Uru975 has some nice ideas. However, I wouldn't go cheaper to start. Buy something like a Sota with an ok arm and a decent cartridge. The table can last forever. If you really like it, you can always move up to a nicer arm or nicer cartridge. With a Sota, you can get away with a $99 ortofon or shure or Grado and it will sound nice. If you splurge and move up to a $300 Goldring, it will make a huge difference. The nicest part, if you chose to move up again to something like a clearaudio it will make a big difference again.
Don't forget quality toys like a clamp, scale and cleaning solution or system. Yep, these can run you a lot more money.
Once you have all of that, time to replace the stock arm with something exotic also.
Phono pre amps make big differences also.
Get it? We just started with a $600 rig and you now have something worth $2500 without having to replace the table at all. Wait until you send it back to Sota for upgrades too. You can do similar with other brands such as VPI.
HAVE FUN
Don't forget quality toys like a clamp, scale and cleaning solution or system. Yep, these can run you a lot more money.
Once you have all of that, time to replace the stock arm with something exotic also.
Phono pre amps make big differences also.
Get it? We just started with a $600 rig and you now have something worth $2500 without having to replace the table at all. Wait until you send it back to Sota for upgrades too. You can do similar with other brands such as VPI.
HAVE FUN