[gmku]

I have to admit I'm not a huge audiophile or anything, but I'd recommend some kind of belt drive. Even lower end models are quieter, and there's less to break, usually just a belt to replace.

If you have the dough, invest in the best cartridge you can. Check out Grados if you can find them. They make any turntable sound superb.

I always advise having a good audio technician install the cartridge, by the way, unless just a simple plug-in kind. If they screw into a head shell, though, they need to aligned just right.

I'm envious! Turntable shopping. What I wouldn't give...