I'd like to hear recommendations for Turntables under $5,000


I had a reconditioned Thorens TD-160 Super. I'd like to know from people who own them, What you recommend looking at? My focus is less than $3,000 but I'm in like with some of the old VPI Classics, Prime, Prime Signatures  which is why I say 3-5K in the title and am looking for recommendations on anything in this range? Make and model. 
jahatl513

Showing 2 responses by chakster

Find yourself a Luxman PD-444, you can buy it under $5000 
This is amazing direct drive turntable for two tonearms, motor made by Micro Seiki, i use two of them, they are superheavy, so i made custom metal racks for them. I like those LUX so much, so i don't use my Technics SP-10mkII anymore. 

more about Luxman PD-444: http://www.thevintageknob.org/luxman-PD444.html 
@nandric you know the price for the plinth for SP-10mkII, this is one of the reason that makes SP-10mkII very expensive. With PD-444 the owner is free of the problem with plinth even with one tonearm (it can be "12 inch tonearm that does not fit into the stock Technics plinth). Custom plinth from respected manufacturers starts from $2500 for Technics (and it is nearly 3 times higher than the cost of the turntable itself).

And BTW if you don’t own Luxman PD-444 you can’t talk about it, you don’t know the quality of this turntable and you’re not Raul :)

I have both (PD-444 and SP-10mkII), so i can talk about it, i prefer Luxmans.

I think the realistic price for Luxman PD-444 is about $2500 without tonearms. But it can be found cheaper. In my opinion this is the best turntable design ever made for reasonable price.