Recommendations for a modestly priced analog system

Regarding the phono stage (that he made), this is what the seller said.

Any preamp with an auxiliary input will work. The "Takata phono stage" will drive any 5k or higher input impedance, with gain ideally around 10dB (depending on your power amp and speakers). As it is, you do not plug it into phono input. One day, you may get the urge to do a little surgery on the phono stage, and try the MC step-up transformers connected directly to your phono input. Inside the cabinet, are the schematics for the Cine-Mag step-up transformers connection options and the phono stage, which will make it easy to understand how I’ve set them up. From experience, however, many vacuum tube phono stages suffer from higher noise, or tube microphonic issues, forcing one to buy super-premium grade tubes. I’ve also included spare transistors for the non-standard power supply regulator along with that schematic. Don’t worry if this doesn’t make sense right now.

The cartridge is aluminum not plastic.

@rauliruegas 

I agree with you. However, never having had an hifi analog system, I am not even sure I will be able to hear what could be improved, unless it is super obvious. One never knows the deficiency of a decent system unless you hear a GREAT system. These days, listening to other gears is highly impractical.

What do you all recommend for vinyl cleaning. Is ultrasonic the way to go?

What do you all recommend for vinyl cleaning. Is ultrasonic the way to go?

What kind of sound do you prefer? Equally good turntables will not sound the same. And what kind of music do you intend to listen on the turntable?  Phono stage is very very important, and it should match electrically with your preamp too. MM vs MC is an endless debate. The answer is - it depends. Turntable itself is more important than tonearm, which in turn is more important than cartridge. But they all should reasonably good of course. Are you going to buy original pressings or reissues ? I always seek out best pressings, this makes big difference.

I prefer Nottingham Analogue and Pear Audio sound. You might prefer SME or Simon Yorke sound. In any case, I suggest you go British. Pear Audio is in essence British, they continue the tradition of the Nottingham designer Tom Fletcher.

Aesthetics and Allnic are excellent choices for the phono stage.

In terms of cost, speaking new modern cartridges not vintages, new phono stage should cost at least two times more than the cartridge. So, say, $1500 cartridge will require $3k-$5k phono stage to get almost everything out of it.