What turntable in the $2500 range?

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.  

Dig in to the Clearaudio Concept.