I would highly recommend a table from Small Audio Manufacturer (SAM). The company is based in Croatia (I know, but there are lots of positive reviews). You can buy a brand new hand made table for under your budget in their Aldebaran model:
This is a picture of one owned by a fellow AK'er. Posted in this thread: http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/croatian-high-end-turntable.641301/ . I recently purchased SAM's reference model, which is just a little over your price range, and love it. The table is a large improvement over my current Marantz and Technics tables. Note, the picture above shows the Aldebaran with third party arms. If you are willing to take a chance on a small international vendor, I don't see how you can find a better bargain in a new table. SAM sells on the usual sites; although, currently they only have the reference model (and a brass version for even more $$) on that auction site. They are very responsive to emails though if you want to inquire about the Aldebaran.
There are a ton of options if you go used, with some great ones already listed here. However, you might want to add the Yamaha GT-2000 to your list: http://www.thevintageknob.org/yamaha-GT-2000.html They are Japanese models, so a voltage converter is required; however, you should be able to import one and be up and running for about your budget (subject to your cartridge choice, of course). There are a number of threads on this table here on AK. It is highly regarded, and there are several owners here. Several companies on Ebay and otherwhere online offer well regarded import of these tables. This was the table I was going to buy if I didn't buy the SAM Reference.
This is a picture of one owned by a fellow AK'er. Posted in this thread: http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/croatian-high-end-turntable.641301/ . I recently purchased SAM's reference model, which is just a little over your price range, and love it. The table is a large improvement over my current Marantz and Technics tables. Note, the picture above shows the Aldebaran with third party arms. If you are willing to take a chance on a small international vendor, I don't see how you can find a better bargain in a new table. SAM sells on the usual sites; although, currently they only have the reference model (and a brass version for even more $$) on that auction site. They are very responsive to emails though if you want to inquire about the Aldebaran.
There are a ton of options if you go used, with some great ones already listed here. However, you might want to add the Yamaha GT-2000 to your list: http://www.thevintageknob.org/yamaha-GT-2000.html They are Japanese models, so a voltage converter is required; however, you should be able to import one and be up and running for about your budget (subject to your cartridge choice, of course). There are a number of threads on this table here on AK. It is highly regarded, and there are several owners here. Several companies on Ebay and otherwhere online offer well regarded import of these tables. This was the table I was going to buy if I didn't buy the SAM Reference.