Recommendations for a modestly priced analog system

Thanks everyone for great recommendations. So, with Cary SLP98P preamp upgrade to MC (step up), it will be $3000. Is there a Preamp plus phono stage that are better at this price or let's say up to around $4000?

With the Cary step up upgrade, they can also upgrade the caps and diodes. Ony a couple hundred more, and well worth it. My SLP-05 was just upgraded this year, and it was a pleasure to deal with them.
most preamps with only have high output moving magnet phono capability. So I have no other recommendations.
Good luck.

If you decide for an MC cartridge, I would buy Allnic Audio H-1202 phono preamp now in Agon. It won’t last long. I don’t have a direct experience with it, but Allnic phono stage is almost universally liked by all users, and its price is at your grab. I am actually tempted to buy that. For MC cartridges, you can go for a separate phono preamp and SUT, but I would bet Allnic is as good as any phono preamp + SUT at under $3000 or better.

Then, worry about selling your Cary SLP98P preamp and buying a line stage preamp that matches with your power amp. There have been many good advices so far. More may pour in, but too many causes confusion.

For turntables, research a little bit about different styles -- direct drive, belt drive, idler -- and choose one you like. I have all three kinds. If you want a used, it would be still better to buy one as a whole package, rather than buying a table, plinth, tonearm, cartridge, and headshell all separately. Also, shipping is always tricky, so look for something that is available local or within drive range. I bought a Denon DP-80 (with everything including an MC cartridge and HA-1000 head amp) from an audiophile who had kept it like new, and I was lucky.

You have a great preamp. First ,change all the 6sn7 with 6f8g and adaptors.
The difference is huge.
I can’t recommend a new tt because my choices are from a different era.
I have garrard 401 , acos lustre gst1 tonearm and a nagaoka mp300.
Great match.

@jman67. Where does one get the adaptors to use 6f8g instead of 6SN7? How did you figure out that 6f8g works better? 6SN7 tubes are very sweet sounding preamp tubes in my opinion.