Is a GREAT turntable under $2000 possible???

I picked up a new in box Marantz TT 15S1, 2-weeks ago from Amazon for $1200.  Great sounding  turntable for the money.   The money I saved I can spend on a nice acrylic hood.

I’m currently looking for the Zu modded Denon 103 for my cartridge but Zu is sold out.

I use Zu Audio speakers and cables, but if you want to put Zu Audio Denon 103 on your technics stock tonearm it will be a mismatch. You’d better look at what Zu Audio used for their Zu DL-103 HERE It’s Audiomods tonearm from UK on ZU Technics SL1210. You need high mass tonearm for any versions of Denon 103, the effective mass of the stock Technics tonearm is too low for such a low compliance cartridge like Denon. That’s why Audiomods tonearm was chosen by Zu Audio for ZU DL-103

About tonearm/cartridge matching: https://www.ortofon.com/support/support-hifi/resonance-frequency

Marantz, all the way!!

While you are waiting around for the Zu modified 103 and stressing out over compliance issues and phono-preamp matching, get ye an Ortophon 2M Blue and a Schiit Mani and listen to some records. There are tons of really cool MM carts out there that will be fun to try without breaking the bank. I’ve got an old Grado that brings me back to listening to Zep in the dorm, an AT 440 mlc that still gets into rotation, and a new Mofi MasterTracker that is sublime (got that instead of the Ortophon 2M black, but it was a close race). Also have a few old Stantons and Pickerings that are fun to dink around with, and an old Shure V-15 V that is a bit high compliance but works fine with the brush down. Buy a couple cheap headshells and a 6 pack and you’ll be having more fun than you thought possible without breaking any laws!

Forget to mention that the Schiit Mani will work with your modified Denon 103 when you get it.  You will be surprised.  I ran a regular 103 through it and was impressed.  I'll admit I have stepped up my MC game a bit, but I probably spend more time listening to my MM carts.  Go figure!