Cartridges

OP,

A common dilemma these days. I have equal sounding analog and digital ends. They were of equal cost (see my profile)… ~$45K each. I have a long history with analog. And a collection of 2,000 mostly pristine albums and audiophile releases I have collected over + 50 years. 
 

I don’t play my analog rig much… but it is fun when I do, or to go to the used record store to find some hidden gems.

If I was doing this today without a large vinyl collection I would double my investment on the digital side and know I was on the future proof side. Unless, you really like the nostalgia and fun of cartridges, tone arms and the like. 
 

Also, for most of my life my phono stage has been a real drag on my system. One needs a really good one to get the most out of your system.

OP,

I highly recommend traveling to listen to some different systems. Shows can be good… but so few of the systems are at all optimal and so much to see it is distracting. I would plan a trip for a weekend… bring wife. Schedule a couple hours at two or three different audio stores. I would not be surprised if tubes still sound better. Listen to some pure systems to gat a feeling for the “house sound” (sound of a company’s products) you like. Try Audio Research, Pass, and a couple more.