What's the cost of an entry level vinyl setup?

Thom Mackris and others have it right. One can get respectable vinyl sound at several hundred dollars. Good looks cost more than good sound.

I find that Absolutelytopnotchblowmeawaywitheverylisten sound costs more, but that kind of thing isn't usually classified as 'entry level.'

I think before getting a vinyl rig you should think about how you are going to acquire records. It it's from Acoustic Sounds or similar, a collection of 100 records is going to cost $3000 or more. A lot less if you have access to a good used record store.

Daverz, I just picked up four complete Reader's Digest box sets from the swap shop at the dump. That's hundreds of hours of music right there. One set has ten albums dedicated to "Mood Music for Dining." Best thing is that that are so bad I don't think they've ever been played.

Point well taken.

I'm with THom and T_Bone.

I have a vintage Dual 1264 with vintage Goldring cart and Yamaha cr-420 vintage receiver that sounds way more than just respectable.

The same pieces bought used today should only cost a few hundred if you can find them.

1/2 of a bottle of Tequila, four or five beers, a couple of Mai-Tais. I have no idea what Oakley is trying to say. I even went out, cranked up the local hip-hop, and drifted around my neighborhood for an hour. Still can't translate it. Maybe drifting in my F-150 FX-4 aint' cuttin' it. I'll try tomorrow in my son's WRX. :-)

What is the cost of an entry level vinyl setup? What is "entry level"? To me this question is more about a price point than level of performance.

The cost is up to the purchaser, but I say buy the best you can afford up front and save on the upgrade costs. You'll have to decide for yourself about how to allocate your budget to the various components needed.