turntable recommendation

I agree with Lugnut, the Linn is a fine table, especially with Valhalla and Ittok. I had one for 10 years and enjoyed it very much the entire time I owned it. The Linn is bashed by many who did not appreciate the arrogant behaviour of many Linn salesmen in its early days, but the fact is that it is a very good table and for the "used" prices available today, a very good bargain. It is the table people "love to hate" because for years, it was untouchable and the target of all other turntable manufacturers. So if you disregard all the emotional controversy, the fact remains that it is one of the better tables around, particularly under $2000. None of the low to medium priced Rega tables sound as good as a Linn. I worked at a Linn/Rega dealer and compared them many times. I now own a Teres turntable and it does sound better than my Linn did. With arm and cart, it was $2300. If you can go this high, the Teres is a very good option. If you want to spend the absoulute minimum, a Connoisseur BD2A at about $100 used is probably the best sound for the money spent if you can find one. A nice British belt drive turntable for very low bucks. Not as good as a Rega though, but cheaper.

Jahaira, if I were looking for a $600 turntable, I would buy an older Rega Planar 2 with the glass platter. Then I would upgrade the RB250 arm with the Origin Live structural mod. Then I would later replace the AC motor with the Origin Live DC motor replacement kit(adding this kit would take you over the $600 mark). You would then have a very good bearing/platter setup, a simple plinth, a giant-killer arm, and a stable motor system that wouldn't hum at the inner grooves with a Grado. The Planar 2 has the RB250 arm that, when modified, is superior to the RB300 on the Planar 3. So, there is no reason to spend more for a Planar 3 when the arm of the Planar 2 is the one you want for modification. For a pick-up, I would go for a Dynavector 10x4.