Even though most people know what I'm going to say, I'll recommend the Teres turntables again.
I still feel that they are the best for the money, and the higher level models are pushing the envelope, and approaching the best analog sound available.
For your budget, I'd recommend a Teres 255 or 265 turntable. These are $2800 and $3700, respectively, brand new. You could select from a wide array of tonearms, but again I think that the Origin Live tonearms are great arms at reasonable cost. You could get an OL Encounter arm for $1295 new, or even an OL Illustrious arm for about $2k new. Probably the Encounter would suit your budget better. It is a great sounding arm. Of course, I'd suggest a Shelter 501 to go along with it. Excellent match, and superb sound for the money. Only $800 new. There are only a handful of cartridges that can beat it, and they all cost alot more. It'll need about 65db gain in the phono stage, plus about the 15db gain in your linestage. Use a tube phono stage if possible. If you like the ARC, I think you can get one in your price range, after buying all this other stuff. If you could step up to a used Aesthetix IO, then you'd have it made.
Regarding buying used cartridges, it is probably safe in many cases, but since you can get a killer cartridge for only $800 new, I don't really think it is worth the risk of buying used.
I think you might be very surprised at how the analog rig I described above, compares to the SME 30 you heard. I wouldn't have any hesitation in comparing them head-to-head. It would definitely be firmly in the high end category, not mid-range, as your thread title states. And it is all brand new.
I'd also strongly suggest a record cleaning machine, if the budget permits. This will solve the problems of record noise that accompanies many used records. Of course, the wear and scratches will still be there, but many of the pops are just dirt. You'll want one eventually.
I still feel that they are the best for the money, and the higher level models are pushing the envelope, and approaching the best analog sound available.
For your budget, I'd recommend a Teres 255 or 265 turntable. These are $2800 and $3700, respectively, brand new. You could select from a wide array of tonearms, but again I think that the Origin Live tonearms are great arms at reasonable cost. You could get an OL Encounter arm for $1295 new, or even an OL Illustrious arm for about $2k new. Probably the Encounter would suit your budget better. It is a great sounding arm. Of course, I'd suggest a Shelter 501 to go along with it. Excellent match, and superb sound for the money. Only $800 new. There are only a handful of cartridges that can beat it, and they all cost alot more. It'll need about 65db gain in the phono stage, plus about the 15db gain in your linestage. Use a tube phono stage if possible. If you like the ARC, I think you can get one in your price range, after buying all this other stuff. If you could step up to a used Aesthetix IO, then you'd have it made.
Regarding buying used cartridges, it is probably safe in many cases, but since you can get a killer cartridge for only $800 new, I don't really think it is worth the risk of buying used.
I think you might be very surprised at how the analog rig I described above, compares to the SME 30 you heard. I wouldn't have any hesitation in comparing them head-to-head. It would definitely be firmly in the high end category, not mid-range, as your thread title states. And it is all brand new.
I'd also strongly suggest a record cleaning machine, if the budget permits. This will solve the problems of record noise that accompanies many used records. Of course, the wear and scratches will still be there, but many of the pops are just dirt. You'll want one eventually.