Reponses below, in CAPS:
You wrote:
1) Cartridge (type and make)
I SECOND THE CHOICE OF A GRADO SONATA MOVING-MAGNET CARTRIDGE, WHICH LISTS FOR $500. WELL-BUILT, DOES A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT, AND IS APPROPRIATE, PRICE AND PERFORMANCE-WISE, FOR YOUR TURNTABLE. I USED ONE ON MY VPI ARIES FOR AWHILE AND IT WAS GREAT (NOW IT IS ON MY PLANAR 3).
2) Phono pre-amp (it will be going into an Anthem AVM30, or I may upgrade to the D1 Statement). I would like to get one with XLR output if possible, or does that really matter?
I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO KNOW IF YOU REALLY NEED XLR OUTPUTS. THAT SAID, THE BRYSTON BP-1 MOVING-MAGNET PHONO STAGE HAS RCA AND XLR OUTPUTS. IT USED TO RETAIL FOR $700 AND I BELIEVE IS NOW ONLY AVAILABLE BY SPECIAL ORDER (IT IS BASICALLY A PRO UNIT THAT WAS MADE FOR RADIO STATIONS). WHILE BRYSTON IS NOT KNOWN FOR THEIR PREAMPS, THE BP-1 IS AN EXCEPTION (I ACTUALLY PREFERRED IT IN SOME WAYS TO THE TUBED PHONO STAGE IN THE CAT MK. III PREAMP I WAS USING AT THE TIME, WHICH IS A REALLY FINE PHONO STAGE). BUILT LIKE A TANK AND COMES WITH A 20-YEAR FULLY TRANSFERRABLE WARRANTY.
3) Reasonbly priced cleaning machine.
THE VPI 16.5 IS THE SAFEST CHOICE.
4) Other "extras" I will need.
RICE PAPER SLEEVES FOR YOUR LP'S (YOU SHOULD CLEAN AND RE-SLEEVE YOUR ENTIRE LP CATALOG). A CARBON-FIBER BRUSH TO TAKE OFF DUST BEFORE AND AFTER PLAYING AN LP. OF COURSE, YOU NEED A GOOD SHELF FOR YOUR TURNTABLE, BUT THIS IS A GIVEN, NOT AN EXTRA.
You wrote:
1) Cartridge (type and make)
I SECOND THE CHOICE OF A GRADO SONATA MOVING-MAGNET CARTRIDGE, WHICH LISTS FOR $500. WELL-BUILT, DOES A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT, AND IS APPROPRIATE, PRICE AND PERFORMANCE-WISE, FOR YOUR TURNTABLE. I USED ONE ON MY VPI ARIES FOR AWHILE AND IT WAS GREAT (NOW IT IS ON MY PLANAR 3).
2) Phono pre-amp (it will be going into an Anthem AVM30, or I may upgrade to the D1 Statement). I would like to get one with XLR output if possible, or does that really matter?
I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO KNOW IF YOU REALLY NEED XLR OUTPUTS. THAT SAID, THE BRYSTON BP-1 MOVING-MAGNET PHONO STAGE HAS RCA AND XLR OUTPUTS. IT USED TO RETAIL FOR $700 AND I BELIEVE IS NOW ONLY AVAILABLE BY SPECIAL ORDER (IT IS BASICALLY A PRO UNIT THAT WAS MADE FOR RADIO STATIONS). WHILE BRYSTON IS NOT KNOWN FOR THEIR PREAMPS, THE BP-1 IS AN EXCEPTION (I ACTUALLY PREFERRED IT IN SOME WAYS TO THE TUBED PHONO STAGE IN THE CAT MK. III PREAMP I WAS USING AT THE TIME, WHICH IS A REALLY FINE PHONO STAGE). BUILT LIKE A TANK AND COMES WITH A 20-YEAR FULLY TRANSFERRABLE WARRANTY.
3) Reasonbly priced cleaning machine.
THE VPI 16.5 IS THE SAFEST CHOICE.
4) Other "extras" I will need.
RICE PAPER SLEEVES FOR YOUR LP'S (YOU SHOULD CLEAN AND RE-SLEEVE YOUR ENTIRE LP CATALOG). A CARBON-FIBER BRUSH TO TAKE OFF DUST BEFORE AND AFTER PLAYING AN LP. OF COURSE, YOU NEED A GOOD SHELF FOR YOUR TURNTABLE, BUT THIS IS A GIVEN, NOT AN EXTRA.