3k to spend...

Personally, I'd grab a restored table from Vinyl Nirvana fitted with a cart of Dave's recommendation (he knows the tables and the tonearms quite well and often offers discounts on new carts), then pick the preamp based on the output of the cart. You'll get a unique jewel – a handcrafted, one of a kind restoration –and you get to support a small business (and a good guy...I own one of his tables...he really is an artist).

He's got a gorgeous Thorens 160 refurb on his site now for just under 2K - add an Ortofon 2M Black and a Hagerman Cornet 3 (which sounds fantastic) and you'll squeak you in just under (or at) the wire.

FWIW, Well Tempered and Dynavector are literally made for each other, and the Dynavector preamp is a nice little unit that is obviously optimized for the company's own carts- so there's definitely synergy going on there. The Amadeus is also one of my favorite TTs I've ever heard, and by all accounts there is a sonic family resemblance down the chain...so you can't really go wrong with that combo.

That said, Well Tempered TTs are not without their idiosyncrasies. They're a bit fussy to set up, the lack of a cue lever a bit awkward (to me, anyway), and the build quality in the tonearm / arm board assembly is not particularly robust (IMO). But for $2K this is to be expected...

As for reaching Dave, I've found him to be extremely responsive to email and willing to discuss things with you once an initial outreach is made....if that's your primary concern, I wouldn't be too worried. I can assure you, having been to his house twice (to pick up and drop off gear) and seen his operation "in action," that his business is legit...and his work is nothing less than top shelf...

Not sure why I feel compelled to defend the man, but I can assure you Dave's on the up-and-up. He's got a thriving business in the heart of New England, he's a good guy, an his work is exceptional. He's a pro in every sense of the word.