Best set-up for up to 9k retail?

Thanks for your responses.

Stenersr - I've only had my Nottingham set-up and I like it very much. Finances dictate that I hold off on upgrades but I enjoy doing my homework.

For what it's worth, I'm the type of person who enjoys pursuing esoterica in most everything, including audio. I've only been in the audio hunt for about 3 months after a 20 year break so I've got lots of catching up to do.

Also, how important is a phonostage in terms of $$$, really? Right now I've got a Rogue Stealth phonostage and like it, but it's the only one I've heard.

By the way, auditioning equipment, especially stuff like phonostages, borders on the impossible unless one lives in a major urban area. I live in Miami, which is not the cornfields, but it just as well should be. Larry, from Hollywood Sound, has been the beacon of light in this area.

How have used turntable set-ups worked for you folks? My first impression is that since they are "handled" more than other components the incidence of wear or trouble would be greater. True?

I'd like to come to the defense of TWL.

I find his posts to be extremely knowledgeable, and helpful. Any time I have a question, his lengthy and thought out response has been e-mailed back
very quickly.
I think he is an asset to these boards, and look forward to his posts.
Carl

Thank you, Carl. I'm only trying to help.

I must reiterate what Carl has said, lest anyone relatively new to this forum be left with a mistaken impression. Twl, has probably helped more people with analog questions than you have hairs on your head, Inna. And when suggestions are given they are clearly in the spirit of helpfulness and not such as "your Rega table is a toy and not worth much improving", or "Cardas is such a junk: clogged, colored, unbalanced..", or "your Nakamichi BX-1 in my opinion is not worth fixing".

Sure, Twl promotes the Teres as he has found it to be a great bargain from personal experience. I, too, get a bit testy at times when folks suggest only what they own. Would you rather suggestions come form a list of tables he'd never heard? Of course, there is a also huge difference between doing so when you've only owned one or two tables and when you've owned or listened to several dozen, as is the case with Twl.

Moreover, it is different when someone pimps a single component whether or not it is a viable choice for a stated preference or budget. If you do a bit of checking you will see that Twl has suggested a variety of TT's DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, including the Nottingham (which I also happen to own). Look at some threads where people have asked about getting into vinyl or having a budget of, say, $1000 to start. You won't find there the Teres as a suggestion. Indeed, when Twl offers the Teres as an option, there is often inclusion, or at least recognition, that other TT's may do the job. Understand that after many of years of listening to different combinations of equipment, and finding ones that work the best for a given price point after failing with many others, SOME PEOPLE offer suggestions with in the spirit of trying to save others the same grief.

Audiogon is an open forum and everyone has their own opinion, which they are free to express. Take them or leave them. As much as I totally disagree with the message you send in your posts in this thread, Inna, I would fight for your right to make them. Please offer the same consideration.

I'll second the defense of TWL. I have learned more from Tom on this board than from anyone, anywhere. And although I have not personally heard the Teres TT, I would put money on his opinion in most circumstances.

As for his posts, if you don't like what he has to offer, don't read his posts.

Pretty simple -- IMHO.

Mike