I agree with that, all the way. I'm still using a Yamaha direct drive TT from '78, connected to a Citation Eleven pre-amp and Citation 19 power amp, both from the late '70's. I just had the Eleven tuned up, they replaced all the caps.
I've looked at alot of much more expensive belt drive tables, like VPI, Regal, Clear Audio. But w/o being able to go into a stereo shop and listen to them, I don't really know how much of the stuff one reads, is just hype. Which is why I keep putting off buying a $2500~3500 TT.
I've came to that price range by adding inflation to the $400 Yamaha and get $1300~1600 in today's dollars. So no use buying a TT just to get a newer one, unless its an upgrade. So, I figure at least $2500.
For $1500-$2000, with the better value units, you get superb engineered turn tables with superb arms. The VPI Scout and Marantz TT-15SI are two examples of superbly built/engineered units in this range. The Marantz is a real package bargain, and is actually made by ClearAudio. The Marantz TT-15S1 uses a precision German made ClearAudio Satisfy tone arm with Swiss jeweled bearings; this arm costs $1200.00 USD by itself, and in addition, the unit comes with a ClearAudio Virtuoso cartridge that is nearly universally considered to be a superb unit - and this cart costs $875 by itself. Then the table: a solid, extreme low resonance table with a superb low friction bearing. The motor is completely isolated from the table on this unit. The table and platter are closest to the ClearAudio Champion table so far as material types and thickness of these materials. However, the Marantz comes with the superior arm as used on the upper level Champion Magnum and Avante Garde tables. I checked around, and this same arm is used on several turn tables in the $5000-$7000 range, whatever that means. The motor appears to be the one from the ClearAudio Emotion and is specified as wow and flutter of 0.07% RMS. Anyways, the Marantz is the table I ended up with - and I could not be happier with the unit's build quality. Every part of this table, from the platter to table chassis to tone arm, to the solid large diameter aluminum feet, appears to be precision machined. As such, it has the appearance and detail of a watch, or piece of jewelry, even under close inspection. The only part on this table that was not machined that I noticed, was the motor housing, which appears to be a casting. Most of the system was made in Germany, except the motor, which I believe was made in Switzerland or Sweden(I opened up the motor case and this was indicated inside). Also, according to the ClearAudio, the jewel bearings in the tone arm are Swiss.
I really doubt you can get much more performance than is possible from these tables in the VPI Scout/Marantz TT15S1 quality range. I think at this point, it comes down the cartridge/stylus(
and related physical compatibility of the cartridge-arm system), as far as dictating the sound you get. Due to the extreme low noise of this caliber table(80 dB and greater SNR of rumble, unweighted) and good speed stability, along with what appear to be perfect tracking arms with no significant resonance, I really don't see what is to be audibly improved on the tables themselves beyond this point. It may even be these are in excess of what is required for transparent table/tone arm functionality?
-Chris