Tough Call, as to whether you should get into analog, since you don't have any LPs now, and wish to only spend $2K. (This is not to say that you won't enjoy listening to a $2K setup, you will. But, whether it will be better than the Opus is another matter. I think it would be a toss up myself.)
However, there are a couple of other things to consider, which you probably already know, but in case you hadn't, I will bring them up.
1. Cleaning supplies are a must with a turntable. My best advise is to get a vacuum RCM (even a cheap one like a Nitty Gritty or a DYI kit), will really take your vinyl experience to the next level. Listening to clean albums is a joy, whereas listening to the clicks and pops of dirty or even marginally cleaned albums more of a chore.
(I own a NG 1.0 and while it is hardly S.O.T.A., it helps me clean my records, so that for the most part, they have almost as quiet a background as CDs. That is one of my biggest priorities with my albums, is having a black background.)
I would budget at least a hundred dollars, and maybe more like a few hundred to get a RCM, which is what I would do.
If you really dislike the prospect of having to clean albums, (and you need to clean them at least the first time you play any album, and yes, even the new ones), then don't bother getting into vinyl, and stick with CDs.
2. The cost of new albums is rather steep in comparison to new CDs. You should figure that into your cost analysis as well. New LPs typically run $15-30, vs. $10-15 for CDs.
However, used LPs can be dirt cheap, if you get them at flea markets, salvation army, etc. But then again, you need to have a first rate RCM to really get them clean, (which gets back to point #1 again).
Good Luck in making your decision. I made the decision to get into vinyl a few years ago, but for me it was different, since I had a TT years ago and several hundred LPs to play already. (Of course now I have a couple of thousand LPs, and I have already upgraded my entire analog system.)
However, there are a couple of other things to consider, which you probably already know, but in case you hadn't, I will bring them up.
1. Cleaning supplies are a must with a turntable. My best advise is to get a vacuum RCM (even a cheap one like a Nitty Gritty or a DYI kit), will really take your vinyl experience to the next level. Listening to clean albums is a joy, whereas listening to the clicks and pops of dirty or even marginally cleaned albums more of a chore.
(I own a NG 1.0 and while it is hardly S.O.T.A., it helps me clean my records, so that for the most part, they have almost as quiet a background as CDs. That is one of my biggest priorities with my albums, is having a black background.)
I would budget at least a hundred dollars, and maybe more like a few hundred to get a RCM, which is what I would do.
If you really dislike the prospect of having to clean albums, (and you need to clean them at least the first time you play any album, and yes, even the new ones), then don't bother getting into vinyl, and stick with CDs.
2. The cost of new albums is rather steep in comparison to new CDs. You should figure that into your cost analysis as well. New LPs typically run $15-30, vs. $10-15 for CDs.
However, used LPs can be dirt cheap, if you get them at flea markets, salvation army, etc. But then again, you need to have a first rate RCM to really get them clean, (which gets back to point #1 again).
Good Luck in making your decision. I made the decision to get into vinyl a few years ago, but for me it was different, since I had a TT years ago and several hundred LPs to play already. (Of course now I have a couple of thousand LPs, and I have already upgraded my entire analog system.)