Help me decide on first turntable purchase


This is my first turntable purchase. Last time I had a TT was when I was teenager in the 80's. I don't have much vinyl at all so I have to buy records as well. Budget is $3000, really don't want to go over that. I need a phono stage as well. My system is Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII, PrimaLuna EVO 400 integrated. My digital is a Innuos Zenith mkIII into a Chord Qutest. My initial thoughts on a couple tables were the Mofi Ultradeck, Music Hall 7.3 and Rega Planar 6. I am sorry but I just don't like the look of the Technics stuff. I am not a big fan of the Rega looks either but I know it gets great reviews. I was considering a Clear Audio Concept until I joined the Facebook owners group and hear about all the motor speed problems. Initial phone Pre I was looking at were the Mofi and KC Vibe. The Ultradeck seems very solid and seems to get great reviews.
Thank you for your thoughts. 
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Showing 1 response by millercarbon

Only you know your situation, where the table will go, how you want it to sound. Rega are light and fast. Clearaudio even more fast and lean. VPI go the other way, MoFi, Music Hall sort of in the middle. How much you like the looks can sometimes matter as much as sound. This is fine because there is a lot more difference between carts, phono stages and arms than tables. Hate to generalize but this is a tendency. 

Then in terms of what you get don't forget that what you put it on is almost equally important. Especially if you go something light and stiff like Rega, you will want a really nice platform for it. But not just Rega, they all benefit big time. On the budget end you have Nobsound, while on the top end Townshend. In between lies a no-mans land of stuff that costs a lot more than Nobsound but not near as good as Townshend. Either of these are so good as to be almost mandatory equipment. For the table and the phono stage too by the way.   

Keep all that in mind then. This by the way is almost exactly the advice Michael Fremer gave me 30+ years ago. Didn't tell me what decision to make. Helped me understand how to make my own decision. Hope this helps you too.