I'd like to hear recommendations for Turntables under $5,000

I own a Thornes TD160 and the best cartridge I ever heard on it was a Grado Sonata Ref wood body ($650). If you want a table that will stay with you forever, I 2nd the J.A. Michell Gyro SE with Techno Arm it is a excellent sounding table. I purchased mine it was a demo paid $3K with arm and have never looked back :-)  Call Needledoctor.


Matt M

The michell gyro se is a great table. The Technics 1200G is a great table.  The SME 10 is a great table, although more expensive.  Listen to the Michell and the 1200G as they are somewhat different in presentation, the 1200g is very accurate and not warm but pretty neutral, the Michell is a little warmer sounding if you like that sound.  I liked them both.  Dont forget the VPI Prime.

invictus, have you ever put an SME V on your Michell?

Refurbished SOTA Nova, refurbished Star, or a new Sapphire are all in that $3K-ish range, but you do have to add an arm. Greatly musical tables that I think are a good value proposition in that range; too often overlooked these days.

@tzh21y I’m running an SME 309 on my Gyro SE and will transfer it to the SME Model 10, whenever I finally get it at the end of this month hopefully.

I have a client who is using an SME V on the Gyro SE.

Both tonearms sound incredible and are a sight to behold and an engineering marvel. I’ll probably upgrade to the V sometime in the future.

Pure van den Hul silver wiring and oil trough improve overall clarity and bass over the 309.

I personally consider V-12 the best tonearm ever made at any price and same applies to the Model 30 turntable.