I’m not a turntable newbie as I bought my first turntable in the 70’s and now I have a very nicely specified Linn LP12 and a Thorens TD 124 that was beautifully overhauled in 2025. So why am I asking? I’ve put together a 2nd system far more modest than my main system, and there’s no turntable in the 2nd system.
So what am I looking for? I’ve never owned a direct drive turntable, so I’m thinking- direct drive it is. I specifically do not want anything with a built in phono stage. And in keeping with the modest nature of my 2nd system, this has to be a lower cost turntable but it has to be something good. Is there anything in the $1000 range?