Advice for novice needed on turntable

A little over your budget new, but you might be able to find a used or demo Clearaudio Innovation at your budget. That's a looker.

If you want bling look at Transrotor or Clearaudio, for examples. The Technics may not be sexy enough. Or take a look at custom models from Artisan Fidelity based on the Garrard 301. I prefer direct drive so if the Technics is in fact too tame think about Brinkmann Bardo. You have many options at that price point.

JA Michell Gyro SE.

Get a long standing domestic manufacturer like VPI. Get their basic model with a low end cartridge. They have many upgrades including tonearms ,plus you can upgrade the cartridge as finances allow. I wish I had got a decent turntable and upgraded that route but I had to have a $500 cartridge on a $500 TT. Later when I had got a nice setup 5k plus my 2k cartridge failed and in a pinch I bought a BOTL $35 Audio technica cartridge. I was floored when it touched down. The lions share of performance was there. I realized I should have listened 35 years ago and bought a good TT first. Years ago an advisor to POTUS said about winning the next election, " its the economy stupid" .In this case I wish the salesman  had beat it in my brain "Its the Turntable stupid" LOL

If you can wait for one to pop up, Townshend Rock 7.