@catahula_bill - Nothing wrong with VPI - great turntables.
However take a look at Music Hall MMF11.3 - why?
- Unique quadruple-plinth design wtih sorbothane vibration isolationn
- One-piece Project ‘9cc Evolution’ carbon fiber tonearm
- Arm uses four hardened Swiss ABEC 7 ball races in an inverted bearing design
- Tonearm is internally wired with flexible wire drawn from high purity copper with only two contact points from cartridge to output connectors
- Counterweight’s center of gravity is level with the stylus tip is decoupled from the arm and acts as a resonance damper
- Fully adjustable azimuth, VTA, and dampened arm lift
- Exclusive microprocessor electronic speed controlled dual motor single flywheel drive system
- 33 1⁄3 and 45 rpm speed change at the touch of button
- Motors and flywheel assembly are isolated on mass loaded resonant sink connected to the lower plinth
- the dual motor flywheel system sits on the left side of the turntable thus eliminating all motor and belt vibration from the cartridge
- Magnetic-levitation adjustable isolation feet
- inverted ceramic main bearing for super quiet fluid operation
- thick acrylic platter with a removable acrylic dustcover
- high quality, gold RCA connectors with detachable phono cable
- low noise fully manual belt-drive design, dustcover, 45rpm adaptor
- ships securely in a substantial wood box
It’s well within your budget and there are deals out there (so shop around) and you will have enough for a really great cartridge - maybe a Sound-smith? And a good interconnect cable !
The MMF 9.3 is even more affordable and almost as good
If looks matter - there is a really nice Walnut plinth option
Good luck - Steve