Best Turntable/arm/cartridge system for $30k

Mapman, the only problem with your recommendation is that Arwp would not hear what he is buying before he buys it.

I would agree that most shows are quite poor for auditioning components. I go to most and have seldom hear anything apart from a quick comparison with and without something that resulted in my buying something. The best circumstance is to compare components in your home, but this is largely impossible. I would not trust reviews either. We all have only our ears and few have the same frequency response in their hearing.

I basically agree with Jaybo, but would spend $6k on a table / arm / cartridge, another $3k on a Loricraft and other cleaning supplies and a MintLP protractor, and the rest on vinyl.

Arwp, in your budget range by careful selection you can get a no compromise analog system that is within a hair's breadth of absolute state of the art. Again, I wouldn't even think about buying anything in this price range without an audition and would discount recommendations posted online. You are looking to purchase a long term solution, just as your digital system has been.

Tvad, your cynicism about more expensive audio equipment is renown.