I think it's a good idea for you to wait & rethink your budget as $500 only buys a decent cartridge today.
If you can find a vintage "restored" table with arm for a G note & a really nice phono stage for another G @ $2,500 you'll have a great start as you will only have to upgrade your cartridge in the future.
Then as your vinyl collection grows you can spend what you wish to upgrade piece by piece.
If you buy junk - you will never be happy & will never recover the cost of your mistake + you may lose your interest in analogue forever.
Be a little patient & save up some cash for the right first table even if it takes a year - In the meantime buy an album every month so you will have something to look forward to listen to.
Rome wasn't built in a day & I don't think anyone here has built any part of their system on their very first try.
Remember this post 5 years from now & then look @ your $5K analogue set up.
If you can find a vintage "restored" table with arm for a G note & a really nice phono stage for another G @ $2,500 you'll have a great start as you will only have to upgrade your cartridge in the future.
Then as your vinyl collection grows you can spend what you wish to upgrade piece by piece.
If you buy junk - you will never be happy & will never recover the cost of your mistake + you may lose your interest in analogue forever.
Be a little patient & save up some cash for the right first table even if it takes a year - In the meantime buy an album every month so you will have something to look forward to listen to.
Rome wasn't built in a day & I don't think anyone here has built any part of their system on their very first try.
Remember this post 5 years from now & then look @ your $5K analogue set up.