If you had $2500 to spend on a new TT and cart.....what would you buy?

There is a VPI Scoutmaster listed on Agon for $2500. It doesn't have a cartridge but it's a very good TT which I have previously owned. Then there is a VPI Scout 2 for $1850. No cartridge either.. lf at all possible, I'd go with the Scoutmaster.

In that budget Music Hall 7.3 gets my vote because...

• music hall’s unique dual-plinth construction
• one-piece full carbon fiber tonearm
• fully adjustable VTA, azimuth, and dampened arm lift mechanism
• counterweight’s center of gravity is level with the stylus tip, is decoupled from the arm, and acts as a resonance damper
• completely isolated/decoupled DC motor with 33 and 45 rpm speed controls located in the front left corner of the turntable, thus canceling any potential vibration from the motor/belt to the cartridge
• motor sits on its own resonance-damping puck
• optional Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge with a nude fine line stylus ($440 value)
• the supplied cartridge is properly aligned and mounted
• precision stainless steel main bearing sheathed in Teflon® for noise-free, fluid operation
• non-resonant acrylic platter with metal screw-on record clamp and soft felt mat
• high-quality gold RCA connectors and detachable phono cable
• adjustable tip-toe feet with anti scratch cups
• low-noise, fully-manual belt drive design
• built-in round spirit level for proper leveling

AND - they look nice as well

Regards - Steve

There are a number of very nice tables mentioned above that would make for a very nice and satisfying experience. Origins Live definitely gets my interest. The German manufacturer Clearaudio makes a nice entry level table the Concept that can be had with their (must have) upgraded Satisfy tonearm for $2,000 (same tonearm as on the Linn Majik). The Technics 1200GR is also a very nice table if I were to go the Direct Drive route. There are a lot of great carts for under $500. Music Direct has a good sampling in that price range. I have experienced the Hana Elliptical MC and the Ortofon 2M Bronze MM. Both are very nice carts for the money. 

You'll get a lot more value from a used table. Since a cartridge is more of a limited lifespan item, new cart makes more sense unless you're prepared for a rebuild sometime in the near-ish future. 

Maybe some indication of the system this will go into would give a bit of context.  Are you planning for the table/cart sticking around to use with higher end gear down the road? That would make me prioritize highly resolving over convenience, etc. Are multiple tonearms and carts in your gameplan? Cheers,
Spencer

Same old BS, if there are turntables to avoid then Rega and Pro-Ject are two perfect candidates to avoid in any scenario, especially for $2500 with those awful tonearms and cartridges. Any of them is a ripp-off belt drive technology that can’t even provide a stable rotation and only degrade in time.