Inexpensive Good Vintage Turntables?

Already mentioned above, the Townshend Audio Rock turntables are like no other. A main feature of the Rock is the employment of a silicon fluid-filled damping trough across the front of the platter, within which rides a "paddle" that is bolted onto the arm’s headshell.

The table is a cult item in the U.S., but was fairly mainstream in the U.K., where it is very highly regarded. The Rock Elite (MK.2) can be found for less than a grand, if you're up for something unique.

My first good turntable was an AR XA. It had a good suspended subchassis design (the first in history), a good machined platter, but a terrible tonearm (the later XB just had a different base, and an arm cuing control). I replaced the table with a Thorens TD-125 Mk.2, which had an almost identical suspended subchassis design, but unfortunately also an overly-complicated electronic motor controller, which gave me nothing but trouble. I got rid of it and got the cheaper TD-150, which was very similar to the AR but with a much better arm.

In the 1980's AR re-introduced their table (basically the same as the XA in design, renamed the ES-1) fitted with a Jelco-sourced arm if so desired (it was offered without as well). It's a fine budget table, but for the price it brings on the used market you can get a VPI HW-19 Mk.2 or 3, imo a better choice.