Looking for more advice on purchasing a new turntable.


So I’m looking for Opinions/Advice from people who have high-end turntables and the experiences with. 
First, I’ll start with my system. It consists of a Prima Luna preamp and two Prima Luna amplifiers along with the prima Luna phone stage with a pair of magnepans 1.7 My budget for the table is $5000 new or used, but for that price I would want it to come with a really good cartridge otherwise, 4000 for the table and 1000 for the cartridge. 
Thanks I look forward to your recommendations. 

thedoc2004
Post removed 

"along with the prima Luna phone stage"

please give us the model number so we know it's capabilities.

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Think long, think a few cartridges, perhaps MM, MC, and Mono, thus at least an arm with changable headshell, or, better yet,,the possibility of a second tonearm, with an alternate cartridge ready to go in seconds.

Two tonearms is terrific, but you need to figure out how to select the alternate arm/cartridge.

My vintage Tube Preamp has 2 MM Phono inputs

In my case, 3 arms, I use a SUT with 3 inputs and PASS for MM, and

I helped my friend with his wonderful Luxman Two Arm TT PD-444 which has a built in switch for the two arms.

This one has a new dust cover and two mounting plates

https://www.ebay.com/itm/375497779110?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=7419254c-9584-11ef-a382-353635313061

you could pick a single arm to get started, add a second arm later. We put two Micro Seiki 505 arm's on his, 12" long on the rear left, 9" on the right. both removable headshells, 

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I helped my friend with a very versatile Technics SP-15, with the terrific arm base with instant arm height adjustment, changable arm wands, one of which is an S arm with removable headshell, it was/is a 3 speed monster, the modern units specs don't surpass it

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296674709589?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=8c037d9a-9586-11ef-b317-353635313061

I have a high end analog end… Linn LP12 (near Klimax), Audio Research Reference 3SE phono stage, Koetsu Signature cartridge, Silent Running Isolation Platform (see my system under ID) ($45K). Each month I get excited to pull out one of my 2,000 virtually all pristine albums. I clean the surface, the stylist and sit down only to hear the great sound quality. It sounds great… just to verify it sound better than my digital end I switch to the streaming version of the album, it sounds great… usually the same, occasionally better. Hence, my play a vinyl album a day has gone to once a week and then once a month. 

So, if you are really looking to enjoy the nostalgia of the vinyl days… I would look into VPI, or Linn. The great value in addition to sound quality is the same table can be incrementally upgraded to the very highest level. Rega is also a safe bet… although I have never been a fan. I have owned VPI, Linn, Rega, and a number of not as high end turntables. Or of course you could spend the $5K improving your digital end.

Whatever you end up with, your supporting setup will make it shine.

I have a similar setup-PL amp/phonostage and ML’s.

Used can get more for your money.

Based on some of the brands suggested:

Rega-I would stay with P8/ or10 with Rega cartridge(Apehta)

Rega RP8 Turntable with Apheta 2 MC Cartridge For Sale | Audiogon

Worth a try

Rega Planar 10 w/ optional Aphelion 2 Car... For Sale | Audiogon

VPI-I would negotiate your max, likely flexible

VPI HRX Rim Drive Turntable; Benz Micro LP... For Sale | Audiogon

Not mentioned, but for the price/good user review

Pro-ject Xtension 10 For Sale | Audiogon

Get a couple of subs to complete your overall setup to compliment the Maggies for proper low end.

 

There are different technologies for turntables: idler wheel drive, belt drive, and direct drive. They sound different. I like belt drive - I gave away my last DD.

I now have two turntables, a DIY air bearing turntable / tonearm combination (which sounds better than anything else I've heard) and a Nottingham Analogue Mentor (which sounds much better than any Linn of the same era, IMO). Current model is Dais, which you might afford used. My cartridges are a MC and a MI, driving Quad electrostatics and Magnepan DWM's.

The thing about a belt drive is that it depends less on the motor than the other technologies, and interactions between the motor and platter, and between the motor and tonearm, can both be minimized or eliminated. Also, belt drive can have a much simpler controller, and so almost nothing to go wrong. So it makes sense to buy a boutique belt drive from the factory, whereas it would be madness to buy a DD from anyone but a major manufacturer through a scrupulous retailer. These factors can shave a lot off the cost.

Good luck with all of it - and my experience is VERY different from @ghdprentice , in that I can't listen to digital for more than a few minutes without gritting my teeth and begging for it to stop. YMMV