Suggested entry path into vinyl...

A $2k budget as previously suggested for table, arm, and cartridge is very reasonable. Add $1000 - $1500 for a phono stage and up to another $500 for cleaning supplies and you should be good to go. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a table used if available for local pick-up, has original packing materials, or is otherwise being sold by someone who is an expert at packing such an item. Same for the tonearm and phono stage. Personally, I'd never buy a used cartridge.

As for record cleaning you could probably start small and as you grow into vinyl then commit to something like a VPI machine. Many people are steam cleaning records now. There is lots of information here on record cleaning that can keep you occupied for a while.

pick front ends based on your software investment....for a couple hundred records, keep the turntable expense on the downlow.....in a few years, rethink it. you can spend a fortune and be babysteps ahead of a used technics, denon, dual, or thorens.

Jaybo brings up a good point.

Do you have any records now? Do you have a good source of used records in your area? Also availability of records may be genre dependent. If 90s rock is your thing, few titles are going to be available on vinyl. If you're into Jazz, original pressings can be very expensive.

This is why it may be a good idea to get something simple and reliable like a Technics SL-1200 in order to reduce the outlay if you decide vinyl is just not your thing.

Thanks for the feedback. I have 0 LPs right now - as I said new to the format. There are a number of very good record stores offering an expansive number of used/new LPs across all formats in the greater Boston area. I am a fan of '60s-'80s rock, '50s-current Jazz, and getting into classical, and my sense is that LPs as a source for these genres of music is plentiful (both new and used). I agree that I could end up finding the whole experiment frustrating but I won't find out until I give it a shot. My only concern with starting out with a very modest set-up is, if I end up not liking the "vinyl sound," I would always question whether that was a function of the format itself vs. the quality of the platform being used. Appreciate all the feedback thus far. Thanks.

After a couple of tries I am back into vinyl, I tried a couple of lowish TT and the results were horrible, my CD play back beat it hands down....plus you also have all the "amenities" of vinyl, like clicks and pops and with most of my old 80s Lps a lot of distortion due to over played records and wasted grooves!
I finally got an experts advice and bought a Technics SP10, an Audio Technica 1010 arm and a beautiful MM cartridge...right out of the box (well lets say just put toghether) it sounded waaay better than my CD playback... I could not believe how good it is, now after some tweaking and plinth solutions (or no plinth) it is sounding wonderful and better than some very expensive rigs I have listened to.
I spent over 2k plus phono stage, at the moment I have a Bellari on loan and we are all amazed how good it can sound in the right conditions and with the right Telefunken tube (more expensive than the Bellari itself).

Do enter into vinyl, but do it right...

Now, about availability of records; I have over a 1000 Lps from way back when, from those I think 200 are listenable (in good condition), and from those 200 I think 40 or 50 I will listen to regularly, the others are... well Cheap Trick and the sort!

I have now a huge list of Classical music 180 gram lps I want to buy, a few every month!