New to Analog and just played my first record in

So you are willing to invest $150 and want it to beat your $1,500 player that beats $4,000 players. There is a minimum buy-in to get decent analog and $150 isn't even close.

I want a car that performs like a Ferrari and I'm willing to go as high as $5,000.

I think we'll both find what we want at about the same time.

OK, here is your answer.

For $150 buy a new cartridge. That will have the biggest impact. Unless there is something wrong with the table or the pre you are not going to have much impact on those for the money. Not knowing the age of the cartridge or how many hours are on it the money is best spent there. They do wear out and are easily damaged so assume it is shot.

Now to the bigger question. It definitely is worth pursuing if you are eventually willing to invest more money. You are not going to get by on that budget if you want to stay in this for the long haul. You will need $150 or more to buy the supplies needed to clean the bargain records you want to buy.

There is something inherently "right" about analog that CDs can't do. I believe higher resolution digital can. Not to be dismissive but statements like "I heard vinyl in my buddies high end system and wasn't impressed" don't carry much weight because with all the variables we must assume something wasn't right about his set up. Too many of us have compared very high end CD to middle of the road vinyl and found the vinyl better in many ways, and the most important ways. If you want to listen to everything a high-end system can impress you with buy a CD player. If you want to listen to music and tap your toes buy a turntable.

Oh come on, don't go away mad. You must admit what you asked for may be just a little bit silly.

"I don't want to spend that much , but want to be sure I am not missing something special. I would spend $150 or so."

The point of your critics was they don't believe you can find what it is that is "special", assuming there is something, for that kind of money. Perhaps the responses were harsher than they should have been but their underlying reasons were well founded. On the surface it seems very simple but playing a record requires an extremely complex electro-mechanical system so getting to that special place probably isn't going to happen on your budget. Then again, maybe it will. I would get a cartridge and see.

In any case enjoy the journey. I can't remember who said it but it is something like "The beauty is in the walking. We are betrayed by destinations."