As an owner of a Rega Planar 3 for 2 decades or more (complete with Origin Live arm and cable upgrades) and an avid consumer of UK hi fi magazines back in the day, I would echo the sentiment to hunt down a decent quality Japanese direct drive.

I suspect they are rare in the UK (apart from the Technics SL1200, which is excellent but knackered DJ ones abound) but definitely worth a look.

I know it's a UK forum so you will (and have!) get everyone suggesting a Rega but if you actually want to hear the records as close as possible to how they were meant to sound, they really need to played at the right speed.

The lathes that cut them were direct driven. My Rega was lovely and until I'd heard better (like honestly, most Uk hifi reviewers, amateur and professional) I never cared but it was always a bit out, depending on many variables. My direct drive Denon is always exact.

Play them back at the right speed on a decent deck and you'll be happy.