recommendations for TT + arm + cart, around $3.5k

My VPI Classic is in a differnt league from the Scoutmaster Sig or the Aries I that I had previously. Much better sounding table.

For you budge pick one of many great cartridges, including the Sumiko Blackbird, or many of the Grado or Dynavectors

I have some radical advice for you: sell your Peachtree and new amp and get a very good integrated and separate phono stage and DAC. For about the same money as you're willing to spend on a TT + Cartridge + Arm, you could provide your speakers with amplification more befitting their abilities, while also upping your DAC and Phono stage. This is the versatile and forwarding thinking approach, as you'll squeeze more out of that TT+Cartridge than your current phon and amp are, plus, it'll allow you to upgrade to a different TT/cart in the future and appreciate an even bigger leap. If you blow your wad on the turntable and cartridge now, you're still left with a so-so phono stage, and and amplification component that seems somewhat mis-matched with your monitors. Sorry if this seems out of line, but that's what I'd do first. My usual chain of equipment is: speaker=>amp=>source=>music=>accesories.

Hi Brookjoo - not out of line at all, I appreciate the feedback. :)

However, I am going to go with a VPI Classic with a Sumiko Blackbird, and a PS Audio GCPH phono pre.

I don't want to go integrated at this point (hence picking up the monoblocks) - so the next step, which I'll hold off on for a few months, will be a replacement for the Nova (likely a standalone preamp and a standalone DAC - then the Nova can take over bedroom duties). But for now, I'm all set.

Thanks for everyone's help!

Heard a vpi classic the other day ........ great table and beautiful to boot ......Probably the first time I actually heard very good/great vinyl ..........It had a Benz cartridge (Don't know the model) running through a ARC phono-stage ..... and ARC amp/pre-amp ..... Good Stuff

To respond to Elizabeth, seems a shame to give up on the VPI Classic just because it is backordered. I would not think the lag time would exceed six weeks. Hope your Rega P5 meets all your needs. In my case, my dealer had one VPI Classic in stock but I had to wait a few weeks for the very same cartridge-a Benz Glider.