New to Turntables

None of the choices will sound as expected without a decent  phonostage. Expense can be subjective as the table. 

 I basically don't have any albums at this point..... just a couple of remasters....

As far as phono stage.... I have a Mcintosh preamp, with fully configurable Phono inputs for MC or MM cartridges....

If I use turntable on my other system, I would need a Phono Preamp....

Any suggestions for external preamp ?

Moving the belt on the motor spindle doesn't seem like a game breaker.....

would take 5 seconds to do that...

So in the end, is the cartridge and tonearm the most important factors ?

Shelly

The cartridge, tonearm, turntable and phonostage are all of great importance. In general, over the decades the sweet spot for me has been the turntable (with all its components) investment equal to the phonostage investment. I am sure there is some slop in that generality at the lower levels. But for me a $5K investment in a turntable was compromised unless I made a similar investment in a phonostage. At this point I am at the $20K / $20K range. For the over fifty years I have been at this, I have constantly had the phonostage compromising the sound of my turntable. Which is a waste

Personally with virtually no albums I would not be going down this rabbit hole. Unless you have an unlimited budget vinyl will get VERY expensive fast. Just my own 2cents worth.

only Pro-ject would be on my list, and I second @ghdprentice - you need a good phono stage.

Recommendations depend on your budget, I would not spend less than 50% of what the TT cost