Best Turntable/arm/cartridge system for $30k

The world is your oyster for $30000.

Personally, I'd take a look at some of the better Soundsmith cartridges if I were looking to shoot the works on an analog setup.

Or you could get a great rig for 1/10th the cost with a little research and do something else nice with all the money you save.

If you can't find a CD player that makes things sound musical and involving, there may be other things to take a look at in your system.

Or, you may just have much more sensitive ears than I.

Arwp,

It's not clear to me from the inforamtion you provided in your post alone that the digital source is the reason your system does not sound musical or involving to you. It could be anything from room acoustics to overall system synergy to some component in the pipeline not performing up to specs for some reason.

I'd make sure, if you are not already, all the ducks in your current system are in order before looking to an expensive vinyl system as the solution. It may in fact be one solution, but not necessarily the only one.

"If there's not a digital rig made that you can enjoy, you won't like vinyl either"

I would tend to agree and advise again against a blind plunge into vinyl as a solution.

I know for fact though there are many out there that assert there is no digital rig that they can enjoy as much as vinyl.

If you must take a blind $30000 vinyl plunge, do save some money to acquire a suitable vinyl library and don't assume everything available on CD will be available also on vinyl (or vice versa).

Sounds like your mind is made up.

In order to be sure of getting the best, maybe go used here on A'gon.

If you find a supportive seller, you might be able to pick up a $60000 rig for only $30000.