$3,500 for analog front end

Rega P5 turntable w/ power supply - $1640, Boston Audio Mat1 platter mat - $199, Mapleshade Heavyfoot cones x 3 - $120, Grado Sonata cartridge - $500, Grado PH1 phono stage - $500, Mapleshade Clearview Excaliber Plus interconnect - $335, Acrotec armwire straight thru to male RCA upgrade - $150, total $3470.

I recently bought used:

Clearaudio Champion Level II - $1,700
Origin Live Encounter Arm - $1,000
Benz Micro M2 moving coil - $5,00
Pro-Ject Tube Box phono stage - $400

Subtotal - $3,600

Periphery (ring) clamp and center clamp - $500

I think it's great.

There's a Clearaudio Champ2 listed just today w/arm and cart.

You're going to get tons of ideas with most people recommending their own gear. So here's a more general approach:

Buy a used turntable and tonearm combination. No need to spend money on something new.

Buy a new cartridge. Buying used is a minefield.

Buy a used phono stage. Buying new is a waste of money.

Invest in a good record cleaning device. A manual machine is a good start and will save you money for above items.

If you're careful and shop smartly you will have a very nice analog front end for $3,500.

Have fun.

forgot the Kerry Audio Design F2 counterweight for another $129. WHich brings your total to $3598 list.

Audiofeil is right on the money, of course, but not everyone wants to deal with the used market. Definitely factor in the LP cleaning machine and a record clamp. Those and the other upgrades can be budgeted over time if prefered.

Bill (Audiofeil), I just noticed: You are the first Hifi dealer that I have seen that recommends buying used. Cudos to your honest recommendation even it might not positively contribute to your business.

As for recommendations: You can save quite some money when buying used. Somehow I ended up considering mostly new turntables. A couple of different directions to consider:

- Galibier Serac (due out soon) with Thom's recommended arm.

- Teres 255 (with Hadcock or Moerch arms)

- Nottingham Spacedeck (consider Ace Space, Hadcock, or Moerch arm)

- restored Thorens 124 or Garrard 301 with arm of your choice

As for cartridge, I like the Denon 103 a lot (I have been using it one for the last 10 years). Tube phonostages to consider would be Wright WPP200C, Bottlehead Seduction, etc. Also, you will need a MC step-up for the Denon, e.g. K&K Lundahl or Cinemag transformers)

Good luck!

Rene