How do you choose a turntable ?

I listened to people's opinions on this and other audiophile forums, read a few articles. Then bought Nottingham Spacedeck without auditioning it. But if I wanted to upgrade now I wouldn't be sure how to proceed, especially if I wanted to go outside Nottingham Analogue and Pear Audio. Pear Audio is very much built on later ideas of the Nottingham's designer.

I wait until someone posts an incredible deal on an awesome TT in FB or CL, check to see if I have money in my slush fund, then buy it.   If I don't like it, I put it back up for sale.  This has worked well for me way too many times.  

ghdprentice, you approach it as a scientist or/and an engineer. And I am  prehistorically low tech, I don't even know how to use microwave oven and I sharpen kitchen knives by hand on stones.

If you buy used and are prepared to buy/sell multiple times, why not ? Shipping turntables is no fun, can be risky. I bought mine used on Audiogon years ago.

Buying a turntable is tough these days.  I did demo a few Rega locally,  having owned a few in the past th3 P3 was on my radar.  Any other tables on display locally were way beyond my means.  

I took a chance and bought a Sota Escape in '21 sight unseen.  Great table for not a lot of money.   I bought it as an open box , it had an Origin Live Silver tonearm . 

Originally I almost bought a Technics 1500 but reports of cue lever issues , platter wobble and Malaysian build was a turn off. 

I wanted to move up the Sota line so I just received a Sota Quasar.   The nice thing about Sota is the ability to trade your existing Sota in for a new one.   

I kept the arm and mounted on the Quasar.    It is a great combo. I really like this table, I ordered it with the optional RoadRunner tach which keeps the speed 33.333 or 45.000.   

Another reason I got another  Sota is that they build pretty much the entire table in house.   With a full machine and woodshop they do it all.   It's good stuff.   

The last TT I purchased involved getting up @ 2:30 AM and searching eBay for "Buy it Now" TT auctions.

I ended up "Buying it Now" a Thorens TD125MkII/SME 3009 Non-Improved combo for $199.00 plus $25/shipping.

Previously owned numerous TD160's plus a TD124 and TD121 (all with SME arms - so not a newbie).

That's how I did it - and I'd do it again if felt the need.

DeKay