What are your top 3 favorite turntable companies (manufacturer) and why?

@mylogic Speaking as an American, I recall what Thomas Jefferson is reported to have said, “I consider a man who knows only one way of spelling a word uneducated,” or something to that effect.
As for turntables, I’m an old boomer who thought that direct drive had solved all previous technologies. I can’t understand the fascination with the technology of my youth, the old flat-spot idler drive or flimsy belts, but I must say, they certainly have worked up some lovely complications on the theme. I’m happy with my Music Hall mmf 5.3 a belt drive. I hope to resurrect an old DJ (British) Numark Pro-TT1. Saving up for . . . one of the tables mentioned in this post, I simply can’t make up my mind between them as the original poster, but my budget is much closer to $5,000 than $10,000 USD.

If I wanted to spend $5k on a new turntable, just the table without tonearm and cartridge, I would be in trouble, I guess, because I wouldn't really know what to get. It would be very easy for me to choose if I could compare them all, not always necessarily side by side, though preferable. In any good system the source is heard quite clearly, it sets the pace and tone. Besides, I know well how tape sounds, I have this reference in my head.

I will sort of paraphrase Jefferson - there is more than one way to skin the cat.

1. Current model - Dr. Feickert Volare

2. Vintage - Thorens TD165

3. Best entry level audiophile - Rega P1

@slofut: I too have a special fondness for the Townshend Audio Elite Rock. If I could have only one table, it would be the one. With a Zeta arm mounted on it, and a London pickup tracing the LP groove, I get the sound I'm most satisfied with.

@inna

Are you talking about the UK manufacturer, C. J. Walker turntables?

l had a belt driven Walker CJ55 in the 80s with the wooden platter. Great value for money back then….less than £200 without arm. I believe it was their top model. The 58 came out later but l think it was a more budget design. The CJ55 was often partnered with a Linn Basik Plus, but the arm was considered to be a weak link for this deck. That claim alone tells you of the potential of that turntable.

£200 in the early 80s bought you a lot of quality middle of the road turntables…….obscenely high priced home produced turntables had yet to materialise in the UK marketplace.