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

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.

I saw those Klipsch spkrs. Nice. I’ve mentioned them to the person I’m advising. Anything sold new in Tokyo will work off their grid. That’s not an issue, thankfully.

U-turn Audio can be a provider of a system. Turntable with built in phono preamp straight to powered speakers. Easy Peasy. 

klipsh The Fives are awful sounding. I had them for a month and sent them back. 

recommended:

Rega IO (includes turntable preamp)

wharfedale Diamond 12.X (12.0, 12.1, or 12.2)

Fluence turntable

Rega IO is well above budget based on US prices. Since foreign made audio is usually more expensive in Tokyo than here, I assume it’s even more costly there.But thanks.

I use a Keces E40 class AB amp, It has a MM phono stage which is good.  That may be half the budget though unless you find one used. Small, like a Io/Brio but I prefer due to better QC and specs, IMO.  Can add aa dac/other source later.

If space matters, this is a nice integrated amp.

The active speaker route simplifies the system, but there are a couple of drawbacks.  The lack of a pre/integrated amp makes it less input versatile, as you've noted.  Even if she's committed to a phono-only system, you need to know the chosen speaker's sensitivity to know if it will work with the turntable phono amp.

They're also less reliable, especially in the smaller sizes.  Putting the amp in the speaker box makes heat more of an issue, for both the power & processing circuitry.  They're more awkward to handle, so you need to keep away the careless curious.

Thanks, petalumen.  I don't disagree with anything you've written.  For a similar set of reasons, I think it is probably a good idea to go with a separate phono stage, rather than a phono stage built into the TT.  And all of this is another reason in favor of her purchasing new equipment that is under warranty.  The integrity of sellers in Tokyo is very high, and I feel confident she will be protected in the event of an equipment failure.  Funnily enough, she is not responding to my recent emails.  I have to check with my son to be certain she is receiving them.