Turntable

Millercarbon we need more people like you in the hobby.

Yeah, but only if you want a hobby of informed audio enthusiasts keen on building the most musically satisfying system they can on whatever budget they consider reasonable. But if on the other hand you want a hobby of back and forth banter, well then, as you were.

I would recommend a new Technics 1200 or for a belt-driven TT, a Pro-Ject with the "Signature" tone arm. Too many TT manufacturers leave much to desire in their tone arms. They have worked really hard on the tone arm suspension, but have cut corners o the rest of the tone arm. If you play multiple record formats, as I do, I find a tone arm with a removable, universally interchangeable headshell a must. In seconds, I can switch from a stereo cartridge to a wide-groove cartridge. Then, in seconds I can switch to a mono microgroove cartridge. Each different headshell is set up with it's own cartridge. Makes it easy when swapping them around with different turntables also.

There’s a good amount of really nice new turntables which people have pretty much touched on already. Technics, Rega, VPI, Clearaudio, and MoFi are the ones I’d personally check out if I were in the market and are all nice choices. 

Pioneer PLX1000 ($700) is a great TT! Add a $500 Hana LE mc cartridge and you'll have a vinyl playback system competitive with far more costly gear!

@ASW, Where are you located?