how much should I spend to get a better turntable than my current turntable?

OP,

Congratulations.

How many hours do you have on your new table? Like all equipment there is breaking and the sound tends to get more relaxed and improve over time.

Also, higher end equipment tends to be better in subtle ways… which you become aware of and more appreciative over time. I don’t remember if you kept your old table. But if you did… I bet if you swapped it back in after 100 hours you would be shocked at how poor it sounds in comparison.

So enjoy your new table. I am sure it will bring you years of enjoyment.

Send it back. Seriously. Everything you say says… used, and really poor quality. Sometimes it is just best to wait, save up and get something of quality. I recommend looking at a new Rega. Send it back. Don’t justify junk.

OP,

I found that buying my significant other an expensive present before upgrading a component on my audio system was the key. 
 

Over the last 36 years, this has enabled her to get a great home theater she loves (thank god she does not like jewelry) while building my system. Not much she can say when I think of her first. 

I would not invest in a TT less than a couple grand (as a recommendation). But what is the rest of your system? There is a place to put photos and your components under your user ID. This is very helpful for us to help. The best TT is highly dependent on the associated equipment. Mine is about $20K… without the Phonostage. Before this, in the previous iteration of my system it was about $8K.

The sound is your TT + cartridge + Phonostage.

The sweetspot to me has been very roughly the cost of TT, Phonostage, Streamer, DAC, preamp, and amp roughly the same.