What is a good spartan turntable set up?

Words like "spartan" and "simple" make the Opera-Consonance LP6.1 come immediately to mind (link below). To me, it's quite a looker, in a very unostentatious way. It goes for $1,125, but from the general tone of your post, I'm thinking you may have a smaller budget in mind. I think if you can give us some idea of what you want to spend, it would help us make recommendations.

Regarding connections, the simplest arrangement I can think of is to use a receiver or integrated amplifier with a dedicated phono stage built in. That way, you wouldn't need a separate phono preamp.
-Bob

http://grantfidelity.com/site/Opera_Consonance_LP6.1

All Rega set up.

Rega p1 or used p2 turntable
Rega Brio integrated amp with built in phono preamp
Rega RS1 bookshelf speakers.

Guaranteed to sound good together. Simple simple simple.

A quick look through the listings presents the following musical sounding (British laid back) system for well under $1000. (Obviously the cartridge would be a stand in until you spotted a deal on Audiogon.)

Sota Moonbeam $325
Audio-technica AT 92ECD
- Phono Cartridge $16.45(Amazon)
Rotel RA-02 Integrated $235
Revolver RW33 $300

Thanks for the responses. The LP6 looks amazing, but yes, I'm on a budget, which sort of depends on how much stuff I can sell off. That Sota Moonbeam is very tempting, but I also located a Rega Planar 3 with RB300 tonearm and either a blue point No.2 or Benz micro silver cartridge for $500. Which would be a better deal? There's so much disagreement on these things that it's awfully confusing. Seems the Rega has a much better arm and comes with a cartridge, so that's appealing, but I also read that ones older than 5 years ago have certain issues and I haven't read one write-up smashing the Sota moonbeam. Which is less fussy? Anyone mind telling me the pros and cons? Regarding the amp, is there a good one made just for vinyl? I really don't expect to be adding a tape player or anything like that, and I can only assume such features bring up the price and size of an integrated amp. My music tastes are pretty eclectic (a leaning for jazz but also a passion for metal and many other genres), so something well rounded is ideal. Thanks again!

You are totally on the right track if you buy the Rega P3, buy a high output dynavector cartridge, which i think is $450, you need a spacer ring for the collar which is so simple I can do it, and you will beat anything listed above. Agreed with above, get a Rega Brio with built in phono, and whatever speakers you have or want, and you'll have the basics of something that will play music much better than anything in the price range...your ears and wallet will be thrilled! and I bet you'll start buying a lot more vinyl! It's been a standard through the ages and there's a reason why.