Advice and recommendations needed for a turntable rig...

From my personal experience. Had MMF-5, my understanding Music Hall is sister company of Pro-ject using the same components, and was not impressed to say the least. Moved to Marantz TT15S2,by Clearaudio, very significant upgrade. Went through several phono stages and settled on QHW Vinyl, see review by M. Framer. Currently having Hana ML, overall I am very satisfied and settled in with this set up for a while, I think.

Are you sure you will stick with Vinyl?

If not, it is my advice to start modestly, see if you stick with it, then move up.

Audio Technica AT-120 turntable is a great start, it now comes with their AT-VM95e cartridge (elliptical stylus). MM Interchangeable Stylus: You can upgrade the stylus (6 variations fit it). The cartridge body stays factory aligned, an advantage when starting out.

Certainly not excellent sound, but certainly enough to see if you stick with the 'hands on' Vinyl world.

Direct Drive

Internal optional Phono EQ gets you started with no additional expense (my AT-120’s optional eq sounded better to me than my McIntosh C28’s phono).

Removable headshell allows trying better cartridge in the future, then those headshell/cartridges can be used on a future arm, so that investment is transferrable as you move up.

You mentioned this is for ONE of your systems. Therefore, if you stick with vinyl, you could use the starter TT in a less important system or give it away, or sell it.

AT has an outlet store, certified .... even easier to start, find out if you will stick with it.

That Pioneer table looks like a great way to go.  A 32# table for $700!  Looks like a bargain.  I have the Project X2 in a headphone based system.  It's a beautiful table to be sure with a nice tonearm.  I'm very pleased with it.  But that Pioneer looks very interesting.

"I listen to Jazz, Blues and instrument music mostly..."

Another reason to start with an arm with removable headshell.

Jazz and Blues: many, many great Jazz masters were born around the turn of the prior century, made their reputation's 30's 40's 50's prior to Stereo, thus Mono LP's are in your future. Mono recording technics in the 40's and 50's were already very good, some Mono carried into the 60's. you are buying great listenable music, prior to that, 30's you are buying 'history'.

Thus, tonearm with removable headshell makes it easy to get/use a mono cartridge, as I learned here, it is MUCH better than playing a Stereo Cartridge in Mono Mode. Every friend agrees when they listen here. Several have gotten their own Mono Cartridges after that.

Looking for advice from those who have used any TT set up and why.

Why is easy. Vinyl pulls you into the music more than digital IMO. I think the biggest reason may be the ritual. Every 20 minutes or so you are going to have to do the dance, (the ritual). IOW it makes you pay attention and keeps you involved. Whenever I listen to digital I have a tendency to let my mind wander which turns into not really listening to the music. it has become a background event rather than the main event. I also believe there is something about the quality of sound from vinyl. Back in the CD player times, the advertising always mentioned the player having an analog sound.. So why not listen to vinyl? My system is skewed toward the vinyl so to say my digital is an unfair comparison. But I do like the convenience of digital. And it sounds pretty good.

Now about the ritual. Are you ready for the ritual? That’s what I usually ask the younger crowd.I suspect you remember the rituals, etc. But If you don’t like the ritual you won’t like vinyl all that much. BTW clean records are a necessity.

I’m partial to VPI TT’s I had several prior to my Teres and liked them. There are 2 rightn now that fit the bill for your budget on the 1st page of USAM. I lean more towards this one which has extras. But the TNT is a good deal too.

VPI Aries 3 with upgrades For Sale - US Audio Mart

good luck & Happy hunting