Analog under 2k?

Well Joe, I'll try to help you out.

Get a Teres Model 150 in "kit form", which only requires you to finish-sand, and apply a coat of lacquer to the base. The rest is the same as the assembly of an "assembled" Teres table. Anybody who has ever sanded anything made of wood could do this with their eyes closed. It costs $1700. It has the same features and benefits of the Model 245, except it is Baltic Birch instead of Cocobolo. The sound difference is very small. It is a good value. Have them drill the armboard for a Rega arm.

Next, get a used, good condition Rega RB250 tonearm. You can get them easily for $200, or less on the classifieds.

Then get a Denon DL103 to put on it. They are $149 new. They sound like they should cost alot more than that. If your phono stage won't handle the low output MC cartridges, then get a Goldring 1012GX for under $200. That's a real good lower cost MM cartridge.

That puts you at $2049 plus shipping for the system, or maybe a little more if you choose the Goldring instead of the Denon.

That's as close as I can get you to the $2k mark, and still access the superior sound of the wood-based Teres. I can guarantee that you can't find anything for that price that will beat this rig.

PS - It would be a good idea to also get the adjustable VTA collar for $40 from OL or Expressimo. You really need to have adjustable VTA.

Yes Inna, but it is probably the best $200 arm available, and it is upgradable with mods that bring it to a higher level. And it is actually better sounding than the more expensive RB300 when modded with a low cost end-stub from OL. The RB300 is commonly put on $2k tables, even by manufacturers. So I don't think it is nonsense to do that, even if the price differential seems to indicate that.

I fully agree that there are better arms out there, but for the budget that he is considering, it is more musical to have the money in the better table, where it would do the most good.

I also agree the Nottinghams are some good tables to look at too. They would probably be my personal 2nd choice to the Teres, for the money.

I don't know anything about the Modwright unit at all.

The Audio Note TT is a "clone" of the old Ariston Systemdek, which is a pretty nice TT. But it is not in the league with the Teres or Nottingham.

That's a good question for 4yanx. He has done quite a bit of comparing between those two brands.

For a grand, it is a good deal.

It has some good things going for it. Like a DC motor system that seems to be pretty good. It has a moderately thick platter that is not too flimsy. Pretty decent layout of the design.

It has some other things that aren't all that great. Overall light weight and acrylic construction. Platter not really thick enough or heavy enough. Very little mass in the "plinth" which is just a basic T-shape.

When comparing with the lowest model Teres 135, which shares some common aspects with this Othello, but costs about $1500, the Teres has a marked advantage in certain design aspects. The Teres has a much better bearing structure, much heavier and thicker platter and plinth, the same Swiss-made kind of DC motor, a better motor controller, even better layout design, and a record clamp.
The platter alone on the Teres weighs as much as the complete Othello system. But they both use an acrylic construction, which I consider inferior to the heavy Cocobolo/lead-shot loaded construction of the higher model Teres TTs. I have done some comparisons, and acrylic loses in those comparisons.

Overall, for the money, I think that it has the right stuff at about $1k, and I doubt you'll beat it for that amount. When moving up to $1500, then we have a different story.

Jphii, I think that is an excellent choice. If you have woodworking ability, it is very affordable and effective to make your own base assembly for a Teres. Many of the original Teres owners did just that, because it was originally available only as a kit, without base.

If you are going to make the wood platter, check with Chris for details on how he makes his. Stability is a big factor on this wood platter, and he has done some major research on this subject. I'm sure he'll help you out.

Chris will tell you to get the one with the wood base with the lead shot loading, if you ask him. It is well known in the Teres circles that the acrylic is not the material of choice, but is acceptable for the lower cost table. I would expect that at some point, these acrylic-plinth tables will eventually be discontinued. Just my guess on that, nothing official.

I understand your interest and your desire to study, but the bottom line is that we know about this stuff, and have tried both types, and also know others that have. We are trying to help you out. Get the wood.