@Hayling@weirder.earth It might be? Unless you go for one of the really well-regarded and/or rare models, but i don't think you need a really well-regarded and/or rare model, you just need one that works

and generally, a used Sony or Technics will work a lot better than a new Crosley or whatever--there was a whole thing a while ago where it turned out those suitcase-form-factor ones that crosley (and other sellers) put their name on actually do a *lot* of damage to the records

remember, in the 70s and 80s there were design engineers who actually knew how records worked and how to make machines that treat them right--in the 2020s there are just marketing executives who know that people want record players and engineers who have never seen a vinyl record in their lives
-F