Um, Dad? Don't be a dinosaur. An iPod or equivalent will almost certainly be his primary source--if for no other reason than that downloads are probably the best way for a kid "to discover different types of music." As for the turntable, a decent one will chew up a third of your budget, and really constrain speaker choice as a result. Does he even own any LPs? Has he any real interest in spending his weekends scrounging the used bins? (He's unlikely to be shelling out premium dollars for new vinyl anytime soon.) Does he listen to the radio? If so, you should be thinking receiver, not integrated, despite the audiophile preference for the latter.
In short, I think you're asking the wrong people about this. You should be asking him what he wants, what he's interested in, what his goals are (as if he had any, right?).
And whatever you do, don't pick out his speakers for him. It's his ears, not yours, that matter.
In short, I think you're asking the wrong people about this. You should be asking him what he wants, what he's interested in, what his goals are (as if he had any, right?).
And whatever you do, don't pick out his speakers for him. It's his ears, not yours, that matter.