I don't know how many of you have heard a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, but it sets a
new standard for what you get for $399. Add a phono stage and it's right in the
OP's budget w/no fiddling, upgrading, refurbishing, or whatever. You can even
upgrade w/o mounting a new cartridge just by replacing the stylus with the one
for the 2M Blue.
It's so good for the price that the next logical upgrade would be the downstream
components.
new standard for what you get for $399. Add a phono stage and it's right in the
OP's budget w/no fiddling, upgrading, refurbishing, or whatever. You can even
upgrade w/o mounting a new cartridge just by replacing the stylus with the one
for the 2M Blue.
It's so good for the price that the next logical upgrade would be the downstream
components.