$3000 on Analog system - how to spread?

And cleaning solution, protractor for cart alignment, etc, etc. It all adds up. That's even before you buy replacement outer jackets and inner sleeves. Oh, I forgot the record cleaning brushes and some sort of brush (likely carbon fibre) to dust the vinyl between plays.

As for the original question, it's my opinion (and everyone has one) that the phono stage and the turntable have some pretty hard jobs to do (more so than the cartidge itself).

The sound really starts with the table. Only about half of the music resides on the vinyl. The other have is the time element of the spinning record. The turntable's job is to spin the vinyl flat and true (speed) - a far harder job than it seems. One needs a good bearing and motor (among other things) to achieve this. There are also resonnance issues within the table to consider. This is all before the music is even picked up by the cartidge/arm combo.

Now on first glance the phono stage would appear to have the easier job, but it does not. Apparently these things are harder to build that linestages (which have volume knobs, and selector switches, etc). It probably has to do with handling the delicate (very) low-level signals from the cart and amplifying them an insane amount of times (100-1000x) while trying to apply RIAA equilization (or is that equilization in reverese?) to the signal.

Maybe budget things like this
$500-1000 for accessories,
..then with the remainder
35% table
35% phono
18% arm
12% cart

But I do agree with the others that the analog system needs to be taken as a "whole." Some pieces perform very well from the cost. So actual pieces of gear need to be considered.

I agree with previous poster on Dynavector P75 being all you'll need, and a safe buy used.

After that it's down to listening preferences and matching. I would suggest you buy a used arm and turntable but a new cartridge.

So if we've spent $400 on a used P75 phono stage, find a used Michell Tecnodec with RB250 arm for around $1000 you could then almost afford a Dynavector XX2 ($1750) which is a very fine cartridge. Alternatively the 17D3 for $895 would leave you with cash in the bank. Dynavectors work particularly well with the P75.

Doug is right about a record cleaning maching in absolute terms, but I managed without for years and now use a diy machine that I built for less than $50 following Chris Brady's advice at http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/index.html

Part of the problem is--all of these components--TT, cartridge, phono stage, are very important. Saying that the phono stage isn't important, is like saying that your pre-amp isn't important.

Here's what I have, FWIW, that you could probably buy for 50-60% of your $3K budget: Rega P25 w/Benz Glider that I bought used. C-J EF-1 phono stage that I bought used (I suspect that the EF-1 is the best component of the 3). Again, you could probably buy all 3 now for.......$1500 maybe?

Also, IMO, there's absolutely nothing wrong with owning one component that is "better" than the others. FI, the phono stage--I could see shopping for a used C-J or ARC phono stage & spending $500-$1000 depending on the model. I spent a year (!) of research & shopping to get a great deal on my phono stage.

And don't forget a record cleaner, like a VPI, for maybe $350-$425 used.

Bottom line: There's no one right way to do this. Also, buy everything used, whether you buy a used Rega P3 with a Grado cartridge, or a slightly used P5 w/cartridge. (I'm a Rega fan).

My opinionated 2 cents, good luck!

*And, I'm surprised to hear that the phono stage has relatively small impact on sound.*

Flyingred is right, you don't "have" to spend big money for record cleaning. You can clean by hand with a GroovMaster (sic) and a modded shop vac or DIY a machine like Chris's for well under $100. You do have to clean however, and hand cleaning is very slow.

I agree with Steveaudio that having one component that's "better" than the rest usually isn't a problem, with one exception. A high level cartridge on a less adequate arm or (especially) table is an invitation to disappointment. Steve's idea to buy a used c-j or ARC phono or preamp w/ phono is excellent. You'll get great performance for the money and a time-tested design. You'll be limited to MM's and HOMC's, but on this budget that's what you should be looking at anyway.

On and on and on we go!.......

And, I'm surprised to hear that the phono stage has relatively small impact on sound. I'm glad I asked.

Says who? Ask people who know, or find out for yourself!

Dejan Veselinovic, an European audio journalist/circuit designer will bluntly tell you that the phono stage is the most important. Why? Give it some thought...he's not denying anywhere that 50% of the info is on the time domain component provided by the turntable's motion. It's because the phono stage is amplifying/equalizing extremely delicate signals which are highly succeptible to noise pollution and phase smear (good to read Magnan's website for more info). Circuit topology has a lot to do with this. I chose the Monolithic PS-1 because its circuit topology is essentially that of a Klyne, with the exception that it uses op-amps in the output stage. It pays to do good research...

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