Turntable suggestions for a newbie

You care too much about how it looks. Why are you getting into vinyl if you don't have a large record collection (this coming from a 90% vinyl guy)? If you are putting the TT into a spot where it is subject to excessive vibration, plan for spending $$$ to address that, unless you don't intend to listen to it (which it sounds like is the case).

It's in a living room and needs to be wife approved. So yes. Looks matter. Looks matter in all of this hobby. Don't kid yourself.  Someone else had the same ridiculous notion of why one would buy a record player without records. That's ridiculous and dumb as hell.  Why would one have records without a player???   BTW genius, I do have an extensive classical LP collection that was my dad's.  Vibration isn't an issue.  It's been checked. 

Thanks

I've owned a Mofi Ultradeck for almost two years. In that time, it's been a pretty a solid turntable, requiring little to no intervention. I think it sounds a little more tone rich the the Technics I also tried at the time. However, one thing I wish I would have known before I purchased it, is that is has a very heavy 24g tonearm. That heavy of a tonearm can be a bit limiting in cartridge choices. Though all the MoFi (rebadged AT) cartridges would be compliant.

Music Direct says they have installed many out of compliance cartridges on them, and other people have posted on various forums about using out of compliance cartridges, but I'm not so sure I want to spend $1k plus on a cartridge to find out.

I probably would have gone in a different direction had I have know. Either with a Sota Escape with an Origin Live Silver tonearm or a VPI.

In relation to Looks Matter - In relation to ones 'better half' showing a tolerance for a item to be used for the occasional replay of recorded music using a a Archaic Medium to produce the facsimile of the recorded data when the Stylus is reading the Modulations.

The device required to enable this type of replay to occur soon becomes a Dust Collecting Carbuncle in the Space they are trying to have a feel good factor about.

The Archaic Medium on show will be as welcome as a Naked Picture of ones Mothering Law above the Marital Bed Head Board.

Man Caves are Marriage Savers for good reasons.

Every Man with a Partner Sharing their Living Space needs a Man Cave or alternatively, a Friend who is salvaging their own relationship through having a with  Man Cave, hopefully their is a Friend who has shared interests. 

I would recommend revisiting the ClearAudio option.  I have owned VPI, Techniques, Origin Live, among others and had a ClearAudio Concept Air on extended loan recently.  It performed at a level well above my expectations and had very non intrusive aesthetics.