The experience TheChairGuy had with his JVC doesn't surprise me at all...I'd take a 'lousy' old DD anytime (especially a KAB Technics...wow!!). Unless you want to spend $4,000 or so, its the way to go for proper playback.
EDIT: Whoops, that didn't help the thread much...for the budget, go the used route (be wary of eBay unless its a local pickup and/or a well-trusted seller), get something like a Technics, Denon, Sony, JVC, etc, the Bellari preamp, and a Audio-Technica AT440MLa and you are in business for a long, long time. For a true giant killer, and something that is in the Top 5 of all-time (really), check out the Yamaha PX-2 linear tracker...
