Advice for a new analog system


Hello everyone and thank you in advance for your advice.

I have made the decision to venture into the magical world of vinyl.
I was considering a VPI Avenger Direct (round 34K) turntable and CJ or Audio Research phono preamps.
As a cartridge I have in mind the Clearaudio Davinci.
I have been doing some research on Agon and apparently there are a lot of users who don't like VPI and considering the investment in the turntable I imagine there must be many options. 
I prefer the short cut of a single investment for life.
My system is Mc C1100, mc 1.25Kw and Dynaudio Evidence Platinum speakers.

What turntable and system would you recommend, I appreciate your advice.

 

ftrot

@ftrot Please let us know how any demonstrations received from a Particular Permutation of TT>Tonearm>Cart', especially how the presentation from the Vinyl System was perceived, and whether it was a attraction or detraction to your unique preference.

A Few Demo's of the few different Set Ups may help steer you toward, the presentation you prefer. A design of a Phonostage will also be a critical factor in the experiencing of a replay that is to be assessed as extremely satisfying to yourself and wanted to be maintained to such a standard.

The Discovering the Devices that create the most attractive presentation for you, may be a little more of a future find, but will be well worth the extended period of search when the most attractive experiences for yourself are discovered.   

I would caution that while I would agree largely with @rauliruegas with both his recommendations on Simaudio and the PS Audio Stellar Phono, the performance is relative to their price points. The Stellar Phono is one of the best solid state phono stages at its price point, but in my experience a number of phono stages in the $3K+ range easily bested it. For a solid state phono, I found it neither to be the quietest nor the most exciting, but it was still very good. In my experience, the Simaudio 610LP or even better, the 810LP, are leagues above in performance, albeit at exponentially higher price points.  

@blisshifi Your assessment is seemingly available as a result of your first hand experiences of the devices. Your evaluation is that there is Sound being produced that has been not so impressive and impressive, there is a better experience to be found across devices for you at a closely shared price point, and even more, if the Value of a Particular Brands Device, that already impressed, is from a Model more expensive in the range.

I have experienced this on a few occasions whilst at  Phonostage Bake Off, where similar cost items are compared, there are Models that stand out as being much more impressive than another. A phon' that has won the most favour is moved onto the next increased in Value Demonstrations, it is surprising how certain more expensive models can leave a Phon' that has impressed sound quite wanting and not so attractive. Only experiencing these types of demonstrations and making ones own assessments, will there be a better understanding produced.  

It is this type of encounter that is being encouraged to the OP, to experience and process a evaluation and assessment.

Hopefully whilst doing the footwork, a discovery of a Presentation is met, that is satisfying and one wanted to be maintained or be built on.

Recommendations are immediate, but they are not encounters in a audible sense, where the end user has their chance to experience how a device impacts on them.  

@pindac 100% agree. Unfortunately for us audiophiles, direct experience is unavailable for many brands and units, and most have to rely on the assessments and recommendations of others. As citizens of this community, it is in our best interest to be as helpful to each other as we can, and that is the intent of these discussions. But I agree, there is no better way to land on a decision other than hearing a component in your room and in your system.