Restored Fisher 500c
Klipsch Heresy
Thorens TT, stock arm, Ortofon mid level cartridge
or restored AR TT and Shure M97 cartridge.
Done.
Warm tube sound to balance (potential) harshness from the Heresy pr. Enough power to drive the speakers in all but large rooms at stadium volume. TT, once restored and set up properly, is essentially set and forget.
You should have money left over from your $2500 budget.
Klipsch Heresy
Thorens TT, stock arm, Ortofon mid level cartridge
or restored AR TT and Shure M97 cartridge.
Done.
Warm tube sound to balance (potential) harshness from the Heresy pr. Enough power to drive the speakers in all but large rooms at stadium volume. TT, once restored and set up properly, is essentially set and forget.
You should have money left over from your $2500 budget.