Turntable Quandry

@OP - ideally you should upgrade both TT and Cartridge. A Technics SL-1200Gr2 would be a good choice at not crazy money. A Hana EL or SL would be a good cartridge. Depending on the state of the bearings in your old TT, you might want to check low compliance MC compatibiity before upgrading the cartridge on that TT.

While I like technics, I do not care for the pitch slider. It just looks tacky to me and something I would never use. Im not a DJ.

I'd look for a good used VPI table that's more than 10 years old in good condition.

Thanks ill have a look. Seems like a Technics 1300G and a good MC cart we are pushing 5k for sure

Start with a Hana MC, maybe the Hana SL MkII for $850. You simply wont do better for under $1000. Then, if you decide to upgrade your turntable, you'll have the cart decision already made. Changing o e component at a time makes it easy to assess improvements .. or degrades. And, Hanas work very well in Technics medium mass tonearms.