Smoothest and best sounding turntable/cartridge combo up to $1600??

To marktomaras:  "Smooth sounding" may be too nonspecific a term. I was trying to say less high end congestion where the sound get bunched up, (that is not separated to hear nuances), or tinselly crashing highs, or a general  lack coherence across the board resulting in a sour sound quality..  I would not mount a Lyre Delos  on my Thorens 145 ( You must have a fairly expensive table to use that cartridge).

 I am no expert at tonearm/cartridges interfacing, but at this time the Thorens TP60 tonearm on the 145 table does not sound right, and exhibits many of the negatives I briefly listed above. I did read somewhere that the AT440Mlb  cartridge can take a while to break in and sound smoother on the top end.

To Smrex13.... I saw the add for the VPI Traveler, but I want to sell the Thorens first. Catching good sale is not a top priority at this point.

 Member, Raymonda suggested trying one of the Denons he listed. And of course, there is the option of replacing the tonearm with something much better.  However, in both cases I am reluctant to dump any more money into this project at this point.  Thanks to all.

Thanks again to those who responded. 

To Paraneer:  I am sure tables prepacked with cartridges represent an expert matching to tonearm. Unfortunately, I am not a big fan of Ortofon 2MRed which came with my previous Project DC Carbon TT. It was good, quiet, but the highs were a bit restricted. I was told the 2MBlue was better and would work with the 2M Red body. but I decided not to go there. 

Here is an a curious point, why does VPI package the Ortofon 2MRed with Scout Jr  TT, and also their discontinued  Traveler V.2 TT.  Both VPT table have to, or should outperform the Project DC Carbon TT. So, Paraneer, I am NOT sure the matching of cartridge to tonearm''s RESONANT FREQUENCY  is the only consideration. I think keeping the cost of the package down. If I had bought either of the VPI tables mentioned, I would replaced the Ortofon  2M Red.      

TO  STRINGREEN: Yes I am sure I could build such a isolation base, but I decided to buy an Aurelex vibration base from Music Direct ($79.00 which offers marginal improvement in sound. but footfalls still occur but less so ) Despite these minimal gains,  I am still not hearing  the benefits of this "upgraded Thorens TD145. It could be the limited headshell overhang adjustment, or that the Geo-Disc is not adequately calibrated for this type of headshell and tonearm  I am going to check those parameters again, especially since I  snapped in the AT 440MLb  stylus onto the body of the AT120E.  Unfortunately, the sound is still not as full as I expected in the midrange.

However,  a few reviews cautioned about this negative quality, and also that 50-75 hours will be needed for burn-in .  At this point, I am putting that particular problem on the back burner, and beginning to look for a new table. - A few members recommended either the Grado  Sonata,cartridge or the Denon 302MKII, ( low output of .035  requiring an out boarded phono box) but I am reluctant to put any more money into the project, and more or less have decided to lick my wounds and sell the table.with or without AT cartridge. I am just not hearing what I want, and I am done with this upgrade vintage BS..