Getting back into venal with a $2,000 budget.

I like the Marantz- the star in that particular package is the cartridge. Having said that I’m not sure I would buy it used not knowing if the cartridge was set up properly  and taken care of properly. It depends on how much confidence you have in your own setup/ tweaking abilities to address any potential issues. I still like the Marantz package and think it is worth $1800 new with the cartridge checked and set up properly by a reputable dealer (Upscale Audio offers this service for free).

As far as the Rega goes, are you sure it comes with the Exact 2– for the price you noted it is usually packaged with Elys 2. The P3 is a nice table with a nice arm and definitely one to consider at your price point— I personally do not like the fact that you have to take the platter off to play 45s… not a deal breaker but a small quibble.

The real sleeper in this price range is the Consonance Wax Engine. It is associated with Well Tempered Labs and has inherited the Well Tempered bearing and drive system. It is often paired with either the Well Tempered TLC (made by Nagaoka) cartridge or the Charisma ECO.  Not a ton of press on this table but it may be worth looking into— looks like Don Better Audio carries it.

Another option is the Pioneer PLX-1000 ($650) with Soundsmith Carman cartridge (can be had for $800). Then you may be able to find a gently used Soundsmith MMP3 phono stage within your budget.  PLX-1000 has had some really nice reviews.

Hi - 

Adding to my original comments ...

For me, my initial spend would depend on how sure I was that I was going to stick with vinyl in the medium term.  

I found that once I embraced vinyl, it became like everything else with audio (or guitars or cars or ) ... I tweaked and when I maxed out tweaking, I upgraded ... first cartridges, then preamps, then TTs themselves.  I dismissed some wise words I read along the way which went like ... buy the best you can, because you will be winding up there at some point.  

Without getting into my travails of the last 6 years, I would just offer to make sure that vinyl will be a keeper for you, before sinking in major bucks.  At the end of the day, $2K is a drop in the bucket with vinyl, especially given how much most prices in audio have increased in the last 2 years alone.

One of the best features about the 1500C is its built-in preamp.  Besides saving you some money, it's decent and it will save you having to deal with ground loops & hum & some of the TT agita that comes with setting up vinyl.  Personally, I would trade in the Ortofon Red, if the dealer would allow it.  

Try to make your initial foray into vinyl headache free and your chances of keeping & using your set-up will increase.

Best of luck,  

Rich 

Do yourself a favor and stretch a bit and get the $1600 Technics with a mofi preamp and let the dealer install a good $500 cartridge. The technics is trouble free and will probably last forever. Also- you will have dealer support, which you absolutely will need when you’re new to it. The Marantz is nice. I set one up for a friend, but the technics is nicer, IMO.