$3000 on Analog system - how to spread?

I'll take a shot at this one ;)

30% tonearm + phono cable (if needed)
30% phono stage
20% table
20% cartridge

Stay tuned to my system page, as I hope to go into detail why I have found the tonearm and phono stage to be more important!

don't buy new...and don't buy piece meal. lots of great table/arm/cartridge combos for i.5 to 2k used.....get a goldring or grado(or other) under 500 phonostage to start, and spend the rest of your budget on new or used vinyl. many of the expensive phno stages don't sound that different unless you brake the bank on a table, and even that is not THAT different.

Get a Dynavector P 75 phono stage (used $400, new $600 , i.e. %13-%20 of your budget). I agree with others you simply don't need more phono stage than this unless you have much more invested in your analog gear. The P 75 is much better than other things I've heard in its price range, and has great flexibility with cartridges.

Other than that, Jaybo probably has the right idea buying a table/arm together on the used market ($1500 to 2000 range). Then spend the rest on the cartridge. Buying used cartridges is a very dicey proposition, and in my book probably best not to do unless the seller has an impeccable reputation or is willing to sell via escrow.

It would help a lot if you discussed the actual equipment you're considering. This theoretical percentage excercise is just "pie in the sky" IMO.

Just my 2cents.....

From a sound perspective, I believe that the components should go in this order (from most important to least) in the analogue chain of events, IMO. Given the percentage breakdown, the turntable (*) is generally the most expensive component in your average setup so take away the turntable and concentrate on the remaining three.

40% $800 - Tonearm
35% $700 - Phono stage
25% $500 - Cartridge
(*) $1000 - Turntable

Opinions, comments anyone??