townshend Audio Rock 7.

Ok, thanks again. Much appreciated. There's so many options in the $2500-$6k range, that it's a bit confusing to me. You have Avid, Clearaudio, Luxman, Nottingham, SME?, Transrotor, etc.

I personally like the Luxman out of those at the moment. It has the functionality of my Technics with better build and is belt drive.

I could change my mind, which I usually do, haha.

My phono stage is internal in the Bryston BP6 preamp. Bryston says it's broadcast quality...

In the $2,500 to $6,000 range you do have a large number of choices. I have a Basis and a SME 10. I can readily recommend both, they are great turntables; and both can be bought used in your price range.