Technics Premium Class SL-1500C with the VM750SH would work. You don’t have to use the built-in phono amp. If you’re really serious, and with the phono amp you are getting, you should save a little longer and get the Technics SL-1200GR. It’s the real version of what your AT-LP120 is pretending to be.
Upgrade Turntable or Cart
I am at a pivotal point with my vinyl listening, where I need to make a decision to upgrade the cart or turntable. My current table is an Audio Technica AT-LP120XUSB, which is known to be a great entry level TT. I have a Decware ZP3 coming in December and want to be sure everything plays well together, whichever direction I go. My understand is there can be an issue with a carts output voltage if not matched correctly. I want to stay with MM and would consider MI. I don’t want to mess with a SUT for MC at this time. Music wise, I am all over the place, so would need a new TT to have a removable head shell to have an optional cart later on for different genre of music like jazz, 80’s alternative, and 1970’s rock and Krautrock. If there is a single cart that would play most all music genre well, that would be great!
The cart I am thinking of is a VM750SH or something similar, Shure, Ortofon, Grado, etc. The VM540ML might be too bright for me. This TT is my first, so I have no experience with anything else out there—purely reading forums at this point and no specialty store nearby.
If I go the new turntable route, I want to be sure it is a noticeable change. New, used, or vintage are all considerations and I would like to not go too far over $1,200’ish if possible. I do have some room though. The TT would need to have a removable head shell. I have seen Thorens mentioned several times on forums. Certain models seem better with better bearings it seems.
Would love to get great feedback from the huge knowledge base out there.