At that price point, the 2M Blue is a great way to go, and a better choice than most of the MC alternatives I'm aware of. On the table, I can't speak to the Pioneer, but would suggest you also consider a Rega Planar 2 or 3, a Pro-Ject, a Thorens TD 203 (comes with the Blue) or perhaps a SOTA Comet if you're willing to stretch your budget. A better table will help the Blue deliver its full potential, which is pretty significant. If you're willing to go used, there are some very high price to performance alternatives available as well. Surf the forums here and you'll find a lot of information to consider. Keep us posted on your progress!
