$250 USD doesn't get you much in the way of TTs, mainly because you'll also need a decent cartridge. You could find a used one for under $250 on Ebay, but that can be a gamble as there may be parts that need replacing. If buying used, I suggest you buy it closer to home or buy a dealer's demo.
If this is your first TT, I recommend a "plug and play" unit that comes with a cartridge. Needle Doctor carries many budget TTs and they are already set-up for you.
http://www.needledoctor.com/Online-Store/Budget-Turntables
Pro-Ject makes very good budget turntables, such as the Pro-Ject Essential ($299) and the much better "Debut Carbon" for $399. There's also Audio-Technica and Marantz at $299.
The problem with buying a TT at the entry-level is that after 6 months, many people start wanting something better (the cartridge is usually a weak link). That's why the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is such a popular choice; it's plug and play with a very nice tonearm and cartridge and performs as well as higher priced TTs. That's a great table if you can find one used.
Hope this helps.
If this is your first TT, I recommend a "plug and play" unit that comes with a cartridge. Needle Doctor carries many budget TTs and they are already set-up for you.
http://www.needledoctor.com/Online-Store/Budget-Turntables
Pro-Ject makes very good budget turntables, such as the Pro-Ject Essential ($299) and the much better "Debut Carbon" for $399. There's also Audio-Technica and Marantz at $299.
The problem with buying a TT at the entry-level is that after 6 months, many people start wanting something better (the cartridge is usually a weak link). That's why the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is such a popular choice; it's plug and play with a very nice tonearm and cartridge and performs as well as higher priced TTs. That's a great table if you can find one used.
Hope this helps.