Best Analog for $10K

Chakster and I are in near complete agreement (see my post of  few days ago).  You need to know something about what YOU like or want out of a vinyl system.  For that, you might want to travel a bit and listen to as many different systems and combinations as possible, preferably systems that are otherwise similar to yours in type of speaker and choice of amplification.  (The systems you audition need not include the exact same amplifiers and speakers as yours, just equipment that is similar in type.) Keep a list of what you like and don't like.

You will continue to receive responses ad infinitum, because a $10K budget leaves a lot of room for a lot of optional choices. I personally won’t bother to bother you about my own personal preferences. I would only suggest that for your first high end rig, you might want to stay away from novelties, like the DS Audio cartridge. It may be excellent, but you would not be in a position to know that if you have never heard a conventional cartridge in your new system-to-be. You will be confused enough trying to choose among Moving Magnet (MM), Moving Iron (MI), and Moving Coil (MC) cartridge choices. Further, maybe you should save out about $2K for new LPs to expand your collection. Have fun.