Best Turntable/arm/cartridge system for $30k

Arwp, in their day the Accuphase 100/101 were virtually undeniably state of the art. Today there are better digital sources, including some which provide very enjoyable redbook performance, albeit not at the same level as great vinyl.

I agree with some of the comments above about traveling to audition what interests you. At this price level there is no substitute for hearing what you are considering. What is talked-up on forums such as this one can be misleading and may not be what is best, and proper setup is so very important. As a seasoned show attendee I do not recommend them for serious auditioning; they are useful mainly for becoming acquainted with the products and the people behind them.

Depending upon your location, you may want to travel to one of the larger metropolitan areas near you and visit a few dealers there. In your budget range it's entirely reasonable for you to expect the dealer to deliver, set up and optimize the system in your home, at no extra cost. At least that's my approach.

As usual Mike Lavigne's advice seems wise.

It's worth the time to work through the various analog threads on this and other forums. You may get an idea of what is right for you but there is no substitute for listening yourself. If you don't already have a friend/audiophile mentor whose advice you trust, try and find a dealer or manufacturer you feel comfortable with. At this level of investment, I would definitely find the time to audition some of the top contenders.

I went through a similar process last year and would be glad to chat.

Why not just chop this figure way down to something more reasonable. It's a great possibility that vinyl ain't your thing? I would if I were you, look to buy a table like the VPI super scout or master model. There easy to run they set up easy and there built very well, and there easy to sell and recoup most of your investment. I would plunge into vinyl slowly. And if you enjoy it, and it brings you more pleasure where Cd did not, then dive into it.

Greetings to all. Really appreciate all your replies. I still enjoy listening to SACDs thru my Accuphase combo. Well recorded SACDs always sounded open, natural and almost life-like. I will continue to collect SACDs eventhough fewer labels are producing them now. My opinions on CDs may seem critical. I just feel CDs sounded relatively flat, veiled and edged even with all the upsamplings. I chose not to replace my Accuphase combo but to invest in a good analog system. I will need to add a good phono amp though.

http://www.oswaldsmillaudio.com/Products/turntables.html