Best turntable for easy setup and no maintenence?

Another good fit for your requirements are the Music Hall turntables.

I would concur with the rega recommendation. They make good tables, and arms, and their cartridges are designed to work in the combo without a lot of VTA setup and all that crap.

A KAB modified Technics SL-1200mk5 with tonearm fluid damper and external power supply. Get the KAB/STANTON Trackmaster II integrated cartridge/headshell for easy (as in 'nothing to adjust') alignment. Buy the KAB/Technics pre-tweaked from Kevin at www.kabusa.com.

If you want to play 45 rpm records as well as 33s, you want to avoid some of the Regas, Music Hall's etc where you have to lift up the platter and move the rubber band (aka belt) to another pulley in order to change speed.

Check out Ed Kobesky's review of the SL-1200mkX ( http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ranlg&1093010514&read&3&4& ) and Zaikesman's review of the tonearm damper ( http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?raccs&1033259530&read&3&4& )

Good luck!

- Harald

Rega. Rega.

Scheu Cello with rb250 arm for less than a grand landed from Germany. Uses same bearing as their much more expensive 80mm platter Premier model. Excellent motor and good cosmetics. this is not a kit as is the following table, though.

Bix turntable appears a good value, too.