Next step in Turntable

I have to say that at least the Technics SP 10R specs very well and is beautifully made. A new one is outside the OP’s price range.

His price limit is 10k, the drive cost about $7k in Japan and about $9k in USA, the rest for any arm and custom plinth. 

The old one sounded just like what it was, a commercial radio station bullet proof direct drive turntable.

Experts reported numerous times that refurbished SP-10 mk3 is better than new SP-10R.

It would be a very interesting project building a suspended plinth for a new one. It is a shame this seems to be outside the capabilities of everyone making and selling plinths for it. They can’t seem to get it through their heads that mass loading does not work.
But it is much harder to design and build a floating plinth which I believe is the reason no one does it (that I know of, please correct me if I am wrong)

Audio-Technica made pneumatic insulator AT616, put it under the plinth (up to 132 lbs) and you are done.

Chackster;

oooooooooo, Very pretty turntable setup 
It must sound very nice .  Why did you pick the reed arm vs others? My one buddy has a tri-planer 
The gray iron base looked really cool.
Older machine tools used cast iron for damping and scraped the ways 

I’m afraid to ask how much the cart iron base would be 

jeff

I am very happy with the VPI prime signature and soundsmith Paua cart. Within your budget and endgame in my opinion. Great match

Chakster, those feet are not isolation. The only thing they do is make the owner feel good. Many people gravitate toward old equipment. I have no idea why. Technology does not move backwards. I guess some people have romantic notions about the past they can not give up. I think you know how I feel about experts. 

Frozentundra, the Tri-planar is great tonearm, If I were to buy a Reed it would be the 2G, IMHO the best tonearm currently made is the Schroder LT. I hope to get one some day. I also have to get a turntable it will fit on like the Dohmann Helix. Check it out https://dohmannaudio.com/helix-one/  Notice what tonearms are on it. 

If you're looking for an end game TT, I have heard SME makes the best arms and now you can't get one without buying one of their tables. They're supposedly great also, but I haven't budgeted cash for one though.

I think at $15K you can get a mid-upper mid one, and they are a part of a real company with materials R&D etc.