I already have the acrylic platter, I bought it 1 week after I got the turntable, wish they just put them in standard :). The price is step, but if it saves my Ortofon Blue some damage due to me falling asleep, worth it! Another forum member is using the Q-Up which is only about $50 on Amazon. Audio Technica makes one for about $120. You would have to check the height and range of motion. I wanted something that would last the life of the table and I think the Tru-Lift is engineered the best. Prices vary a lot though as the Tru-Lift is often targeted at high end tables like VPI and the high end audio shops price it accordingly. They also charge a ridiculous premium for the larger bases as the inner workings are the same. Mine came from Trutone Electronics in Mississauga Ontario, and Audio Excellence (a high end shop) in Markham had the same price for the #1 to #4 model without the larger base. There should be some U.S. dealers also selling for retail so you need to shop around.