You should look into Rega or Pro-Ject lines. They're trusted names & their entry level tables are supposed to sound fabulous for the money. If you go to "Entry Level" section of this forum, there's a thread which discusses TTs under $1000. You'll find some options there.

be careful when you start down this road as it quickly leads to the dark side. that $500 table is the gateway drug. i started with a rega p2 with their bias cartridge and believe i paid about $500 for it. i really liked it for about a year and then got the itch and traded up for about another $1200 after the sale of the rega. i am happy for now, but another trade up is not out of the question. there are real quantuum leaps to be had from the $500 to the $1500-2000 range and then again as you hit $3500 to $5000. i'm not saying don't go there, actually, i'm saying go there, but you've been warned. now go start cruising the local goodwill and junk stores for buried treasure (LPs).

tom