Looking for a new turntable and cart 2-3K

At $3K I'd go for a WT Amadeus. Since you're committed to a Slee Era Gold, you're looking at a high output cartridge. You could stay right at budget with an Audio Technica AT150MLX, which is an extraordinary cartridge at $300. Then you could get a premium Clearaudio or similar high output cart later wen funds permit.

Don Better Audio in Cleveland, Ohio carries many TT lines - Well-Tempered, Rega, Nottingham, Ayre DPS, Spiral Groove, SME, and Shindo Garrard.

Hollywood Sound in Hollywood, Florida is a WT dealer. The owner, Larry, is a great guy and very knowledgeable. He's also a member here (hwdsound). You can look him up here or Google for his Web site.

-Bob

Does anyone have a list of Well Tempered dealers? They seem hard to find.
Thanks

Try to listen to a Well-Tempered Amadeus

A new Well-Tempered Amadeus goes for about $2750 and completely outperforms a Rega P9 IMHO. So if you are willing to stretch your budget just a little you could get the Amadeus and Dynavector's entry level MC cartridge (~$450) and wind up with an incredibly musical vinyl front end.

the emotion is on my short list but I don't have a local dealer to audition.

I'm also considering a new Rega P5 or used P7 with an Ortofon 2M Black or a VPI Scout II or used Scoutmaster with an Dynavector 20x or possibly a Well Tempered Amadeus with my current Ortofon 2M Red.

My local dealers only sell Linn, Rega, Nottingham and Pro-Ject so anything else I would have to mail order.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Agree with Winoguy. The "trick" IMO is to have the CMB and the wood body cartridge. More musical than the "old Clearaudio house sound". Also, consider direct wired with no break from cartridge pins to phono stage.
Good Luck.

Clearaudio Emotion is right in that range and has gotten very good reviews.

I should probably add I mostly listen to rock both new and old and throw in some jazz every now and then.