Possibly Looking for a Turntable/Cartridge Under $1000

@ghdprentice 

"Nothing wrong with my vinyl leg"

I'd say there's plenty wrong with it if it can't beat your digital.

@elliottbnewcombjr Im not in a position to bid for or buy anything just yet. I'm gathering information for the future. 
 

Thanks. 

I have 2, I was thinking of bidding, but didn't want to bid against anyone here, that's why I asked.

I let it go, it sold for $111. usd. after all other charges, fees, double shipping, tarriffs, finish under $200.

Then, stylus good? So far I have been lucky.

Alright, this is probably going to trigger some audiophiles, but here it goes: the turntable doesn’t matter that much.

I recently went full midlife crisis and “upgraded” to a Dr. Feickert Volare with a Kuzma tonearm and a Hana SH cart — the kind of setup that gets audiophiles hot under the platter. And guess what? Compared to my old Audio-Technica LP120 (with the same cartridge), the difference was… let’s just say, not “new Tesla vs. used Corolla” — more like “2025 Tesla vs. 2024 Tesla.”

If I were buying today, with a budget of $1000, I’d look at the Fluance RT85 — great reviews, looks sharp, and it’s got that auto-lift at the end of a record so you’re not sprinting across the room like you’re disarming a bomb. Plus it comes with either the Ortofon 2M Blue or Nagaoka MP-110 cartridges, both of which punch way above their weight. Also, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO — the satin red wine color is pure sex appeal. And honestly, don’t sleep on pre-owned gear from TMRAudio.com — half the fun of this hobby is getting “gently used” equipment that was babied by someone who treated it better than their spouse.

My advice: don’t lose sleep over the table. Pick one that looks sexy in your living room, then spend your money where it counts — on the cartridge and phono stage. Anything above $150 and you’re in the promised land. The AT VMN95ML? Killer value.

And honestly, I did the side-by-side thing with pricier cartridges. The difference? Minimal. Like paying $100 for a bottle of wine instead of $30 — yeah, it’s different, but only if someone tells you it is.

Don’t get me wrong, I love vinyl — the ritual, the tactile joy, the tiny crackle before the music kicks in. But let’s be real: unless your records are VG+ or mint, lossless streaming is going to sound cleaner. Vinyl is about romance, not accuracy.

I would narrow down the choices by looking at features YOU want:

- Height adjustable feet? Not on Rega's but can be upgraded with TNG-spinner.

- Automatic or manual? I would go for manual, as automatic has more parts, which cost money and can break. 

- Built-in phono amp? I would go without, as it costs money and can be added separately at different levels of quality.

- Cue lever present? [shockingly, some <$1K TT's don't have a cue lever!]

- Options for upgrades?

- Is switching 33/45 important? How easy is it? Button vs. belt change (with or without removal of platter)?

- Look? Do you like 80's DJ appearance or modern minimalism?

Re sound quality, they all will play records, at $1K level not the best SQ. Direct Drive vs belt drive is irrelevant here. Agree with other posters to take cleaning old records into consideration. Cleaning has more effect on SQ than any TT attribute.

Enjoy your vinyl!