Reddit reviews Teac TN-300SE-WA Analog Belt Drive Turntable, Walnut

$140 used plus the cost of a new stylus. Pass.

Better on sale with 0.20% wow and flutter, AT cartridge and a basic built in phono preamp:

• TEAC TN-300 $173, walnut or matte black, AT95 cartridge.
  
• TEAC TN-400 $179, walnut, gloss black or matte bordeaux, coupon code SPIN, AT95 cartridge.
  
• Monolith by Monoprice Turntable with AT100E Cartridge $205, with auto stop.
  
• Fluance RT80 $169, with auto stop but steps down to a conical AT91 cartridge which you can upgrade later.
  
  Even better with 0.07% wow and flutter:
  
  I have and recommend the Fluance RT82 $299. It has auto stop and then adds an optical sensor speed controlled servo motor for much lower wow and flutter and speed variation and no need to ever manually adjust possible speed drift or belt break in with a screwdriver from underneath because the speed sensor system is doing it 500 times a second. Skip the older RT81 that lacks the speed sensor since the Monoprice Monolith is a clone of the RT81 for $45 less.
  
  If not using a receiver with a phono input add a phono preamp such as the ART DJ Pre II $67 or the popular Schiit Mani $129. Or a low budget Pyle PP444 is $13 and upgrade to a better one later.

For new, I would recommend: Monoprice Monolith, Fluance RT-80, [Teac TN-300] (https://www.amazon.com/Teac-TN-300SE-WA-Analog-Turntable-Walnut/dp/B075CP5RL1/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Teac+TN-300&qid=1569705867&sr=8-2), Audio Technica AT-LP3 Fully Automatic but I personally prefer hunting for used vintage Japanese or German turntables at thrift shops, classifieds, pawn shops, vintage audio stores, etc.

$500 with a turntable is a bit low of a budget, but I'll see what I can do.

If you want to ever go surround, it would be a good idea to get a surround receiver now. This one will do the trick. If you don't think you'll ever need surround, this guy will work and save you a couple bucks.

[Audiotechnica turntable](Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Black, Hi-Fidelity, Plays 33 -1/3 and 45 RPM Vinyl Records, Dust Cover, Anti-Resonance, Die-Cast Aluminum Platter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N3XJ66N/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6XaGDbX20EGGZ). If you want a bit more of a "vintage" look, this Teac would be good. It's wood instead of plastic.

Speakers will be tough. I would love to recommend you the Wharfedale Dentons because those are super vintage looking. However, that isn't feasible with your budget.

Something that is feasible would be the Wharfedale Diamond 220 in walnut. I've only seen them in black and rosewood, but I think the walnut would look the most like what you want.

Let me know what you think and I'll see if I can make any changes.

The “special edition” is currently $185 on Amazon. Has been down to $146 in the last few months, but this is still an excellent price.

Teac TN-300SE-WA Analog Belt Drive Turntable, Walnut https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075CP5RL1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_p6ZJAbNAFKWS9