Analog Noob: I have a few questions

Pick up a nice Vintage Thorens turnatble ( $300-$400 ) from Audiogon ( or Ebay ) . Throw in Grado Gold cartridge $200 ) and spend whats left over for a Phono stage, ( maybe ) Graham Slee Phono ( $399 ) ....your good to go...Until you get hooked and need more!!!!!!!

I picked up a nice TD160..Put some time and effort into it..Installed a Grado Gold..Rebuilt the internal interconects..Upgrade the Power cord..added a Tube Phono amp and am amaized at how good this thing sounds...

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Yes, I don't mind doing research and learning the ins and outs of working on my gear. The main reason I was considering visiting a dealer was that I really have no idea what I am doing at this point, or where I can source good LP's. Unfortunately, a call to them revealed that their cheapest setup is $3,000, which is not going to happen at this time. I would love to learn about it and have an analogue setup, but I doubt it will be my only source: I have a ton of CD's.

Perhaps incorrectly, I have heard that a $1200 "cheap" analogue setup beats a digital source at nearly any price. Correct, or not? As I love jazz, it might be great to get 15 of my favorite albums on vinyl (I tend to like a few albums and listen to them most of the time, anyways) My CDP sounds great, so what can I expect from vinyl?

Perhaps I am wasting my time (and money!)

Never fear, every noob on the block used to have a working TT setup. For a new cartridge go to garage-a-records.com for a Shure M97xE. For a new TT get one somebody on here suggests that fits the Shure and has an understandable installation manual. Once you put it all together recheck the settings every few months. For a phono preamp find the cheapest Rotel wherever you can find it. Look online locally for unwanted record collections. Vinyl playback sounds good even when pretty it's screwed up. It's simple. Don't worry. If you ever tear off a cartridge connector or crimp a cantilever just don't do it again. If you use your new TT every day change the stylus or the cartridge once a year.

Take Newbee's advise.Vinyl takes dedication.If you are unsure about setup and have no source for Lp's stay with digital.
Could you explain what is meant by "their cheapest setup is $3000"

Dawgcatching, I'm not sure if I can add much, but regarding the supremacy of analog to digital at $1200 price range, that is an unquestionably foolish statement made by someone with more ego than sensibility or experience. In fact I'd guess that most folks, with a little system guidance, could get far better sound out of a 1200 CDP than any comparably priced analogue system. And, I would argue, that until you are talking about 'systems' that are in the many thousands of dollars that they remain on the same level assuming care has been taken in creating system synergy. At some point, I think a great analogue system will rule. They both have inherrent warts so, for the most part its really apples to oranges in any event.

I think you really have to deal with the software issue before you decide whether or not to go forward. What music do you want to hear/explore. Where do you expect to find it. How much effort are you willing to make to find it. You get the idea.

FWIW, about 10 years ago, after I finally got immerged in jazz I decided to get some LP's. Well after about a year of rooting thru all of the used bins I could find, I picked up about 10 records in good or better condition, and enuf marajuna seeds to plant 100 acres. :-) No leaves though, damm it!

I'm not trying to turn you off of vinyl, there is good stuff, it is a good format, but it is a hobby, time consuming, and if you are not careful a mony pit as well.

Good luck though.........