first time vinyl

Used or new?
For new, rega P3 may fit your budget.
For used, P5/P7 may fall into the price range.
As somebody said, Thorens 14x/16x would be a good choice to start with at under $400. I am still yet to notice a significant difference between my TD145MKii with Grado Gold and Clearaudio bluemotion with classics cartridge.
Now, Clearaudio emotion can be purchased at $999.99 with cartridge at elusivedisc dot com, probably a best choice at under $1000.

I just got back into vinyl - literally today - and purchased the Clearaudio Emotion package that Ihcho mentioned above from Elusivedisc ; had to get a phono preamp as well as my integrated doesn't have one - picked up a Clearaudio Smart Phono - Have to say WOW! Listening to a 30 year old album - John Williams Close Encounters - wonderful soundstage, dymanics, clarity, etc. Plus , and I am not affliated with Elusive other than now as a customer -patient and expert service

Charly, I'm on Long Island, NY. If you're local, you can pick up my Dual CS5000. (sorry but can't ship). Has the Dual tone arm, no cartridge. It has always worked great. (I have upgraded a few times since so it has been dormant for years).

It would be a great start into the incredible sound of vinyl. Merry Christmas.

If you can find a decent one used, buy a Lenco. Add a used Rega 300 tonearm and a denon 103 or a lost cost Benz cartridge.

You should be able to find a used Lenco idler wheel table stock for about $300 to $400. If it comes with or without an arm does not matter, since you will want to install a used Rega tonearm. If you are handy, in time you could build a new plinth (the wood box in which it comes) for it. Or, buy a wood plinth for it. If you google Lenco you will find site(s) dedicated to it. If you go this route, you will want to make sure the motor is wired for US power and not for european power.

In any event, good luck and welcome back to vinyl. Jeff