Back in the vinyl saddle again.

@ghdprentice 

I think nostalgia is part of it, but it is also comparing analog and digital. This is the first time I have had both options available to me and it's something I would like to explore a bit. It is fine to say that digital can achieve the same level as analog, but can I do that without the type of budget you have at your disposal and can I do it without having an analog system as a reference point?

OP,

For exploration... great. Have fun.

These days at most budget levels you can achieve parity between digital and analog for around the same investment. In the lower tiers it might require say a 20% to 50% increase in the digital side. So say $3K for analog $5K for digital because at these levels the amount of design effort and part choices to avoid the digital pitfall of cheap solid state cannot be easily avoided (but very dependent on your ability to choose components). But the level where there is a difference is dropping rapidly. Only a few years ago analog was much cheaper up to say $25K or so and vinyl ruled at the top and bottom... vinyl is getting squeezed out completely. Probably even now, with real careful research you can probably achieve parity in the $2K... I just haven’t tried recently.

I just brought this up, because of my own inclination to make my system to sound as good as possible and not divert funds on side projects. But, that’s me.

Change Cartridge, or OPTIONAL multiple arms?

You need to think long, knowing your level of interest, you mentioned enough that I think you have or will have some excellent Mono content. Instantly ready to play Mono is vital to me.

I went for a JVC CL-P2 with their TT81 spinner, with removable arm boards for two tonearms, then I found a compact Jelco 250st/Mission 774 and squeezed it on, so I have 3 arms:

fixed stereo, removable headshell stereo/mono and fixed mono ready to play in a single listening session, my Fidelity Research FRT-4 SUT has 3 front selectable inputs, and PASS for MM as well as 4 impedance/xfactor windings to choose from.

I bought it from Vlad in Ontario, I highly recommend him, he has many items for sale

https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/userads.php?user_id=10089

I helped my friend with a Luxman PD-444 two arm table and a pair of long and short Micro 505 arms. This shows a pair of SME arms, I owned one, I prefer the 505

I like it so much I put some info on this site

I gave a friend a Technics SP-15, 3 speed QLDD, and we changed the grace arm and arm board to the EPA-BP500 tonearm base which allows easy change of arm wands, costs more that way, but maintains a compact package whereas the Luxman needs more width, and my JVE needs more depth than standard.

Here's one with straight arm, fixed cartridge

here is an S arm, removable headshell armwand in the B500 base

btw, the most compact, and excellent sounding TT I have owned, also most features, is the Technics SL-J33 Programmable Linear Tracking which was my spare/loaner until I gave it to my son.

@elliottbnewcombjr 

I do love the look of those vintage Japanese direct drives. I had a Micro Solid 5 back in the day that I gave to my sister. Maybe I should borrow it for a few days.

It’s well respected, belt drive, she may not be using it.

Vlad has this manual/full auto JVC, removable headshell, I don’t know any more than his description

Vlad has Pioneer with Long Arm with removable headshell