I have:
Thiel 3.6/ML #333/ARC LS2B MKII/ML#37+Sonic Frontier SFD2MKII. I am using Michell Orbe SE + SME V + Shelter 901. Phonostage is ARC PH3SE. Great combo.
You will get a different answer from everyone that responds to your question. At a minimum, I think you need to mention in your post what kind of sound you are looking for. It's like asking what's the best speaker in the $1000 and $4000 range. Every table/arm/cartridge/phonstage combination has a different sound signature. On top of that, we start to get into different technologies in this price range, suspension vs. non-suspension, belt driven vs. direct drive, etc. It all comes down to personal preference. To make things even more confusing, you will also have to decide which tonearm will mate well with your table/cartridge.
I do not believe ML380S has a phonostage, so you will need to add a phonostage. Depending on which phonostage you choose, there will be a limitation on which cartridge you can use, and vise versa. This is due to the output of the cartridge. Some phonostage will have adjustable gain level, but many do not, so you have to find one that will have enough gain for the cartridge of your choice.
Are we talking only the table or are we talking table/arm/cartridge combo for under $4K? I would add the Michell tables onto that list. Michell Gyro SE + upgraded power supply + Origin Live modded RB250 would be a good combo. You could probably add the EAR 830P as a phonostage, and a Shelter 501 MkII, all for around $4K. Check out the used market as well, that way you could stretch your money a little further. Many items could also be purchased overseas with substantial savings.
FrankC
