Turntables are a real black hole of spec fetishism, most of which I don't really care about. They can also cost a lot lot lot of money. But listening to and owning records, is fun. Finding the right balance of quality and cost for a turntable can be a challenge.
I've owned a few turntables now, and there's nothing more frustrating than hearing your music wobble in speed, sound bad, or just not play at all. I've owned a Pro-Ject Essential III for a few years now and it's been perfect – unfortunately it's discontinued, but the replacement, the T1 EVO ($550 as of May 2026), looks just as nice.
Pro-Ject is based in Germany and distributes in the US through dealers – I'd get one from Sonos, because they often have deals with their speakers.