I have researched turn tables for a while now. Really, most of them are junk, it seems, under $1000 mark. The typical entry level 'audiophile' table is usually a simple belt driven unit with a MDF base and a metal tube arm with 'squished' down end for the flat area to mount the head shell, aligned on basic some pivoting bearings. Usually, the motor is of questionable quality and speed stability on these entry level units.
Now, you can get a very good table for well under this range, but most so-called audiophiles won't like the solution:
Technics SL1200MK2.
The Technics, simply, is a superior unit compared to the entry level audiophile decks on the market. The Technics has extremely stable speed(
most audiophile tables wish they could replicate the Technics wow and flutter) with a superb quartz locked direct drive motor system. The SNR is very high, though not as high some. I can't see any problem - the record will be far more noisy than the actual table.
The arm has very precise bearings and does the job. You can actually upgrade the arm if you really want to down the line.
BTW, you want quality? The Technics uses a heavy cast and rubber constrained layer platter, and the body top/table is all heavy cast aluminum - with a solid rubber base, again, acting as a large dampening system. All of the arm assembly parts are alloy as well. No cheezy MDF table construction here. Now, the table is not pretty -- it has a utilitarian look -- not an exotic/artistic look like the majority of audiophile tables. This is a function over form affair.
New tables from highly reputable online dealers run about $450-$500.
If you are going to ask if I have one: no. I plan on getting one in the future and to a controlled level matched ABX test against the table that I just bought:
Marantz TT-15SI. I'll install and set up the same cartridge on both tables and record the same track(s), then level match and time synch them, then finally compare with a software ABX comparator.
But seriously, I would not bother with these poorly made devices like the entr level Music Halls and Regas and similar compared to the Technics. If you are willing to go to the higher end(expensive) versions of the audiophile tables, then you start to get some decent build quality and better technical performance compared to the entry level units.
As for cartridge/stylus -- there seem to be a few well made units for reasonable cost. As for one example: the Denon DL-110 is supposed to have a superbly crafted point that can retrieve more information from used records(it has a smaller tip that picks up information deeper in the groove as compared to standard stylus units) and is overall a great unit so far as I can tell. It's about $140 USD.
-Chris