dj/pro turntable for home audio use?????

Suck it up !! Yes buy the Music Hall, Rega or ProJect.

Pretty much all of those other pro/dj turntables stink. I'd say get a 1200. If you can find one of those others cheaper then a new 1200, then go for it.

I'd say budget under $150 new DJ/Pro TT's typically stink. Now if you talking older tables that have been in use by DJ's and radio stations that may be completely different. But most of those cost more than $300. I like a lot of the old EMT and Denons that were sold to radio stations.

Djmoose is correct. There is no substitute for a 1200 for dj/pro applications. The MK2, first released in '79 remains, with minor tweaks over the years, the industry standard to this day. That's why any dj or club in the world worth its salt will have them.

There is are only 2 'pro-level' turntables- technics 1200 and the 1210 and they are about 400 new. Minor differences between them--they are essentially the same. They won't scratch ur vinyl as they don't touch them, the cartridges do. if you get good cartridges, you will be fine. if you use crap cartridges, it will sound crap and additionally damage ur records even if you use $10000 turntables.

Speaking of this, I need to get a new cartridge for my 1200 before I start using it again to archive my vinyl. The Shure V15s have been discontinued but I hear good things about the Grados. Can anyone vouch for them? Want to keep it under $200 as I also will need to invest in a Nitty Gritty cleaner.

So you are going to pop for a $300 TT and the associated album cost just to "check out some vinyl" and the phono stage of you new preamp?

Or, you have a nice vinyl collection already and I didn't catch that?

Also not as common but the Technics 1700 and 1800 are darn good tables.