Yes, Amsterdam can be a lovely city. But I am happy to live on the outskirts of the city, so I can take my bike and get away 
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Yes, that could be an alternative indeed. Well, at least something to read about and investigate this year. I just replaced speakers, so itās time to let it settle down and enjoy my current system.
Have you looked at the prices of vinyl now?
Maybe write a wish list and see what the end total of that is first
I have relatives in The Hague but havenāt been although we have an open invitation. Haarlem also looks lovely. I only know Amsterdam as a very happy tourist. I did spot a cracking little record shop in the town centre though. Anyway, thread drift!
Pricey indeed.
And often mediocre quality compared to first press.
Really disappointed with quality of new vinyl, hence no purchases this year, it will be CD if a record is needed.
Looking to reduce the vinyl collection in generel, Iāve sold well 20-25 cared LPs just before Xmas making somebody happy that evening.
Those records has been on the shelf for decades with little or no replay. Thousand of records, collected since the 70s, need now to be reduced in numbers.
I did look at the prices yesterday and itās all pretty expensive. The record companies know where to get the money apparently
Unless you have vinyl or are following the current fashion for vinyl, taking up vinyl makes no sense. Digital recording and playing on digital devices is way better sound quality. Old farts like me keep it because of nostalgia and we spend inordinate amounts of money to try and keep up with digital reproduction that you can get for a song. Pun intended.
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I do nāt care about fashion. If you look at it objectively, it makes no sense. Vinyl is no match for the ease of use, huge catalog and price of streaming services. The only attraction may be the illusive analog sound.
I am probably being nostalgic. When CDās were introduced, I got rid of my turntable and LPās. There probably was a reason for that. My memory may be colored and influenced by reading about vinyl.
So, apparently I am influenced by fashion. Damn, learned something about myself
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Nothing wrong with following fashion. I may have had flares and a flowery shirt or two at one stage. 
The only thing is to know why you are doing something. I have three turntables when only one will do (and even that is surplus for sound quality). Nostalgia fuels my habit, but it could just as easily be fashion.
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The same could be said about spending largish to extremely large sum on hi-fi boxes by some.
I do tend to agree that getting a turntable for the first time isnāt the most rational choice, whilst disagreeing about digital devices being better than a TT at the same price point.
Most of my family and friends have voiced their amazement at the amount that I have spent on my system over the years when they have asked. These days, rather than tell them, I just say too much.
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Youāve had a lot of good advice regarding different turntables, different manufacturers, different sound signatures etc.
However, people tend to recommend the turntables they own, because those are the turntables they enjoy owning and using.
Iām wondering if you should be selecting a turntable, not based on what other people get pleasure from owning, but based on what you will get pleasure from owning and using.
Donāt rush. Look at different options, wait until you spot a turntable that makes you think WOW I must buy that. Any turntable/cartridge/phono stage combination that costs 3 to 4 grand is going to be high quality.
Donāt concentrate on getting something that has a similar sound signature to your streamer. Getting something that sounds different would be a good thing IMO.
Hereās my biased opinion. 
12 months ago I bought a Denon direct drive turntable, which in operation, setup and SQ is the same as the Technics 1200GR/G. It replace a Manticore suspended subchasis turntable, which in operation, setup and SQ is the similar to an early LP12/Lingo. Even though both are started by pressing a button and the arm is operated in the same way, the Denon just seems more pleasurable to use, and I use it more often.
If you buy a Technics or Denon direct drive you donāt need a dealer, they are so easy to set up and donāt require any maintenance. You can buy those on line.
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Hereās a video showing how to set up a Denon direct drive turntable, but the Technics will be pretty much the same. The only thing they donāt show is connecting the cartridge to the headshell wires, which is a doddle as the headshell is removable.
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For me vinyl is far more than just listening to music, itās the whole experience which no other format gives you. I love hunting out vinyl shops where ever I go, chatting to like minded people whilst sifting through the crates. Getting home, cleaning it, firing up the turntable, sitting back and just enjoying the experience.
I agree objectively it makes no sense compared to streaming but I just donāt connect with music in the same way as I do with vinyl.
My daughter has recently moved into her first house and I was so pleased when she said, āDad I want a turntable so I can listen to vinyl like you doā. That says a lot about the allure of vinyl when you think she has grown up with streaming as her main listening experience.
We are going to a record fair together in a couple of weeks, which will be lovely. Probably go to the pub after and look at each otherās purchases before we go home and listen. Streaming just doesnāt have this connection, not for me at least.
Vinyl is a real faff but after well over 40years I am still happy faffing
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There is a bit of a difference between those two Technics models. Can you say which it best compares to?
And out of curiosity, which cartridge are you using?
do like the look of the new technics GME that due to come out will be able to demo that vs linn vs my chord dac
do like idea of the technics simplicity - Linn LP12 i know id get sucked into the upgrade vortexā¦.
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Thatās a nice looking turntable. If youāve fallen in love with that, go for it.
Although you might fall in love with sound of the Linn. 
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I havenāt personally compared the GR to G or either to the Denon.
I was suggesting the Denon SQ is at GR or G level, reviewer seem to only review it against the GR or G, so presumably they think itās at a similar level.
But sound signature isnāt the same.
You pays your money and makes your choice.
However, I was suggesting to the OP he should ignore what people are posting with regards to their preferences regarding sound quality.
Buy based on what you would enjoy owning.
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That TD 160 B with SME Series II is identical to the one I owned before I got my first LP12. I used mine first with a Shure M75 ED2 stylus in a 75EJ2 body and then an Ortofon VMS 20E/II. The SME arm cost me 37 GBP in 1976 (initially used on a Connoisseur BD1), the Thorens turntable cost me 79 GBP in 1977 and the Ortofon cartridge cost 20 GBP in 1978 (total 136 GBP), so itās an eye-opener to see the 1400 Euro asking price for the deck in the photo.
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I noticed an interesting video on youtube the other day - Denon DP-3000NE vs Technics SL-1300G.
Itās basically highlighting how good DD turntables are, highlighting the benefits over belt and discussing the 1300G and DP-3000NE.
But Part 2 includes a link to part of an album digitised using a Denon DP-3000NE - Technics SL-1300G - Technics SL-1200GAE.
Link to download can be found at youtube video titled
Denon DP-3000NE vs Technics SL-1300G - Weak Point + Verdict (Part 2)
(Presumably there is no copyright issue, as they credit the record label for supplying the album in the youtube video. Along with Ortofon for supplying the cartridge and technics for the turntables)
Hoff Ensemble, Polarity vinyl release from 2L
Using
Ortofon Concorde Music LVB 250 Cartridge
Supra Phono cable with ground cable
PARASOUND zPhono XRM Phono Stage (rumble filter off).
They recomend listening, then opening the Notepad doc which reveals the identity of each.
The cartridge sounds very nice. Itās now on my wish list. 