OK, I made the leap...

I think that many of the above posters are going overboard with enthusiasm and detail. Here's my advice:

(1) Buy a used Rega Planar 25 turntable (+/-$750);

(2) Buy a new Benz-Micro Glider MO cartridge and have the dealer install it (+/-$750);

(3) Buy that VPI 16.5 record machine (essential), cherry pick your LP's for cleaning, and pay some kid from the neighborhood to stand there and clean them ($400 for machine + labor); and

(4) Buy an Audio Research PH-3 phono preamp used (+/-$850).

At 6.8 grams weight and 14cu compliance, the cartridge and arm on the Rega table will produce a combined resonance frequency of a perfect 10Hz. The 0.8 mv. output on the cartridge is ideal for the PH-3 phono stage's 54 db. of gain. All of the above products are very well built and low/no maintence. It will sound better than your CD player.

Good luck.

First things First. The kids come back. Harry (of vpi)says, "Rushton and Jphii royalty checks are in the mail." P.S email pictures of grandchildren to Harry.

Secondly where is Raul?

It was just a short while ago(20years) I B-----d and moaned about a $2500 front end. This was when you got a phono section included in your preamp at no extra cost.
Now let's make that about $10k plus phono section. That was also when cartridges had decent output, a stylus guard, and turntables came with a suspension and a dust cover. I now own a quicksilver transformer ($450.00) that I consider an accessory. More importantly you could actually audition your turntable and cartridge at the dealer. Any self respecting dealer had a tt set up man. A Linn Sondek set up man was revered in a way that only rivaled a Jaguar mechanic. Let's not forget my Sumiko fluxbuster (still works by the way).
If you can afford it, get what you want once and forget it. Those of us who grew up in the high end are so used to being beta tester's we don't even think about it.
A tt should be immune to vibration, turn the record at the right speed and hold the record to the platter. It should also proivde a sturdy platform for your tonearm. Sota Cosmos($5900). It uses both mass and springs to keep out vibrations. The wheaton tri planar($3900). If you have been paying attention at all, it needs no explanation. It's almost never available used. Cartridges- pick one(half the price of your tt) Unfortunateley, picking a cartridge is like going to Baskin Robbins. Each has it's own Flavor. You'll need two. One for your good records, one for your bad. A good price guide is that it should be half the price of your tonearm. I suggest a Shure v 15 or Grado for your bad records.
Go with the VPI 17. You'll upgrade eventually anyway.
Preamp- go with the Manley Steelhead ($7,000). Why? I have not heard it. Hey vinylphiles love to tinker. If not we might as well play cd's. The manley offers more tinkering than any preamp in its class.
One other thing. Rushton does not like to brag, but he owns a walker proscenium gold. Now you have two reasons to hate him. you'll aslo need money to travel around buying vinyl that would have cost only $3.99 20 years ago.
Where are you gonna get this money? Spend the kids college fund or inheritance. Home equity? You want to be insolvent so medicare has to pay for any expensive surgery.

With tongue planted firmly in cheek(my own thank you)!
greg

Well so much for not spending any money right away. After talking to the guys at the shop where I bought the table about the lack of bass and tinny top end, they said that table should sound better than that and suggested a better phono pre. So back to town I go. Geeze, I didn’t even make it 24 hours before I got upgradeitis. I bought a Rega Fono pre. Holy cow, what a difference. In some ways, even this modest setup sounds better than my CD’s do. I never would have believed it. Bells and such just seem to linger for ever. Cool. Now I really can’t wait until I can afford to make the “big” jump. If indeed a real top end type table, arm etc. combo will step it up that much more, I’ll never get anything done. If I didn’t already have so many CD’s, I think I would sell my player to afford the update now. Oh well, nobody said this was going to be easy (or cheap). I’ma thinkin this puts the new tube amp purchase in the back burner.
Thanks once again for the help all. You guys are killing me.
Brad

Bnc,

Glad you "fixed" the issue with a modest investment. Now you've got something to enjoy your records with and you can take your time moving up. Half of the fun in this hobby is striving for the next improvement.

If it were me in your current position, I would take some of the advice above and look into record cleaning. You'll be amazed how much you can unlock with well cleaned rekkids! It is possible to build your own vaccum machine for not much cash at all.

dadadum,dum,dum, another one bites the dust.