@robertq I hope what I'm about to write does not dissuade you from getting into vinyl! When done right, the sound fidelity is outstanding! However, upon reading "considering my first turntable" and "budget is 2K to 2.5K" what immediately jumped to mind is whether you are planning for accessories. Getting the most out of vinyl is more than just purchasing a TT and some records. There are some basic accessories to consider that are part & parcel of the whole medium (e.g. record brush; stylus cleaner; record cleaning system - even new records should be washed before play; anti-static record sleeves; etc.). None of these accessories have to cost an arm & a leg, unless you want to invest in an ultrasonic record cleaning system, but they will enhance your sound fidelity results.
That being said, I can vouch for the MoFi Ultradeck with Mastertracker cart. I've had the MoFi for around 6 or 7 years, or so, and love it! I demoed a Rega P3 with Ortofon 2M Blue and a Marantz TT-15S1 with ClearAudio Virtuoso MM that were both mighty impressive, as well. However, after months of research, I ultimately dwindled my choices down to the MoFi and a Rega P6 with either an Ortofon 2M Black or Bronze. Let conscious be you're guide!