Best bang for the buck turntable?

It's nice to have a TT to play the vinyl you own, but keep it simple.

I have to say you have significantly changed your approach from what you wrote initially, which suggested you were going to replace all your CDs with vinyl.

What-are-you-nuts! :)

I would second the recommendation of the Technics SL-1200/1210 for your short list. Like shoes, there is no one table that will fit everyone perfectly, but the Technics is a beautiful all rounder, with great sound, durability, ease of use and mechanical integrity.

IMHO focus on the full setup - turntable, phono pre-amp and record cleaning machine. If you are just getting back into vinyl I would recommend starting at the low end, compare with your CD player and then with a known reference point, upgrade as your ear leads. Turntables - MMF-5 or NAD (which if I am not mistaken is a rebadged Rega) on the low end, MMF-7 and Rega a little more. For phono pre-amp on the low end I would recommend NAD pp-2 or the Cambridge Audio 640p. Moving up some in price I have heard good things about the Jolida tube phono pre though I have not listened to it. As far as record cleaning you can't go wrong with the VPI 16.5. If you want something more automatic you will pay accordingly.

I agree with what some others have said here--no need to go there unless you plan to spend much, much more. If I were in your position, rather than spend 1K on a turntable and then god knows how much to retrofit your software, I'd either:

1. Consider spending at least 2K on a very nice used turntable (and considerably more on top for the LP's to play on it) or

2. Sell you CD player and dump the money into either;

a) a better CD player, or
b) better components in the signal chain.

I say this because a 300-1K table will probably not equal the performance of your current cd player. Why go vinyl if you are not going to reap the dividend you seek? If you can go higher and want to make the commitment to vinyl I say go for it otherwise stick with the format that you already have a deep catalogue and upgrade elsewhere to improve the sound of your system. If you already had a whole bunch of records lying around and wanted something to play them on then I could see spending a few hundred on a table--otherwise put the money elsewhere.

All the other accessories will add up quickly, your records can never be too clean. I would find a great budget table like an older VPI, maybe a Thorens but stick with a belt driven table. Then spend some money on a chemicals, possibly make a home made record cleaning machine like I did & spend the rest on used vinyl. Once you get into it you will find that the upgrade bug will bite you but at least you will have a better idea what your tastes are.