Where should the money go?

Ah, the old budget allocation problem... When considering more expensive turntable/arm/cartridge combinations, I've recommended to friends that they spend about 50% of their budget on the turntable, and the remainder on the tonearm and cartridge. Given your budget, and assuming you are willing to buy used equipment, you might think about a VPI HW-19 Mark 3 or Mark 4 turntable, with a Rega RB-600 or Audioquest PT-6 tonearm, and a Shure V15VxMR cartridge or Grado cartridge that fits within your budget. There are some other very good turntables that might fit into your budget, such as the Basis, Oracle, Kuzma. A final option that may gather the wrath of the vinyl junkies is the top-end turntable made by Thorens. Thorens makes an excellent table which is combined with its own arm, but it has not garnered a following from the high-end audiophile community. It is, nevertheless, a fine buy and one worthy of serious consideration as a first step.

i believe the basis 1400/rega 250 is the best entry level combination you can purchase. their are a handful of dealers who discount this combo sufficiently that you can also include a decent cartridge (e.g., the benz-micro glider or ace) and still come in WELL UNDER your budget limit. -kelly

Quit worrying and send me your money.

$3000 is a siginificant amount of money to spend on an analog set up. There are two questions you also need to answer: Will you have to buy a phono preamp? Are you considering used or only new gear? I would spend most of my budget for the table and arm and buy a moderately priced cartridge such as a Grado or Clearaudio Aurum Beta-S. Cartridges do not last forever but a fine table and arm should go on for years and years.

Ct, 3000 was maximum I wanted to even think about spending for an analog setup. To answer your questions, I will need to buy a Phono stage. As for new or used? It all depends on whats available. I wouldn't mind spending good money on say a used VPI or Basis table. Then use the rest of the money on a new tonearm and cartridge. I hope that helps, and thanks again for the imputs.

I AGREE WITH CORNFEDBOY,THE BASIS/REGA COMBO IS HARD TO BEAT.I LOOKED AT MANY TABLES AND NONE AT THE PRICE OF A BASIS1400 EVEN COMES CLOSE TO THE WORKMANSHIP AND TOOLING TOLERANCES OF BASIS. THE STAND ALONE MOTOR AND 10 YEAR WARRANTY IS THE ICING ON THE CAKE.ALSO THE BASIS MODIFIED REGA WITH THE VTA ADJUSTMENT WORKS VERY WELL.THERE IS NO SIDE PLAY WHEN YOU LOOSEN THE SCREW TO MOVE THE ARM UP AND DOWN FOR VTA LIKE SO MANY OTHER SETUPS!!I RECENTLY SOLD MINE AND UPGRADED TO A BASIS OVATION/GRAHAM AND WILL ALWAYS HAVE A BASIS.

I recently sold a Thorens 166 MK11, and purchased an Oracle.The Oracle sounds much better than the Thorens, but I was not ready for all the fussing with it, you have to do to make it sound so much better than the Thorens.If you just want to play records, and listen to them, then buy the Rega, and a good cartridge, a Wright phono stage, and enjoy the music. All you will miss, is the endless, tweakiness of the best designs.