Psychicanimal has it about nailed. Technics quart locked direct drive turntables are a good bargin. The SL-1800 MK II is a cosmetically more pleasing SL-1200 MK II, the latter really was intended for DJs. They made it so essentially by making the speed control a slider instead of a rotated dial button. The SL-1700 is the same table as the 1800 but with the auto lift off at the end of the record, and the 1600 is a fully automatic version. While I've not heard any of the 1600 or 1700 tabels, I've owned two 1800 Mk IIs for nearly 20 years. They are not far from the performance of my current table, an Oracle Premier IV, limited edition with SME 345 arm. The frequency extremes are superior on the Oracle, and some trackability because of the superior arm. Still, vibration resistance is excellent with the Technics tables -- another reason for DJ's love for them.
If I were you, I'd by a used Technics table, upgrade the cable, and dump as much money as possible into a MC cartridge.
If I were you, I'd by a used Technics table, upgrade the cable, and dump as much money as possible into a MC cartridge.