Choices, turntable purchase choices?


Recently I have been investigating a future turntable purchase. Not that my current JVC, QL-Y5F is a problem or not working right, but as in much of this hi-fi hobby we look to make gear changes at times. Thus, I began to think, I want to make sure any turntable I'd buy is one that I'd hopefully enjoy for a long while at least 5 years before any future upgrade or change itch may return. If I'm lucky maybe longer. This is why my budget range is above going entry level or the likes. No, I do not have a Champagne budget, but a Regular Joe beer budget range. However I want to get a rig that will give my notably solid vinyl playback quality enough to hopefully keep me happy with said table for a while.

So lots of reading and surfing the web etc has led me to a few choices I'd like to ask for opinions and if any of you own or have owned your thoughts.

1: Clearaudio, Concept $1400.00 to $2000.00 depending on cartridge options. If sans cartridge I'd look at putting my Ortophon 2M Blue on it. How does the Concept MM stack up as an alternative to the Blue? Is the Concept MC worth $500 more than the Concept MM?

2: Rega, RP6. $1500.00 to $2000.00 depending on going no cartridge or adding the Exact2. Rega definitely goes another direction to the Concept. It does come with a dust cover as standard though. Looks to have a nice RB303 arm too.

3: VPI, Scout $1800.00 with no cartridge or dust cover. Another cool tone arm though.

4: Another suggestion in the $1400.00 to $2000.00 range?

None of the choices above precludes making future cartridge changes and/or phono Preamp ones. I have a Cambridge Audio 640p running well right now.
les_creative_edge
You might add the new $1300 VPI Traveler to your short list. It was on silent display at the recent NYC Audio Show. Of course I have no idea what it sounds like but it looked and felt like a solid, substantial product. The price would leave you a lot of money left over for a cartridge.
After weeks of shopping and studying to find my next turntable to meet my new wants I chose to scale my options to a sub $2000 limit. It was still rather hard but in the end I chose to go and discover the Rega ideals in vinyl playback. I got myself a P3-24 with Ely2 and TT-PSU. A more than fair price well below my max budget.

I look forward to receiving it and I hope it gives me a number of years of vinyl playback pleasure. I know there are rd parts mods one can add to Rega's too but I also know this will not likely be my last turntable but I still want one that will give me sonic pleasure. I'm confident this baby will do so.

I will return later once I've had it running for a while to give you all my impressions.

I just bought a Rega RP3 and installed a Linn Adikt MM cart. and it sounds as good to me than the 2 Linn Sondek 12 LP's I had with the Ittock LVII tonearms. 810.00 + 550.00 for the cart. vs 2,700.00 much simpler and a lot less hassle and lots cheaper to upgrade.
Well done Les, I think you will enjoy the Rega-really nice turntable. Congratulations and welcome to the world of Rega.