Clueless and Seeking advice on TT purchase

A number of good turntables are mentioned in the previous posts. At the risk of redundancy, here are the "recommended turntables" ($1000-2000) from the Oct-Nov 2003 issue of The Absolute Sound:
1. Rega P25 (Editor's Best Buy)
2. Basis 1400 (with Rega RB300 arm) (also an Editor's Best Buy)
3. Roksan Radius 5
4. Thorens TD850
5. Linn Sondek LP12
6. VPI HW-19 Mk4

Based on my own listening experiences, I'd add the VPI Scout (arguably the best value of any of the turntables listed above) to the list.

I own a VPI Scout. I don't know how good the Scout is, but I feel the JMW-9 that comes with it is world class. Very rigidly coupled to the plinth, very fine bearing (if you can call it a bearing at all), and fine construction. In fact, I bet you can get very good sound with a decent table when you put in the JMW 9. VPI internally likes the 9 over 10.5 or 12.5 and I can "hear" why. Less (adjustment) is more (sound) really applies here.

I think you know whose ideas I'll second., I mean third! You have seen what I'm doing. You could do basically the same thing for a hell of a lot less time & money. There are easier ways too. IMHO, the only way to go!

Joe's Teres

Thanks all:

Well the Scout looks like the off-the-shelf favorite and the Teres diy route looks like it may be the "best" overall. I've been following your thread Joe and a few others at the Teres site. I've talked to Tom a bit too so I know the value there.

As I said above, I'm a bit on the busy side so another diy
project anytime soon is a handful(I've got four diy-audio going now) and a recent move has my work conditions less than ideal for a few months. Maybe I will put this off until spring and do it right the first time. Or buy a Scout used if one comes up at a good price and turn it over when I do a Teres?

Thanks all for the input keep the good ideas coming!

I remain,

Do yourself a favor and give Kevin Barrett a call: KAB Electroacoustics