Best budget turntable?

I've never compared it to the others you mention, but I do really like my Pioneer PLX 1000. I've got an Audio Technica AT-VM740ML cartridge on it and it sounds really great. Was fortunate to find mine used at a great price, but even the full MSRP is reasonable.

+1 @reubent but with the VM750SH.

Between a P3 and a 1500c I say Technics all day :)

Unless you want to make it a father son project and clean up something nice and vintage? 

IMHO, the cartridge is where the most significant differences in sound come from. With your budget I’d be looking at something at the level of the PLX-1000 with a Nagaoka MP500. You can always optimize that with an isolation platform, and possibly a better phono stage at some point in the future.

Although, he might prefer the Technics 1200GR as a big upgrade over his old one. Go fo it if you can put it on a card. Might as well spend now with not knowing if we're going to live.

@knotscott I would agree and I have the MP500 on one of my tables and the MP200 on the other. The MP200 would be a massive upgrade over the Grado.

Nagaoka MP500 is a wonderful cartridge as is the MP200 and I think would be better suited with his NAD Integrated.

Just another opinion.

Just mount that VM750SH and you''ll be close enuff.

ProJect Debut Pro. Lots of good features, solid, and includes a cartridge. All for $1000.

A Rega P3 is the way to go for a big sound upgrade, not to mention its very up gradable as well. Might be fun for a young audiophile to play with. I prefer the Dynavector 10X5 for the Rega tonearm, a match made in heaven.

www.rega.co.uk/products/planar-3

www.groovetracer.com

Matt M

The Rega Planar 3(P3) has the most capable tonearm but when adding a basic Dynavector cartridge your around $2k retail. I set up a Pioneer PLX 1000 with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge for my sister and was impressed with the overall balanced sound.

Nice used HW-19 mk 2-4  he can mod it as he becomes more of an audionut

Thorens TD160 or TD165 is a hell of an entry level turntable. There are plenty of them used in great shape. Do your best homework and you'll catch it for a very good deal.

Have a look at the line of Fluance tables. Lots of great reviews online

https://www.fluance.com/turntables

cheers

Take a look at the Music Hall, the MMF3.3 is in your budget

Here are the specs

• Gorgeous high-gloss piano black lacquer or exquisite walnut veneer finish
• Music Hall’s unique dual-plinth design – isolating the electronics and motor from the main bearing and tonearm
• 33⅓, 45, or 78 rpm speeds at the touch of a button
• Electronic speed controlled DC motor for superior speed stability, isolated on lower plinth
• Custom carbon fiber tonearm with alloy headshell for superb tracking ability
• Flexible internal tonearm wire drawn from high purity copper
• Counterweight’s center of gravity is level with the stylus tip is decoupled from the arm and acts as a resonance damper
• Tonearm features user adjustable VTA and azimuth
• Highly regarded Ortofon 2M Red cartridge with replaceable elliptical stylus ($100 value)
• The cartridge supplied is properly aligned and mounted
• High precision stainless steel and bronze main bearing assembly for quiet fluid operation
• Special vibration damping adjustable feet
• High quality gold RCA connectors with detachable phono cable
• Full-size alloy platter and felt mat
• Dust cover and 45 rpm adaptor included

Regards - Steve

Value for money Rega's never disappoint if buying new.

Would try against the Technics though as I am not so sure new budget turntables would necessarily be that much better and always found the Grado Black to be very good value for money.

Might get more bang for buck looking at secondhand market for a better amp or speakers or even both.

No Brainer....I have a mid fi system and Love my U-TURN turntable with the ORTOFON BLUE cart. $500 and absolute sweetness come thru my Klipsch....JBL and Tekton speakers. Very Life- Like!  Do not get the RED cart....go with the BLUE....Much smoother.

Look for a clean one owner Rega P3. Be sure it has the original box for safe shipping and resale value later on if you decide to move up the line.

The Rega has a great aftermarket upgrade path that will definitely improve the sound with each step of the way.

Here`s a couple ideas in the upgrade department:

Groovetracer Subplatter..the difference is so very clear right out of the box !

Rega NEO power supply...surprising what it does.

The list can go on and on as budget allows.

Buy everything 'right' ( meaning used if you can wait) and make sure to keep all the factory boxes, that way you could even sell off each item if you wanted and not lose much at all or  you could even make a couple dollars in the end and have fun along the way. 

