If you can find a decent Technics SL-1200 that hasn't been beat up by a DJ, it's a surprisingly good table. I think I paid about $600 for mine. I've upgraded the feet ($100) and added the KAB fluid damper ($149), both of which seemed to help. Mine came with the KAB RCA jack plate and a nice Soundeck mat, so I can't say how good it is completely stock, but it sounds really good with a nice cartridge and I can put a not so nice cart on it if I want to play some of my less than pristine records.
Not sure why belt drive is a requirement. Or a removable headshell for that matter. I have both belt and direct drive turntables and all of them but the SL 1200 have fixed headshells. Changing a cartridge isn't rocket surgery and while it's fun to be able to swap them out on the SL 1200, it was never an issue before I got it. Currently my two main tables are both direct drive.
I don't think you're going to get anything very good new at your budget. You could get a Music Hall 2.3. I have the 2.2 and it was a nice starter table, but a used 5.X Music Hall could be had at your budget level and would be much better. I'm not sure what problems you're worried about inheriting with a used turntable. A basic belt drive turntable doesn't have a lot of moving parts. If you buy used from a dealer, most will offer some kind of return if it doesn't work right.
I'd suggest stretching your budget and picking this up before it's gone - https://echohifi.com/details/14338/Marantz_TT-15S1
Not sure why belt drive is a requirement. Or a removable headshell for that matter. I have both belt and direct drive turntables and all of them but the SL 1200 have fixed headshells. Changing a cartridge isn't rocket surgery and while it's fun to be able to swap them out on the SL 1200, it was never an issue before I got it. Currently my two main tables are both direct drive.
I don't think you're going to get anything very good new at your budget. You could get a Music Hall 2.3. I have the 2.2 and it was a nice starter table, but a used 5.X Music Hall could be had at your budget level and would be much better. I'm not sure what problems you're worried about inheriting with a used turntable. A basic belt drive turntable doesn't have a lot of moving parts. If you buy used from a dealer, most will offer some kind of return if it doesn't work right.
I'd suggest stretching your budget and picking this up before it's gone - https://echohifi.com/details/14338/Marantz_TT-15S1