Turntable and amp combination

Marrduk24. Please don't make the mistakes I did with entry level VPI or Clear Audio or any other new TT which I have heard. Problems begin early with oil, belts and speed control.The quality is not there in that price range. Blew through VPI Scout and Clear Audio Performance with upgraded tonearm. Problems with both.  Finally spent a lot more on SME with series V tonearm. Recommend you start with Linn or Thorens refurbished TT and moving magnet cartridge. American made Grado cartridges punch above their weight and are good entry level value. Several integrated amps have Moving Magnet phono stages. Moving coil requires more sophistication which generally costs more money.Once again, you can buy used for about half the cost of new. Had very good luck on Audition both US and Canada. Do not even look at Ebay.

The pro-ject the classic belt drive turntable, especially the classic SB, is a quality turntable. The SB will give you a taste of a moving coil cartridge, be it the high output blue point #2 or the ortofon quintet red (depending on where you buy it). You can buy the classic SB with ortofon quintet red mc right now from audioadvisor for just $1149. It is regularly $1499. I have owned this tt for many years now and it is a fantastic tt. I have since replaced the cartridge with a Hana el and now it’s even better! Do not listen to those bashing affordable belt drives! Also, yes, the rogue sphinx is a great integrated. Lastly the marantz pm8006 is also a fantastic integrated, all analog, with a very nice phono mm section that would pair nicely with the above mentioned blue point #2 high output mc cartridge on the classic sb tt. Read Michael Fremers review of the classic SB TT.
https://www.analogplanet.com/content/pro-ject-classic-sb-superpack-turntable-%E2%80%9Cbrains%E2%80%9...

Here's the pm8006

https://www.us.marantz.com/en-US/shop/hificomponents/pm8006

@chakster Great advice about a Japanese made DD Technics 1200, even if it’s an older used one, but I’d personally got for a new GR, as I did. It’s a phenomenal deck for the money.

Also, an external phono pre is going to sound better than most internal ones, and also have more loading capabilities. Tavish makes some great tube based phono pres for aprox $700, and have MM and MC inputs. Hook one of those up to a decent integrated amp, and you’re off and running. Just my 2 cents...

@chakster Great advice about a Japanese made DD Technics 1200, even if it’s an older used one, but I’d personally got for a new GR, as I did. It’s a phenomenal deck for the money.

Absolutely, if 1200 series then NEW G or GR, not old for sure.

If old then SP-10 mkII with EPA-100 tonearm (it’s my ex).

For lower budget it can be the SP-20, i just assembled one for a friend in obsidian plinth with custom armboard, saec ss-300 mat, audio union stabilizer, denon da-401 tonearm and at-ml150 occ MM cartridge, look at this beauty.