Good Direct Drives

£500 ish

@chakster I understand what you are saying but this way I have not taken on the risk. Unlike with my previous TT, I went in there to try out different carts with my system, which turned out the arm is all wrong. I love the look of the old TT but there is always a little niggle encase something needed doing with no local support. The net is great to show and help but it's still comes down to getting it done. This way I have heard the unit and I know it works well with my system, I have stuck to budget and there was no push to sell, I could hear the difference on the same LP that we played 4 different times on mine and 3 other TT.

I am happy with my purchase, being able to hear it first was the best thing I could of done locally, not having to travel 30miles plus to go elsewhere. They do the full range so sky is the limit to spending, this way I have saved money on what I was going to do....

Well I took my system to my local dealer today, turns out I needed a new table as the arm on my current hybrid is all wrong and so instead of slowly upgrading I went feet first and have purchased a Rega Planar 3 with the Elys cart, sounded great on my system.

I could of gone down the 2nd hand and vintage route, but I was there could hear everything and so was able to try, also got a deal as it was there ex demo as they couldn't find the black in stock and so have a red one with over £150 off.

Plugged it all back together when I got home and I am a happy bunny, old turntable is now forsale and saving me from doing all those upgrades that the Planar already has! Wanted a new cart hence why I went in there to start with.

Looking into it and knowing that I would want one of them, having had 31 different turntables from Pioneer, Technics and others in my eBay watch list all varying in price, I had to think that I could not afford some with other things coming up this year. They might be better than what I have purchased but I have purchased what I can afford and have no unknowns in terms of sound with my system.

I looked at quite a few different decks before hand but being able to try it was the main reasoning behind my purchase.

I was just wanting to know which model could be viable and what was out there, wasn't after anything better than the 1200 or 1210 but these were what I had used years ago. Looking at the options it would appear that some of the others were more money and a risk in my book over something that I could see and touch.

It did come down to money moreover and availability which where I am was another factor and when looking into it all and weighing it up decided to go with what I have done, I am very happy with what I have and with the state of my system.