Rega makes good sounding tables but with Rega you run into lack of flexibility with adjustments. You’re going to need to be carefully matching a cartridge to arm for VTA or potentially use spacers. In either case it’s a pain and you’re loosing that last bit of fine tuning which could be important. 
I think a used Clearaudio Concept, Marantz TT-15 or MoFi Studio Deck may be some of the better choices. Just a thought….

I have a Rega 6 and  a MoFi best  and a Pioneer 1000  .

Buy the Pioneer and play with carts .

Won't have to worry about MoFi  fix it, they have none .

pretty much a pointless exercise because you are going to get a million and one answers based on what people own and be no wiser than when you started. Also depends entirely on whether you are willing to go second hand.

As always the only way to decide is to ask yourself what you want out of a tt, shortlist those that will fulfil your requirements then go out there and listen for yourself. Getting people to decide for you is a one way trip to dissatisfaction..

If you can increase your budget, Echo Audio in Portland has a used Pro-Ject RPM 10.1 EVO with a decent cartridge for under $2K. At your current budget you may just scratch the itch and find yourself upgrading sooner than later. The Pro-Ject isn't an end game table by any means, but it's pretty nice.  

I also agree with this: 

I think a used Clearaudio Concept, Marantz TT-15 or MoFi Studio Deck may be some of the better choices. Just a thought….

 I would go with Project all day long over Rega. In fact Rega would be last on my list with the exception of some vintage tables that some on this forum seem to hold in high regard. I havent looked at Music Hall for some time, but I used to think they were a very good value. A used Nottingham Space Deck? 

@jim5559 

I have a Rega 6 and  a MoFi best  and a Pioneer 1000

Do you have the new/current Pioneer PLX 1000? I have the same, with an Audio Technica AT-VM740ML cartridge. It replaced a Pro-Ject Carbon DC Esprit SB w/Ortofon 2M Blue. I prefer the Pioneer.

Yes and 10 carts to play with them, right now using a Denon 110 a very good for 300$

The Grado gold 3 is sweet on it with Classical music , the 3’s are better with all .

Nag 200 is good as need be with anything .

To my ears all AT’s are rock only . Just my ears and I hate rock.

I use my Rega 6 mostly with opera  where it shines .  Sorry I ever wasted 2k on MoFi . Just my ears.

Why not buy him the Technics MK7 for $999? It’s cheaper that the 1500 and looks better, at least to me. I think it silly that they got rid of the strobe platter on that 1500 model. Put a Shure M97xe on the MK7 and away you go. Although, now you will pay a pretty penny for that Shure...as they no longer make it. New on Lp Gear for $350 I believe. I love my Mk7 along with the Shure..... I’m not certain I would pay the extra 600-700 for a Gr just to gain maybe 2 kilograms In weight. It has the same exact tonearm as the Mk7, and its pitch contol is not as good as the Mk7’s...if that is important. The Gr does have a slightly heavier platter and maybe the base contains less plastics....that is the only advantage, not worth 700 bucks more to me. The MK7 gets a bad rap because it is geared or advertised to the DJ crowd. Funny, because when you think about that, the original technics 1200 variants were never designed to be dj turntables, but they were adopted by the dj crowd and used as such.

Just to add, you can buy a glass platter/thin rubber technics mat combo from KabUSA to increase the dampening and weight of the MK7 platter.

OP,

I agree with @pesky_wabbit . I recommend going to The AbsoluteSound, the March issue has the Recommended Components. Stereophile also has a similar issue. These are professional reviews by people that have experience with a large selection of the components. They show the systems in which they tested them and try to explain their biases. Additionally they know and use audiophile terminology,

This is always a great place to start. I have read these periodicals for 40 years and heard probably a hundred components and by in large they are right on point.

Pioneer PLX1000 good all around choice. Goes well with my Audio Technica MM 440sx. Alot of sound and well-built for the dollar. Regas sound good but a bit diffy and run a bit fast and you need a good solid base for them. Project over Rega in that price range. So many out there to choose. Good luck.

I'm gonna throw this in the mix.

Mofi StudioDeck Foundation.

I think you need to add a cart though but I think is a good TT.

I had a  mofi stuio

and PLX1000 at the same time .

Now i have only the PLX 1000 .

Shure 97 is OK  but but  the cheapest  Nagoka  is far better .