Choice of turntable ,tone arm and cartridge

Given the significant chunk of change you are considering spending, a trip to a dealer with a variety of tables set up or to a show like RMAF next month would be worthwhile. You should definitely consider the arm and cart as a system, and then the cart probably needs to matched to the phono stage (w or w/o step up or additional gain stage), esp. if you are going LO MC. With a LO MC, cart loading and gain are critical to getting proper performance. If you use a step up, cart/step up matching is also critical. If you want to be able to optimize VTA and VTF for each LP, then there are a limited # of arms out there that allow you to do that repeatably. The table is important, but it is likely that any well engineered table w good speed control will do a good job for you. Your choice of table may be partly determined by your domestic situation and whether a suspended or mass-loaded design would work better for you. This is a tough area where chicken and egg decision trees abound. AS others have correctly pointed out, you are trying to make music by dragging a very tiny, sharp, very hard rock down a plastic groove containing even tinier indulations, w/o damaging the groove; then convert movement of that rock into an electrical signal, amplify the signal and use it to make a (typically) cone shaped piece of paper (or metal, or ceramic) or flat, very thin piece of plastic vibrate. Its a miracle it works at all, IMO.

Don't listen to audiophiles! Trust your own ears!!!
(By the way, I like a Linn LP12 with a Naim aro tonearm and Lyra cartridge...but that's just me)

Given the significant chunk of change you are considering spending, a trip to a dealer with a variety of tables set up or to a show like RMAF next month would be worthwhile.

I second Swampwalker's suggestions - there are several major turntable manufacturers in the Denver area (Teres, Galibier) and you can check out all offerings from other manufacturers at the show. No better time to visit Denver (and you can enjoy the beautiful Fall colours in the area at this time).

Otherwise I agree with everyone else, some feedback and more input would help refine the question. There are many excellent tables in your price range: Galibier, Teres, DPS, TW Acustic, Verdier, Nottingham, VPI, vintage tables, but all these go in very different directions.