I have done all right with an Ebay cassette player, high end, that I got cheap. Had it reconditioned. I have many cassettes, and it is too time-consuming to transfer them to cd.

Some time ago I picked up three good quality turntables at Value Village here. I replaced the cartridge on one, but cartridges on the other two still had many hours of life left in them, without damaging good lps.

Of course top quality pre-owned equipment is in great demand and asking prices are high if it is in good condition.