Does a turntable make a DRAMATIC difference?

Yes.  Without starting a direct drive vs belt drive debate, just the facts as I have witnessed in my system and during demos.  

Started return to serious vinyl about 8 years ago, bought a very good high mass belt drive table and low output mc cartridge.  

Sounded very good but it was occasionally disappointing.  Sound could be dull, thick and an occasional note waver.  

Did full on research, dealer and audio show visits.  Wanted more dynamics and energy in the sound.  

Tried the low mass belt drive highly regarded table and was severely disappointed.  

Soft sound, good dynamics but occasional speed waver.  About that time the new Technics 1200 were released.  Read about the high energy sound that breathes life into tired vinyl.  

Tested the 1200 G and GR, bought the GR on the spot.

Fast forward to my vinyl destination system, 1200 GR, Lyra Delos cartridge and Sutherland 20 20 phono stage. 

The speed, energy, dynamics, detail and stability of my best digital sources with the smoothness of vinyl.  Dramatic improvement.  Cartridge is very important too. For the past several years I do not even think about speed wavering, low energy vinyl.  I just enjoy the music and the sound.  Every time I put a record on.  

A turntable’s job is not just to turn the platter at the prescribed speed. It also needs to isolate the platter from vibration and other outside forces. The tone arm has to carry the properly set up cartridge and make sure it tracks optimally. None of this is inexpensive. I went from an older Thorens TD160 to a VPI Scout 2, both with a Dynavector 10X2 and it was a night and day difference. The VPI is far better isolated and the tone arm tracks much better. Both were expertly set up by my retailer. This is still a fairly entry level system but the retail cost right now is probably over $3k. Not including cables and the phono stage. 

I think it comes down to what YOU can afford, what YOU consider a major difference and is it worth the cost?.

My first TT was a record changer with a ceramic cartridge. I made a brush which I taped to the end of the arm and it made what I considered to be at that time a major difference. The brush seemed to hold the cartridge which had more high frequency, air. Eventually I ended up with a Sota, separate arm MC cartridge which costed $3,5000.00  in 1992 dollars.

The improvements  I believe were less major but the total increments although slight are wonderful, in imaging. So in the end you'll end up living with it.

Also all the eventual choices and decisions in choices of turntables, arms, cartridges. cables, ect. ect. good luck make it fun and be happy with YOUR decisions!

I don’t really understand the folks on this thread who say a good turntable makes a difference.
 

Do you need to spend $100K? No, I guess about $3K should do the job.
 

FWIW, I have a VPI HW MK IV with SAM, a Sumiko Premier MMT arm, and a Koetsu Onyx. It’s been working for me for a couple of decades. 

Yes.