taz, have a drink and calm the analog frayed nerves
i've recently gone through the same. in my case i was just as overwhelmed with all the tech about analog playback. i debated dropping about $2k into a table/arm/cart from basis/rega/benz. after coming to my senses at this stage of my vinyl life, i settled on a music hall-5 from a local dealer. my decision went like this: why have a rig that exceeds the value of my vinyl library. so i decided to put the $1.5k or so i saved and devote that to a steady acquisition of software for the next year. if, and only if, i'm still devouring all the good vinyl i can find at that point will i fork out the cash for a better rig. the audiophile in me asures me we will be picking up a new table come the holidays this year.
at that point i wouldn't hesitate at moving further up the basis line than i would have of late.
i'm not singling out the music hall, but it does seem to have what you're looking for, split plinth, belt drive, arm, decent mm cartridge, dust cover, record clamp(not SOTA but many tables it is an option altogether, also nice for older lps that may have a slight warp). there's the music hall 7 at $1k (can be had $900 on web) nicer acrylic split plinth, totally isolated motor, nicer mc cartridge, nicer arm, adjustable spiked feet but according to my dealer not twice the table the model 5 is. and that's $500 for a nicer phono stage or software in my situation, maybe yours too.
oh by the way have a drink, then have another for good measure.
for $500 you can get everything you need from the music hall-5. i'm not about to say you'll get as much performance out of this table as you would some of the regas, mitchell gyro, well tempered, vpis, linns, etc however, if you find you like vinyl, but never make the true commitment to the medium, do you really want to know you have a $2-3k rig?
although i might assume you have something already, have you set aside any of your budget for a phono stage? this will be important given the amplification needs of phono versus line level sources. a slightly less, but equally pernicious neurosis, can be developed when choosing phono amplification.
if it helps, i believe someone told me to prioritize in this order: table, arm, cartridge/amp
hope this helps, i'm no analog expert, but this has been my experience so far.
oh yeah, how about vinyl care? that could be anywhere from another $100 on up. i'd stear clear of vacuum machines in the beginning, they seem to be a bigger pain in the arse than help. disc doctor sells an alcohol free cleaning solution, stylus cleaner, wet/dry brushes, replacement pads for brush and a 100% carbon fiber antistatic dry brush for about $100. maybe pick up some gruv-glide also for post cleaning treatment. many i've talked to swear by the disc doctor/gruv glide combo. decide for yourself. visit the web site, google search disc doctor, you'll want to make sure you take care of that vinyl and your stylus.
one more drink and you should be fine...
ok, hope this helps somehow, don't rush into anything, compare as much as possible, if at all possible, and don't mortgage the house on something you haven't married or sold your soul to yet.
bartender, one more for the road...
i've recently gone through the same. in my case i was just as overwhelmed with all the tech about analog playback. i debated dropping about $2k into a table/arm/cart from basis/rega/benz. after coming to my senses at this stage of my vinyl life, i settled on a music hall-5 from a local dealer. my decision went like this: why have a rig that exceeds the value of my vinyl library. so i decided to put the $1.5k or so i saved and devote that to a steady acquisition of software for the next year. if, and only if, i'm still devouring all the good vinyl i can find at that point will i fork out the cash for a better rig. the audiophile in me asures me we will be picking up a new table come the holidays this year.
at that point i wouldn't hesitate at moving further up the basis line than i would have of late.
i'm not singling out the music hall, but it does seem to have what you're looking for, split plinth, belt drive, arm, decent mm cartridge, dust cover, record clamp(not SOTA but many tables it is an option altogether, also nice for older lps that may have a slight warp). there's the music hall 7 at $1k (can be had $900 on web) nicer acrylic split plinth, totally isolated motor, nicer mc cartridge, nicer arm, adjustable spiked feet but according to my dealer not twice the table the model 5 is. and that's $500 for a nicer phono stage or software in my situation, maybe yours too.
oh by the way have a drink, then have another for good measure.
for $500 you can get everything you need from the music hall-5. i'm not about to say you'll get as much performance out of this table as you would some of the regas, mitchell gyro, well tempered, vpis, linns, etc however, if you find you like vinyl, but never make the true commitment to the medium, do you really want to know you have a $2-3k rig?
although i might assume you have something already, have you set aside any of your budget for a phono stage? this will be important given the amplification needs of phono versus line level sources. a slightly less, but equally pernicious neurosis, can be developed when choosing phono amplification.
if it helps, i believe someone told me to prioritize in this order: table, arm, cartridge/amp
hope this helps, i'm no analog expert, but this has been my experience so far.
oh yeah, how about vinyl care? that could be anywhere from another $100 on up. i'd stear clear of vacuum machines in the beginning, they seem to be a bigger pain in the arse than help. disc doctor sells an alcohol free cleaning solution, stylus cleaner, wet/dry brushes, replacement pads for brush and a 100% carbon fiber antistatic dry brush for about $100. maybe pick up some gruv-glide also for post cleaning treatment. many i've talked to swear by the disc doctor/gruv glide combo. decide for yourself. visit the web site, google search disc doctor, you'll want to make sure you take care of that vinyl and your stylus.
one more drink and you should be fine...
ok, hope this helps somehow, don't rush into anything, compare as much as possible, if at all possible, and don't mortgage the house on something you haven't married or sold your soul to yet.
bartender, one more for the road...