Bang for the Buck

Ah - Quads. Me too.

With ESL’s one can hear subtle differences. I can hear bearing noise from the platter and the motor (yup, the motor), so I try to minimize both. Nottingham Analogue has done splendid work here - my Mentor with a Trans-Fi Terminator is close to my DIY air bearing TT, and that’s saying quite a lot. If you can stretch to (and find!) a used NA Dais (the updated Mentor), I doubt that you would ever want to change.

I stuck with the Mentor faithfully for 15 years before I tried the DIY route, with never a yearning for anything that cost less than a new Porsche.

The only caveat is that my TT bench rests on concrete on bedrock, far from industry, highway, or railway, so I don't need suspension. Your situation may be different.

When you get to the tipping point of bragging rights and inability to audibly be able to judge the sound. 

Hmmm vintage tubes and ESLs? Lenco L75 or Garrard 401.

I can go with an existing arm have two arms a SME 3009 or MA 505.
 Or can sell those and go with a completely different tonearm.
    I'm also trying to find an audio group here in North East O.hio

Shop gently used and you'll get almost double the bang for the buck. Many great tt and cartridges available here and on other audio sites at tremendous savings.

Have a pair of Fairchild 255s with EL34 tubes and Quad57 electrstats and a pair o KLH9s. with a Quicksilver pre amp.

@roberjerman.............."

please tell us why the Pioneer PLX 700 is as good or better than the new Technics SL1200GR?  I am dying to know. 

Right on @asvjerry . As I discovered, after spending too much on inferior products.

*S*  OMG, a tangential fan....

Thanks, Terry....^5's,  "The only way to play..."  ;)

Tonearm is more important than cartridge. I use Trans-Fi Terminator air bearing tonearms, which I consider the best deal in high end ($1000), competing with any tonearm costing less than a new car.

For simple "bang for the buck" systems, check out Steve Guttenberg's Audiophiliac videos on YouTube.  

 Check out the Marantz TT 15. Nice table made by Clearaudio , comes with a good cart. all set up. Upscale Audioor Music Direct should have it.
https://upscaleaudio.com/products/marantz-tt-15-acrylic-turntable

Turntable is brand new Technics SL1200GR and the cartridge is vintage AT-ML150 OCC or Stanton 881s mkII / Pickering XSV3000 just to name a few. Read why Stanton and AT-ML series are so good.

P.S. some vintage Direct Drive like Denon DP-80 can be better and cheaper than new Technics GR

The PLX1000's build quality is as good as the several-times more-costly Technics. And it comes with an audiophile-quality IC! 

When I wanted to add a NEW TT to my collection of vintage TTs I chose the Pioneer PLX1000 ($700) along with the Denon 103R mc cartridge ($300). Listening has verified that this is an excellent combination! I'm using a Denon step up transformer into the RGR 4 preamp. Noise-free and dynamic music!

Not only ancillary, but a lot also depends on what you'll be using it with.

Depends on the bank. Ancillary equipment?