I suggest that you consider versatility and ease of set-up. A well set up front end in your price range will out-perform a poorly set up SOTA.
A turntable is nothing but a device to turn the vinyl steadily. A tonearm is nothing but a device to hold the cartridge in the optimal position.
But how this is achieved is the rub. Every bit of noise in the turntable matters. Every tonearm adjustment should be available, easy, and stable. At your budget, perhaps you should compromise on easy.
The phono stage is nothing but a low voltage amplifier with 3 filters. Every bit of distortion at this stage is magnified, and can make records noisy - what you think is surface noise may be phono stage distortion. Ralph Karstens talks about this in great detail.
IMO, each of these elements matter more than the cartridge - what’s more, they don’t wear out like cartridges do.
If you are uncomfortable with setting up a turntable, read some books, or get a dealer to help. Another reason to spend everywhere but on the cartridge - it’s hard to break a turntable, tonearm, or phono stage, but all too easy to break a cartridge.
Good luck!
A turntable is nothing but a device to turn the vinyl steadily. A tonearm is nothing but a device to hold the cartridge in the optimal position.
But how this is achieved is the rub. Every bit of noise in the turntable matters. Every tonearm adjustment should be available, easy, and stable. At your budget, perhaps you should compromise on easy.
The phono stage is nothing but a low voltage amplifier with 3 filters. Every bit of distortion at this stage is magnified, and can make records noisy - what you think is surface noise may be phono stage distortion. Ralph Karstens talks about this in great detail.
IMO, each of these elements matter more than the cartridge - what’s more, they don’t wear out like cartridges do.
If you are uncomfortable with setting up a turntable, read some books, or get a dealer to help. Another reason to spend everywhere but on the cartridge - it’s hard to break a turntable, tonearm, or phono stage, but all too easy to break a cartridge.
Good luck!