best 'affordable' turntable with moving coil cart

Thanks for the excellent suggestions. Originally I was considering a VPI Scout or MMF9.1, but reading others accounts of their re-entry into vinyl, it seems many are disaapointed so I thought I'd go slow and start cheap and see where it leads. I've been leaning toward putting most of my schekels into continuing to better my digital front end, if I branch into the pricey analog realm, I feel somewhat like I'm moving laterally - splitting my resources. So for critical listening, the digital and for just enjoying my record collection without being critical use analog.

So for critical listening, the digital and for just enjoying my record collection without being critical use analog.

With no intention of being insulting, I think most people on this forum would feel that--once you've given the LPs a chance again--you've got that backwards.

LP has re-emerged as the high-resolution medium of choice, and is part of the reason DVD-A and SACD have withered on the vine.

I still don't understand how you could be so cautious about the turntable expense when you have a $2900 hand-made phono stage. Did you inherit it?

There have been a number of threads that challenge the superiority of analog over digital, which of course will vary depending on the quality of the source, either lp or CD. My very limited personal experience has been that LP sounds different, but not substantially better. I listened to a 50K system with a expensive Clearaudio turntable at a dealer, auditioned an entire side of the Moody Blues Days of future passed on half speed master. I followed that by playing the remastered CD on my home system. I really need to spend alot more time with a turntable, cause the difference between that 50K Lp system and my humble rig was not noteworthy. Maybe a longer audition in my home will reveal this proported superiority of analog over digital. I also have 500 lps and 2000 CD's which influences my playback focus. I bought the Supratek mainly for the line stage, seemed silly not to spend an extra $200 which got me the phono capability. So I view the preamp as a $2300 linestage that also has phono, not as a $2900 phono stage (I bought the unit used here on Gon).

I'd say from the threads I've been reading over the last year here that opinion is evenly split as to whether high rez analog or high rez digital reigns supreme.
So, with fiscal caution I'm going in, the Denon turntables you recomended look particulary interesting for my maiden voyage.
Thanks again for the rec's.

I like your reasoning and go with it. The MM5 is a great choice and you can experiment with cartridges after. But even in stock form you can get magic from vinyl.... with a good phono preamp. If you like the phono pre in your rig go with it but like you say it is a $2300 line stage with a $200 phono. You can always play with other phono stages after,just try before you buy.

04-13-09: Richmon
...So, with fiscal caution I'm going in, the Denon turntables you recomended look particulary interesting for my maiden voyage.

Before you jump on the Denon, I suggest you read this thread.
The responses in that thread laid to rest any interest or speculation I had in the Denon. I'll stand by my recommendation for a Technics SL1210 M5G with aftermarket feet, better mat, and fluid damper.