Complete vinyl system, TT to speakers, for $1500?

That thing is cool! Something anyone should have in case of a nuclear attack. (This in response to the Audio Technica Sound Burger.)

Dogberry, I don’t want to be responsible for advising her to purchase used equipment that may fail or be defective to begin with, when she has no recourse after purchase, and where I am not around Tokyo to help her out (as if I ever could, given the ubiquitous language barrier). It’s wiser for her to purchase new equipment with a warranty. If you think otherwise, then you can do as you like when you’re in a similar situation.

And while I do think Neil Antin's treatise is interesting and useful, and it might make sense to have a word or two with her on the subject of record care, I would never expose the poor girl to that tome at this stage of her development as a vinylista.  It might scare her back into digital.

Here's my favorite demo of the original (or 2nd?) version of the Sound Burger playing the Ghost Busters theme song.

If the new one doesn't damage albums I wouldn't mind having one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpukXRm0Dxk

DeKay

Most of these suggestions won't work in Japan due to 1) 100 VAC and 2) 50Hz is the frequency of electric current is 50 Hertz in eastern Japan (including Tokyo). 60Hz async motors need not apply. Otherwise I'd recommend the Andover 1E Integrated TT, amp and speakers. I can't imagine a better fit for a Tokyo studio that's maybe 200ft2. Short of that, powered speakers and a TT w/integrated preamp are pretty compact.

@panzrwagn 

I would totally stick with Japanese products to avoid that situation and given the limited budget, shipping costs.  It’s not like the country is an electronic backwater 

Just grab a pair of Klipsch R-40PM powered speakers with the onboard phono stage. Should have plenty of money leftover to buy a decent TT. Those speakers also have built-in bluetooth which is nice for easy streaming from the phone.