Used quality vintage will give the most bang for buck.
Two used technics 1200’s packed full of modeling non-hardening clay would be good along with a couple NAGAOKA MP-110 carts setup properly would be nice little non-stereo room players.
Or if you could score a couple Thorens 160’s, JVC QL-7. Pairs are sorta tough. There’s nothing new that is nearly as good at $500.
Used quality vintage will give the most bang for buck.
Two used technics 1200’s packed full of modeling non-hardening clay would be good along with a couple NAGAOKA MP-110 carts setup properly would be nice little non-stereo room players.
Or if you could score a couple Thorens 160’s, JVC QL-7. Pairs are sorta tough. There’s nothing new that is nearly as good at $500.
A simple Google search reveals many options by Audio-technica, Project,Denon,etc. at al.
The Audio-Technica, ATLP 2240 USB XP DJ.
It comes with cart and built in phono preamp. It has direct drive.
MSRP $499.95.
On a speaker base, the pneumatic suspension of an sl-1200/1210 Mk2 to Mk6 would be certainly beneficial. Just set aside the DJ Slipmats they ship with or what would now be hard and brittle rubber mats if you happen upon a 80's to 90's unit. Reeplace the mat with one with a softer compound or natural denser material like leather. Just my two cents.
I would not use a low mass, unsprung table on a platform that resonates especially so on a speaker base.
Fluance, a name respected by audiophiles for its loudspeakers, has started to dabble in turntables as well, and the company now makes some of the best on the market.
I'll second the JVC QL-7 or QL-A7. I picked up a QL-A7 recently and am wowed at how good it really is. Finding two will take some time but is worth it.
