@gochuchgo - actually a Canadian, so not much for the red hat, and know that my car was built in Germany (a Buick at that!), although guaranteed that some of it came, one way or another, from China. A lot like the PC I'm using, and probably everybody else is using, to read/post on this forum (or iPad, iPhone, 'Droid, etc). Was just hoping there was a way to get away from it, but you're correct, it's likely in everything that any company makes anywhere on the planet, somewhere inside is something from China.
So, probably giving up on the 'no Chinese in my turntable' idea, and with about $1000 to spend to replace my US-made Accutrac, looking at:
- Thorens TD240-2 with Thorens cartridge
- MMF 7.3 with Ortofon Bronze
- MMF 5.3 with Ortofon Blue
- Rega Planar 3 with Elys2
- Technics SL-1500C wiht Ortofon Red
- Thorens TD 402DD with ATVM95E
I am partial to the Thorens 240 (an automatic like my old Accutrac), but don't think I could go wrong with any of the above, and could put savings from any that cost less than the 7.3 towards replacing something else in the chain.
the truly sad part about this is the inability to do any kind of side by side touch/feel/listen on this variety of equipment at most any store anywhere near me.
Looking forward to the community's suggestions/advice/ridicule....