The requirements for the turntable depend on quality of the cartridge it has to serve. I was very happy with my at-lp1240 til I had my AKG P8ES Supernova upgraded with a boron cantilever. The upgrade made a huge difference in responsiveness, but the byproduct was the direct drive motor noise became much more noticeable once the stylus hit the vinyl. It wasn't a problem for me before. I'm now looking for a belt driven turntable so I can enjoy the cartridge more.
Breakdown of Turntable Performance
Over the years I've read numerous reviews of turntables, arms, platters, and plinths. I always wondered how much these individual components contributed to the overall sound. Here's my take:
Cartridge - 80%
Arm - 10%
Platter - 5%
Plinth - 5%
Cartridge - 80%
Arm - 10%
Platter - 5%
Plinth - 5%