turntable recommendations

Planar 8 w/Ania Pro is around $4000.00 and darn good. Pro-ject Xtension 10 w/Starling is around $5000.00 if you want to go heavyweight. But I most support the Well Tempered Amadeus GTA suggestion. Under $4K. A Benz Ace and you’re under budget and hearing what’s on the record without chatter. 

I had a modified planar 2 with all the groovetracer goodies and an upgraded rb330 tonearm. After a few cocktails I submitted an online trade in form to Hi'Fi Heaven in Wisconsin for a new model Planar 8 and they made me a very generous offer.  I have since traded in items twice with them and my dad upgraded Rega Phono stages via trade in with great results. 

If I were in your shoes with a $5k budget I would send in a trade in quote request detailing your current deck and all the upgrades and see what they can do on a planar 8 AND what they would do on a planar 10. Go for the Apheta 3 combo on both decks as it is totally worth it. I upgraded from the Ania to the Apheta 3 later and in retrospect, I should have took advantage of the combo discount. 

Can't say enough good things about my experience with Hi-Fi Heaven. I came out very good on my trades even with all the upgrades. I expected they would quote me a price that was laughable and I could put upgrading out of my mind.  Thats not what happened but I am the proud owner of a planar 8 and apheta 3 now.

drive to Gig Harbor and see Eric at GHA, listen to well Tempered Labs w WTL cart or the superb for the $ Hana ML

on your way home bring your N-95 and you can listen to a SOTA sapphire w Hana ML 

seriously, Eric gets great sound... go see him.

also, Advanced Audio in Tacoma and has a nice selection of Rega tables...fine sound also...

I was in there today, at GHA on Saturday, get halibut for lunch at tides tavern....

and the above referral to Hawthorne is spot on also :-)