Advice on Turntable & MC cartridge under $2k

A good MC cartridge alone cost $1k minimum when you're buying new (not a second hand), the best new turntable you can buy with your budget is brand new japanese direct drive released few years ago: Technics SL1200GR (about $1700 new). You'd be better with MM/MI cartridge with your budget, not to mention stylus replacement option you can do by yourself (and you don't need an expensive MC phono stage too). Go for MM/MI and Technics Direct Drive. Do not buy cheap low compliance MC like Denon or related if you don't have super heavy tonearm for them. You can find some amazing vintage MM cartridges under $700 and some of them are better than overpriced new LOMC up to $2k.   

Good old chakster, same old song and dance and still spewing his misinformation. 

@tooblue

Misinformation ?

Send the serial number of your ART-9 to the nearest AT dealer and you will make sure that there is NO factory service at Audio-Technica for you (and others like you). For this reason you can’t change (in the future) your worn ART-9 to a new ART-9 at Audio-Technica for a very low price. This option is a clear benefit for everyone, but not for you.

Saved about $100-200 on grey market sample with 2Juki you have ruined your relations with Audio-Technica. Do you think it is a good advice for others ? I don’t think so.

If you prefer to mess around with funny looking belt drive turntables then it’s your choice. I have no problem with it.

Regarding MM cartridges we have a huge thread on here, believe it or not but many people prefer a good vintage MM over cheap LOMC and even over some very expensive LOMC ( i have all kinds of cartridge myself, but with low budget MM/MI is always better).

Regarding MI cartridges Peter Ledermann, who will probably be your re-tipper when your ART-9 is worn out, can explain in his lecture why MI is better than MC. This information coming from a person who personally fixed many thousands of MC cartridges for his customers at SoundSmith. 

@chakster , don't need the factory as it is not an issue for me, I have soundsmith for the rebuild and if that is a problem for you just purchase from Music Direct for $100.00 more and your problem is solved and still under $2000.00 for the combo I mentioned to begin with. Thank you for your input though and enjoy the music.

@tooblue Thanks for the suggestion, I'm in the UK and those turntables are pretty expensive here. I'll keep an eye out for a used one.

@chakster I'm actually quite happy with my MM cart but I need an MC to test a preamp design. I'm set up with the lab test equipment but need something for listening tests. What do you reckon I'd need to spend to get a TT and Cart without going over the top?