Advice for a new analog system

I think at times @ftrot many contributors to posts are not appreciative that questions are posed by people who are high net worth individuals who do not have the time to through a lengthy process of going up through various turntables over the years to find out (fun though it is for a less flush guy like me)

I can see your heart appears set, but apply the same budget on very strict terms and see what else is available and factor in the price of a good record cleaning machine (your cartridge would thank you for it - mine do)

At your price point you are getting into some seriously juicy turntables both new and second hand (don't dismiss it because ultra expensive audio takes the biggest price drop and they are never trashed from what I have seen). 

I personally love very nicely built stable turntables without springs etc.

1. Brinkmann Audio Taurus

2. CH Precision P1 

Option for future upgrades is a X1 Power supply.

3. Lyra Etna SL or Atlas SL ( Ideal single layer design that is a match made in heaven for current loaded Phono stages like the P1 ) 

4. Very good Vinyl cleaner.

5. Demag for treating your Vinyl

6. Audioquest vinyl brush

7. Antistatic cleaners.

8. Most important a customized Harmonic Resolution Systems isolation platform that is tuned for a Brinkmann Taurus....

This is an amazing system. I show this with the bigger Brinkmann Balance in my store. 

HI, my recent thread might be informative - even though at a total 10-12K level (table +arm+cartridge. You can pick it up from my profile.

Can I just say there are some other great decks at ur price:

Dohmann Helix 2

SME model 30 and the SME Anniversary (it may come with a Nagra phono stage but don’t quote me on that)

Technics Sl1000R - direct drive - remember they were one of the first DD designers and I recall the original VPI designer Harry Weisfield saying that to reproduce such a motor with the requisite tooling would cost about $30k

That’s just 3 beauties

@thoft I understand and appreciate your position on buying good quality equipment the first time around. This approach will likely save you money and definitely save you time. Some people enjoy the audio journey and others just want to get to their destination system. How each one of us gets there is as unique as the system we end up with. No right or wrong way. Doing research is a smart way forward and good first step either way.

Being in the audio business for over a couple of decades, we have been fortunate to sample lots of equipment, some great and some not so much.

The VPI Avenger Direct is an excellent TT and a great choice if you decide to buy one. High quality DD turntables provide a strong stable foundation for the rest of your future analog setup. The Avenger Direct is very well made and will provide you that stable foundation for many years. I am not affiliated with VPI in any way.

I suggest looking into something a bit different for a cartridge/phono preamp combo. The DS Audio Optical cartridge system and the Sound-smith Strain Gauge system. Both are excellent and top performers. Besides their great SQ they offer another benefit that you might appreciate, they both have their own electronics with line level outputs. The electronics are designed specifically for their cartridges. No need to worry about cartridge phono-preamp compatibility. We find that it takes a considerably larger investment to equal these system in performance with cartridge/phono-preamp combos.

Mike