if you decide to go the dac route, i recommend a used minimax, available on audiogon for about $600 ish.
regarding turntables, arms and cartiridges in your price range, a rega, with rega arm is a good choice, but then what cartridge ?? depends upon taste.
i suspect i will get some bricks thrown at me for this, because grados may produce a hum, i would consider a cheap grado.
regarding turntables, arms and cartiridges in your price range, a rega, with rega arm is a good choice, but then what cartridge ?? depends upon taste.
i suspect i will get some bricks thrown at me for this, because grados may produce a hum, i would consider a cheap grado.