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

Here is the problem:

• If you want to buy a good boombox, today there is NOTHING.
• If you want to buy a good cassette deck, today there is NOTHING.

So, I recommend you buy a vintage turntable from the golden age.

Dual 1019 is the workhorse turntable of 1965-1980 (mine), all steel, never breaks.

Technics SL-1200 is the workhorse turntable of 1980-2000.  If not Technics, then audio-technica or yamaha or another well-known japanese brand.

Don’t bother with a modern turntable, all that is available are mass-produced dime-store manual turntables with nice finishes for less than $1500, and golden-ear turntables for the low, low price of only $20,000!

I prefer the Dual 1019, an idler-drive turntable. It’s a fully automatic/manual do-it-all turntable which supports 18, 33, 45, 78 rpm, supports 33rpm changers, supports 45pm CHANGERS [can’t touch this]. The original MSRP equates to $1300 in today’s dollars and it was a #1 seller so you get the benefits of a good design and mass-produced goodness. Dual was the go-to german turntable for truly high-end-hifi used by millions of system - accept no substitutes. The 1019 is top-of-the-line for 10" platter turntables. The 12-series is also good with 12" platters (no heavier) but more bulky. Good models of the 1019 in fully-restored condition are available for $500-$1000, and they will last you 20y+ of daily usage.

I know people who use $400 TVs and spend $1000/yr on cable TV. That’s ridiculous! You should save up and spend AT LEAST one year’s worth of annual cable subscription on the TV! How about spending a week’s worth worth of vinyl (8 hrs/day, $22/album, ~70 albums) on a turntable? So save up and get closer to $1500 for a budget, and allot $100-$200 for a cartridge. I’m not saying spend $1500 for certain, but $299 is definitely a throw-away turntable using play-money just bought simply to see if can spin.

My Dual 1019 was a Bay-Area craigslist bargain, $300 (includes Shure m55e cartridge which is the same stylus and mechanism as Shure V15 type 1). It was in like-new condition, but no accessories (i dumped about $150 into ebay for accessories, including 10-record changer, 45 rpm adapter, radio shack dust shield, spare headshell, spare 3x7 elliptical stylus PM3125DE, not as good as the 2x7 original stylus.) If can’t find a good dual then with $400 maybe just go with audio technica, preferably used. I don’t think you can go wrong with them.

P.S. Panasonic was my first love, my first and second radio. I love panasonic and therefore, technics, too.  They truly brought hifi to the masses!