Hi,
Maybe I'm missing something here regarding what you would like to accomplish on a $3000 budget. Get a used LP12 (Valhalla) with an arm (Ittok) and buy a Denon 103 cartridge. Get an SACD player and have it modified to excel at Redbook playback also. There are a number of inexpensive phono stages selling for $100-200 used, that together with the described analog setup will just blow you away.
As I have stated many times before in similar threads here at Audiogon I am analog based because of my age. Knowing what I know, I would do exactly what I have recommended in the preceeding paragraph if I were in your shoes. I would, however, probably buy more used Redbook CD's because of the huge selection available and the fact that used CD's are so cheap. Used vinyl isn't getting any cheaper and that's about the only drawback with adding an analog front end.
There are some urban legends that get perpetuated even here at Audiogon. Make these falsehoods work in your favor:
#1. The Linn turntable design is dated and better performance is easily and cheaply attained...NOT. There are better tables to be had but for the price of a used LP12 you simply can't go wrong. Also keep in mind that many posters to these threads have an anti-Linn bias and simply refuse to give credit where it is due. I'm no fan of Ivor or his network of retailers. However, the LP12 pushed the envelope of performance to a level where the other pieces of hardware had to catch up with it's performance. The truth is that few pieces in the rest of the music chain demand a turntable of higher performance than the Linn.
#2. All used vinyl is noisy...NOT. Further, they do not degrade with age as stated previously. If the vinyl looks good it probably is good as long as the cartridge that previously played the record didn't damage it. Most flaws in records are accentuated by inferior turntable design.
#3. There isn't much quality used vinyl left to buy...NOT. This is a lot like the NOS tube rolling crowd. Collections will be found, bought and sold for a very long time. They will not run out of tubes (or vinyl) even after all the old ones are gone. Markets will spring up where there is a demand. Contrary to popular belief, new vinyl will only be better than before. I know that some of the tubers here are going to smoke me for that comment but think about it. Should all the wonderful old tubes be gone there will be a huge demand for quality new tubes with emphasis placed on tube characteristics for the sound and the free market will fill this need.
#4. Turntables require constant tweaking, especially the Linn...NOT. The truth is: if it's set up correctly there isn't much to do but enjoy the music. One occasionally must clean the stylus and replace it once in a blue moon.
#5. The care and feeding of vinyl is a huge problem...NOT. If you use a cleaning machine once it's a rare occurance that it needs to be cleaned again. So, you buy a new record, clean it on a machine, place the vinyl in a protective sleeve, protect the jacket if you desire and clean it with a carbon fiber brush before and after each play. What's the big deal?
#6. Repeated playings wear a record out...NOT. I suppose that there is some merit to this urban legend but not in the real sense of owning a record. I have a hand full of records that I never tire of listening to and have played hundreds of times. I can't hear any loss of fidelity or increase in the noise floor.
There are other urban legends of lesser proportion that aren't worthy of the time to discuss them. The following is my view based on a lifetime of turntable ownership. For your reference I will list all the turntables I have owned since 1970: Thorens TD-? with a Shure V15? (This has been so long ago that I can't remember the model numbers) Original LP12, Newer design LP12 with Ittok in 1984, Beogram 1900 purchased for my mother and used extensively in my system prior to giving it to her.
Suspension turntables (IMHO) are less hassle but need either a concrete floor or wall mounting for best results. Get a table/arm with VTA adjustment. Get an arm with anti-skate adjustment. You will want to replace a cartridge (human nature) sooner than it needs to be replaced. Remove the platter and lock the arm if you move the turntable to a new location in your home. Keep the original box and use it if you move to a new home. Dirt is the enemy. Keep things clean.
The bottom line is that I suggest keeping your options open and accomodate most software. Whatever happens in the digital world with new and improved formats is of very little concern if you concentrate on Redbook and analog. There will always be quality playback equipment and support due to the sheer volume of existing software. SACD and DVDA may be the best formats but may go the way of BETA for whatever reason.
