Best way to spend $2k on a used Turntable & Arm?

You can get a NOS Acoustic Signature Manfred with stock RB 250 arm new for around $2000.Add an Ortofon 2M blue for not much more.The current model sells for $3500 and is identical except it now includes the RB-300.

I have owned many tables,and for me,The Manfred is a keeper! I currently use a Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge fed through a Perreaux phono preamp and am very happy with the set-up.I also have several vintage Dual CS-5000 tables with various Ortofon cartridges in other systems.They sound very good,but are not in the same league as the Manfred.The Duals are semi-automatic and do pick-up and turn off at the end of an album side.

If you are interested in a Manfred(with RB-250) let me know and I'll put you in touch with my dealer.

I have owned many VPI tables(from the Junior to the Scoutmaster).With the right arm and cartridge they have all performed very well!!! They can be a bit "tweaky." The Classic looks as though it would be easy to use.

I have gone with the Manfred for several reasons.I love the look of the real wood veneer base.The speed is dead-on.The sound is nimble and fast,yet full toned at the same time.The Rega arm is less "tweaky" than the current VPI unipivot arms.The Scout is a terrific value and not as complicated as the current high end tables or the HW-19 series.The best value in the Hw-19 series was the JR.The suspension(sorbathane pucks)was easy and solid.With a Rega or AQ PT series arm those tables provided great sound and a great value.Of course,the JR could be upgraded to your heart's content!!!

The bearing is supposed to be maint. free.I believe the VPI bearings should be lubed annually.