I own a Signature 21 so am biased toward VPI Industries. Put me in the fanboy category that recommends what they own so take that into consideration.
I traded in a VPI Prime at Gig Harbor Audio they may not have sold . If you are in the Seattle area and don’t mind a nice drive, they have a fun store to visit. It has a uni-pivot arm that sounds just as good as my current preference, a gimbal arm. I find a gimbal arm easier to handle.
I have heard nothing but good things about Technics and agree that would be a solid choice.
I used a Ortofon Cadenza Bronze cartridge on the VPI Prime and still use it on my Signature 21. I do like to buy from USA companies like VPI though, and they have models at price points from $1,500 and up. You can even call and talk to or email the owners for advice and recommendations.