Why not the the older Rega, the Planar 3? They sell for around $450.00? Same arm as the P3. The P3 and the Planar3 come with a glass platter standard, not MDF. The plinth is some type of fiberboard, but that is actually a design element, it is supposed to evacuate energy as quickly as possible. The higher you climb in the Rega line, the smaller the plinths get. Less is more. The P9 has a little plinth made of a honeycomb material. There's more than one way to skin a cat, I suppose. Thorens
TD150 MK11 turntables sell for around $250.00 and they can be great as long as the bearing is good and the motor spindle is not bent. The later being a bit of an issue as putting on the platter can cause one to tap the motor spindle bending it. The arm looks like crap, but is actually quite good sounding and a bit on the higher mass side. They sound warmer, richer and a tad slower than the Rega. BTW, I have owned all of the turntables discussed with the exception of the P2, P1 and the one that I recommend below.
Another alternative here, and please, don't scrunch up your face before you consider this, is the Technics SL1200. Please search the forums here and check out the KAB acoustics website. I see 1200s on Craigslist for around $300.00. You must be carefull buying one used though, as DJs like this thing and they can be, well let's just say a bit rough on their gear.
TD150 MK11 turntables sell for around $250.00 and they can be great as long as the bearing is good and the motor spindle is not bent. The later being a bit of an issue as putting on the platter can cause one to tap the motor spindle bending it. The arm looks like crap, but is actually quite good sounding and a bit on the higher mass side. They sound warmer, richer and a tad slower than the Rega. BTW, I have owned all of the turntables discussed with the exception of the P2, P1 and the one that I recommend below.
Another alternative here, and please, don't scrunch up your face before you consider this, is the Technics SL1200. Please search the forums here and check out the KAB acoustics website. I see 1200s on Craigslist for around $300.00. You must be carefull buying one used though, as DJs like this thing and they can be, well let's just say a bit rough on their gear.