Okay. You have a huge amount to learn. $5k is serious money. You owe it to yourself to put in the time to do it right. The difference is anyone can spend $5k and wind up with nothing more than an expensive stereo. For the same $5k I can blow your mind. No one will ever believe its only $5k. People will wonder why they never heard anything in their life this good. If you can get to 20% of that you'll be better than just about anyone you ever saw. Right now you are starting from zero. Do not buy anything yet.
The signal on a record is equalized with the bass turned down 20dB and the treble turned up 20dB. This is called RIAA equalization. Playing a record the cartridge generates only a fraction of a millivolt to maybe 1mV. This is way too low a voltage and way too messed up EQ to listen to. The phono stage is required to equalize and amplify. The signal coming out of the phono stage is now flat and high at what we call line voltage, around a volt or two, the same as other components like a CD, tape or tuner or streamer, etc.
Cartridges can be moving coil, moving magnet, or moving iron. Each has their fans, strengths, and weaknesses. You need to learn at least a little about cartridges. At your price range you will want a turntable with arm, or maybe even a package of table/arm/cart. Each really is its own thing and at a higher level you definitely want to be considering each one separately. But at your budget level it makes more sense to do a package.
Same goes for the phono stage. But you do need to understand. Because in looking you may come across a very fine integrated amp but it is only line stage. No phono. That's fine. You get a separate phono stage. Just need to be aware.
Its way too early to be talking specific components. First you need a plan. One might be $5k breaks down into $1k each for amp, speakers, turntable, CD, and wire. This is very rough, just to give some idea, so you don't spend $2k on speakers like a lot of guys would and wind up either way over budget or with no money for cables, etc. $1k is probably more than needed for CD, and less than for the table, but again its not a requirement its more of a guide.
Now what you do, instead of asking a bunch of random dudes what to buy, now you know how your budget breaks down you go reading reviews of amps, speakers, etc in your price range. When reading reviews pay attention to only a very few things. With speakers, sensitivity. Anything less than 92dB ignore. They will eat power and force you to waste money chasing more power. Virtually any amp with 20 watts or more will be plenty if your speakers are over 92dB. With MC cartridge you want medium output, nothing less than .5mV. This makes phono stage selection a lot less critical. These two simple things will make your life a whole lot easier.
That's it for technical stuff. Get those right and then all you care about is sound quality. When reading reviews skip right past the stupid tech stories, go straight to the listening impressions. Features are generally more BS just like tech stories. How's it sound? All you need to know.
Then go hit some stores. Listen to as much stuff as you can. Listen to much more expensive gear. Listen to much cheaper gear. There's a way to get the most from this. Its not what everyone says, "bring your reference recordings." Its make the sales guy change something. This is critical! You can listen to a dozen systems and learn almost nothing. You listen to one system, make the guy change a power cord, interconnect, or amp, now you just learned a lot. Huge difference. Its a hassle so nobody does it. Just do it. Advice so good it was the Nike slogan for 20 years.
The signal on a record is equalized with the bass turned down 20dB and the treble turned up 20dB. This is called RIAA equalization. Playing a record the cartridge generates only a fraction of a millivolt to maybe 1mV. This is way too low a voltage and way too messed up EQ to listen to. The phono stage is required to equalize and amplify. The signal coming out of the phono stage is now flat and high at what we call line voltage, around a volt or two, the same as other components like a CD, tape or tuner or streamer, etc.
Cartridges can be moving coil, moving magnet, or moving iron. Each has their fans, strengths, and weaknesses. You need to learn at least a little about cartridges. At your price range you will want a turntable with arm, or maybe even a package of table/arm/cart. Each really is its own thing and at a higher level you definitely want to be considering each one separately. But at your budget level it makes more sense to do a package.
Same goes for the phono stage. But you do need to understand. Because in looking you may come across a very fine integrated amp but it is only line stage. No phono. That's fine. You get a separate phono stage. Just need to be aware.
Its way too early to be talking specific components. First you need a plan. One might be $5k breaks down into $1k each for amp, speakers, turntable, CD, and wire. This is very rough, just to give some idea, so you don't spend $2k on speakers like a lot of guys would and wind up either way over budget or with no money for cables, etc. $1k is probably more than needed for CD, and less than for the table, but again its not a requirement its more of a guide.
Now what you do, instead of asking a bunch of random dudes what to buy, now you know how your budget breaks down you go reading reviews of amps, speakers, etc in your price range. When reading reviews pay attention to only a very few things. With speakers, sensitivity. Anything less than 92dB ignore. They will eat power and force you to waste money chasing more power. Virtually any amp with 20 watts or more will be plenty if your speakers are over 92dB. With MC cartridge you want medium output, nothing less than .5mV. This makes phono stage selection a lot less critical. These two simple things will make your life a whole lot easier.
That's it for technical stuff. Get those right and then all you care about is sound quality. When reading reviews skip right past the stupid tech stories, go straight to the listening impressions. Features are generally more BS just like tech stories. How's it sound? All you need to know.
Then go hit some stores. Listen to as much stuff as you can. Listen to much more expensive gear. Listen to much cheaper gear. There's a way to get the most from this. Its not what everyone says, "bring your reference recordings." Its make the sales guy change something. This is critical! You can listen to a dozen systems and learn almost nothing. You listen to one system, make the guy change a power cord, interconnect, or amp, now you just learned a lot. Huge difference. Its a hassle so nobody does it. Just do it. Advice so good it was the Nike slogan for 20 years.