What turntable in the $2500 range?

I’ve used a Sumiko Blue Point Evo 3 and a Soundsmith Carmen 2. With the Carmen I had to add a weight to the top of the head shell available for about $5 on EBay.  The Sumiko was excellent maybe more top end but overall the Soundsmith was smoother top to bottom but then again it’s almost double the price. Both cartridges bought here gently used.

I have a Sota Escape.  It's a simple looking table with a phenolic resin plinth.  I got mine with a Origin Live Silver arm and the 1.5 " platter upgrade as an open box for $1799.   I put an Ortofon 2M Bronze on it and it sounds phenomenal 

It has a sapphire bearing and the excellent Condor Motor drive system.  

Great table for the money.   Life got busy when I purchased it in '22 so the ortofon cart had really low hours.  

I spent some time this weekend setting it up again from scratch With new set up tools.  Got the VTA and tracking force spot on and what I heard the last few nights blew me away.  This table and arm is definitely worthy of a better cart , once this 2M has had it's useful life I am getting a nice MC cart.  

Definitely worth checking this table out. 

A comment about VPI arms that I'm surprised no one has mentioned. They don't have removeable head shells but the arm itself is easily removeable.

I was a long time Thorens user and wanted to upgrade to something new.  I also was sold on the suspended chassis design.  

So I went searching for and found a Thorens TD1500 which is the newly designed update of the classic TD160.  Fully manual of course (with a lift) and it sounds absolutely fantastic.  Nice clarity, wide soundstage, etc.  I got it new in open box for $2,400 on this site.  It came with a premounted Ortofon 2M Bronze MM cartridge.

It has removable headshell and I am already looking at some cartridge swaps just for fun, and bought a couple of Ortofon headshells for that occassion.

If you would rather have direct drive there is also a Thorens TD403 for sale at Audiogon at under $1,400 new with 2M Blue on it.  Another option.  

 

@dynamiclinearity OK I will comment on VPI arms.  There are two types.  The type you are thinking of is called a unipivot arm.  I had those on my Prime, one was carbon that came with the turntable and I bought a second one made of metal.  These puppies are quite pricey compared to headshells.  The other type of arm that VPI makes is a double gimbal that has been dubbed the Fat Boy for some reason.  It is also carbon and it is the type used on my HW-40.  This arm is not easily removed, but compensates by being a remarkably excellent arm.